During our Gospel work one summer we decided to pitch our tent in a small town. It was as notorious for the godlessness and infidelity of the men living there as for the smoke and grime of its foundries and mills.
We chose a fine summer's evening for the work of setting up the tent, and an interested group of onlookers soon gathered. One of these who seemed somewhat interested kindly helped us with work; but he asked: "Why are you putting your tent here?”
This was the opportunity for an opening wedge, so I replied: "In the hope that you may be converted! When you are, we will thank God, and take it somewhere else.”
He laughed at this, and assured us he was too strong to give in to us―he would not yield. He had the idea―a notion very common among such men―that these things are all right for the wife at home, and not bad for the children; but for strong men―why, to gamble a bit, drink with a friend, and live a careless, godless life, are things that suit them better.
We soon got to know well the man who helped us to drive the stakes and pull the ropes that evening. He was the husband of a forthright village woman who had put her trust in the Savior some years before. A very decent sort of man he was in his way―kind to his wife, and a good father; always ready to help a neighbor when he could; but entirely indifferent to his soul's welfare, and quite regardless of God.
Most earnestly his wife prayed for him, for she was a true Christian; but her prayers and entreaties did not seem to move him from his determination not to attend our Gospel services. In fact, as the meetings continued he began to stop in the tavern more frequently, and to return home quite drunk, sometimes more than once a week. This was unusual for him, and was a great trial of faith to the wife. But to us who were also longing for his salvation, it was evidence that the Spirit of God was working in his soul, and he was kicking against the pricks of an aroused conscience.
The summer drew to a close, and the cold, damp autumn evenings made it necessary to draw the meetings to an end. We decided on one last week of services, the Labor Day week when the whole town took a general holiday. The people who could leave usually went away that week, and among these was the Christian wife. Her husband stayed at home and spent the time in carousing.
We saw him on Saturday, much the worse for drink; and he continued his "celebration" of the annual holiday until the following Tuesday. On that evening we met him as we walked towards the tent, and taking him by the arm, said: "You would not come to the tent sober, Jim; so you must come to it drunk.”
He protested, and did his best to get away from us, but at last we prevailed upon him to come with us into the tent.
When the service commenced, Jim was sitting in a back seat; and when the opening hymn was announced he rose and stood up with the rest of the audience. He did his best to look sober, but he had to hold on tight to the seat in front of him in order to keep his feet.
Our first hymn was:
"Christ is the Savior of sinners,
Christ is the Savior for me;
Long I was chained in sin's darkness,
Now by His grace I am free.”
Then came the preaching about the Savior who came into the world to save sinners, and who was able to take a dying thief from a cross of shame to the very paradise of God. And that poor malefactor was fit to be there, too, for the precious blood of Christ―the Lamb of God-had washed all his sins away.
Then we sang again our opening hymn, and we noticed that when we sang the chorus―
"Savior of sinners,
Savior of sinners like me―
Shedding His blood for my ransom,
This is the Savior for me"―
Jim was visibly affected. As he sat there, tears were in his eyes; so we sang it over and over for his sake. While we did this he buried his head in his hands, sobbing like a child. He had come to the end of his resistance to God's mercy; and when we spoke to him, he said: "No one but Christ could do this to me.”
He passed through the deep waters of repentance, and when the Christian wife returned home, she found a sober, God-fearing husband awaiting her. He was most anxious now to hear the Word of God, and to know, without a question, that all his sins were pardoned by the God whom he had refused. And he got that knowledge before the week was out, and could sing with joyful heart―
"Long I was chained in sin's darkness,
Now by His grace I am free!”
And this was no delusion! How wretched would those who have trusted in Christ be, if it were! How happy and secure they are because it is not a delusion, but a reality, as faithful and true as the very throne of God.
Unyielding, sinful soul, listen to the loving Savior. Let Him into that hard heart now and say, as Jim did: "This is the Savior for me!”