Tom was a manly lad about seventeen years old. Arriving home one night, he sat down to the evening meal tired and hungry. He was glad that the day's work was over. During the conversation that ensued, he learned with some surprise that his younger sister had that day received the Lord Jesus as her Savior. Just as he asked where she was, the door opened and in she came.
"Hello, Kiddie," he called. "What's it like to be saved?”
Surprised by the unexpected question she made no reply, only blushing deeply.
As yet, Tom himself had shown no interest in, nor seemed to care for, the things of God. He was in the hey-day of youth and gave little time to serious thoughts of the future and of his need of salvation. He dearly loved his sister; and perhaps her confession of having come to Christ started a work in his soul, and aroused a desire for a similar experience. We know not.
We do know that there is a period in the life of nearly every boy when the call of the unknown, the thirst for adventure, the longing for excitement runs strongly in his veins. It was so with Tom. As he entered into young manhood, the wander-lust called him, and he determined to see the world. He joined the Navy; and on many expeditions with his ship he was privileged to satisfy his desire. And so the years sped on.
But tropical heat, the continually rough life, and exposure sapped Tom's vitality, and he finally became quite ill. He was invalided home, prematurely aged and weakened.
Sickness is one of God's ways of speaking to men, in His goodness. So we read in Job 33:19-2419He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain: 20So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat. 21His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out. 22Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers. 23If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show unto man his uprightness: 24Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. (Job 33:19‑24): "He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain... his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers. If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter... to show unto man his uprightness. Then He is gracious unto him and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom." God acts in mercy toward us and overrules that which may seem most contrary, in time, for our everlasting blessing.
Tom now was keenly aware of his deep need, and asked to see his old Sunday school teacher. The old man was speedily by his bedside, talking to his former pupil about the Savior of sinners and of His welcome to all who come to Him and own their need. When his old friend was gone, Tom said to his sister: "Kiddie, sing me a hymn.”
She felt she could not, and told him so. "Well, say one then," he exclaimed.
"Which one?" she asked.
"Jesus Lover"—
The hymn book was found and the words read:
"Jesus, Lover of my soul,
Let me to Thy bosom fly;
While the nearer waters roll,
While the tempest still is high.
Hide me! Oh, my Savior hide,
Till the storm of life be past;
Safe into the haven guide,
Oh, receive my soul at last.”
Eagerly Tom listened to the words. Then the second verse was begun.
"Other refuge have I none,
Hangs my helpless soul on Thee.”
"Ah," exclaimed Tom. "Again, again, read that again!”
And so the lines were repeated slowly.
"Other—refuge—have—I—none.
Hangs—my—helpless—soul—on Thee.”
One look to Christ from the depths of sin and contrition spells salvation.
And now Tom could rejoice with "Kiddie" in having found Christ as his Savior. Better far would it have been had he turned to the Lord when "Kiddie" did, and spent the years to the glory of God. At last he did come to Him who in no wise casts out any who seek His face.
Have you come to Him, friend? You need not fear-however far you may have gone in the ways of sin, however hard those ways may have proved to be; and they are always hard. Christ is the Savior of sinners, and He is for everyone who believes. "Every one" is comprehensive indeed.