“WILL you please take this box of tomatoes to Mr. H. with my love. I know he is fond of tomatoes.”
These were the words of my own dear wife, herself suffering acutely from cancer, who, just as I was starting for the hospital, thoughtfully gave me this loving commission.
Arriving there I was holding forth the word of life in the different wards, when presently taking out my watch, I found that I had just ten minutes to spare; and so started off to visit the particular ward in which I was to fulfill my loved one’s commission.
I delivered the box of tomatoes to Mr. H. and with it my wife’s loving message. I stood talking with this patient for about five minutes, seeking to strengthen his hand in the Lord, as he was, happily, a believer in Christ.
Presently I observed that the visitors at the other end of the ward had left, and I was now the only one remaining. Turning round, I said before all the patients, “Would you like me to sing a hymn?” A patient at the other end of the ward promptly replied, “Yes, sir; I do like to praise God.” We sang, “The Saviour lives no more to die.”
When finished I went round to collect the hymn books, and was taking the one this patient had been using, when I said to him:
“Can you say your Saviour lives no more to die?”
“I wish I could, sir; I am not a Christian.”
I thus found myself brought face to face with one desirous of salvation. In about five minutes I was due to leave the ward. So making the best use of the opportunity I said:
“My sins were laid on Jesus when He suffered on the cross. Were your sins laid on Jesus then?”
“Yes.”
“Where is Jesus now?”
“In heaven.”
“Are there any sins upon Him now?”
“It’s my opinion He has been bearing them ever since.”
“No! I will tell you what the word of God says about that: ‘As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us!’ When John Baptist saw Jesus he said, ‘Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.’ The soul that believes this is entitled to say, ‘The Lord laid my sins on Jesus; He has borne them away; they are gone! gone forever!’”
Each fleeting moment was now precious. I asked, “Have you ever asked Jesus to take possession of your heart?”
“Yes; hundreds of times.”
“Now ask Him; tell Him you are ready to receive Him. Ask him to take possession of your heart, and He will come in. He has Himself said, ‘Behold I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and sup with him, and he with me.’ Let me tell you what will happen the moment you receive Christ. You cannot have Christ in your heart, and your sins too. Receive Him, and leave all else to Him, and He will cleanse you from your sins by His own precious blood. He will do it; you cannot do this yourself.”
My time was passing rapidly—he still lacked assurance of faith. Now I asked him,
“Have you heard the word of Jesus?”
“Yes.”
“Do you believe the Father sent Jesus?”
“Yes, I believe the Father sent Jesus.”
“Then God says you have everlasting life. It was Jesus who said it. I will repeat the whole verse, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life.’”
The clock was striking; my time to leave had come. I held out my hand and said,
“Good-bye; God says you have everlasting life.”
A. J.