G–––L — was one of those disagreeable characters that everyone shunned. Surly and ill-tempered to those around him, his mates all avoided him. His home, quite bare and poverty-stricken, as the result of his drunken career, was a piteous sight; and his children, half-starved and ill-clad, fled with terror from the presence of their father.
But, with all that, he was quite indifferent as to his soul’s welfare, nor would he ever trouble himself to settle that important question: Eternity! where?
But after a while he became ill, very ill, until it was apparent even to himself that he was not long for this world. Then, gradually, uneasy feelings crept over him; feelings of uncertainty would cross his mind as to whether after all he was in the right path. And then he would argue to himself, that it was impossible for anyone in this life to know for certain, or feel quite sure, their sins were forgiven.
So, month after month rolled by, before he would be content to listen to what God’s plan of salvation is, — which is entirely dependent on the work of someone else, and not on our doings, even on the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
One day a gentleman visited poor G–– finding him in a state of fearful darkness as to what the Gospel of God is. Had he not been taught from his youth, in his so-called worship, that it could only be through good works of his own that he must hope to merit heaven? But this was poor comfort to him now as he lay prostrate on his dying bed. What good works had he strength for then?
But God had His eye on that man for blessing.
Bending over him, the gentleman told him slowly the tale of the dying thief. He showed him how that poor dying sinner, powerless to do one single action, uttered just one cry of faith to that blessed Savior, hanging on the cross beside him, and he was saved: “Lord, remember me when Thou comest in Thy kingdom,” and at once he received the gracious answer, “Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise.” G — listened attentively, and it seemed as though the light penetrated his soul, dispelling the darkness he was in, as for the first time he saw the simplicity of the whole thing, saying, “It do seem strange that them few ‘ere muddling words should have done it.” His soul had laid hold of Christ as his Savior it was plain, and this was his way of expressing his faith in Him.
Shortly before he died, he turned to his wife, saying, “Don’t cry for me now. I used to think when I was at plow as how I could see straight ahead, but now I can see straight into heaven itself.”
God has made the way of salvation so plain, that a way-faring man, though a fool, need not err therein.
Only one look at the brazen serpent, and the dying Israelite lived; only one touch of His garment, and the poor woman was healed; only one word, and the defiled leper was cleansed; only one cry of faith, and the dying thief was saved; and for you, today, poor sinner, the way is just as plain, —
“There is life in a look at the crucified One,
There is life at this moment for thee!
Then look, sinner, look unto Him, and be saved,
And know thyself spotless as He.”
E. R. M.