A beautiful young actress had earned the admiration and acclaim of the world by her lovely voice and clever acting.
It was evening, and she was on her way to the theater, where she would again win the applause of the crowds. Their applause was pleasant enough to receive (so she may have thought as she went on), and yet why was she so weary-hearted tonight? How was it that she felt so unsatisfied in spite of her success? She would be growing old, her voice would be going, and then how long would these sort of friends remain true to her? And—well, there was something further on still; there was death—and what should she do when that drew near? There was the great question of her sins to be settled! Oh, perhaps it was that which caused her heavy heart tonight.
Suddenly through the hum of the busy city there broke on the evening air the clear ring of children’s voices singing in the street. They were close beside her, and the words fell distinctly on her ear—
“Depth of mercy, can there be
Mercy still reserved for ME?
Can my God His wrath forbear?
Me, the chief of sinners, spare?
There for me the Saviour stands,
Shows His wounds and spreads His hands.
God is love, I know and feel—
Jesus lives and loves me still.”
It was a new, a strange message, to the sin-sick soul, and the young actress listened eagerly to the words. When they were finished, she asked the children to repeat them, which they did over and over again. Then, giving them a few pennies, she passed on, with the lines still ringing in her ears and heart.
Could it be true? Was there really mercy reserved for a sinner such as she had been? Was the Saviour showing His wounded hands and the marks of the cruel cross, to God His Father, to prove that He had taken her place and borne the punishment that was due her? And was it true that the holy God was also a God of love, and that He was perfectly satisfied with His Son as her Substitute. Could He say in all truth, “I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins”? Isaiah 43:2525I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. (Isaiah 43:25).
She reached the theater, and prepared in a dreamy way to act her usual part. The building was crowded; but as she stepped upon the stage, her thoughts were far away from the audience around her, or from the enthusiasm that her appearance had aroused. She opened her lips, but it was not to break forth as usual into a song of this world. Almost unconsciously the words rang out,
“Depth of mercy, can there be Mercy still reserved for me?
God is love, I know and feel—
Jesus lives and loves me still.”
The words were followed by an astonished silence. The actress turned and left the stage—left the theater—and hurried out into the dark streets, never pausing until she had reached the room where she was staying. There, with the door locked, she threw herself upon her knees and poured out her heart to God. She accepted that “depth of mercy” that had been reserved for her, and gave herself, body, soul and spirit, into the hands of the blessed Saviour who had died in her stead. From henceforth her lovely voice, which hitherto had served to entertain and thrill the world, would now be employed in the service of praise and thanksgiving to Him who alone is worthy— “worthy of all homage and of praise.”
ML 04/11/1965