Poor old John and his wife lived in one of the smallest cabins in the village. Direst poverty was written upon everything, from the solitary broken chair and the two or three rickety stools to the barely rain-proof roof. Poverty was John's excuse—and who has not an excuse?—for not listening to the riches of God's grace and the love of Jesus.
John would say to us: "Oh, Ma'am, if you were in as great poverty as I am, you'd maybe have other things to think about than what you have just been saying to me.”
So, instead of listening to the sweet story of the love of God, poor old John would fret and would lie awake in his bed at night sorrowing over his troubles. His poverty was quite a business with him. He had no time to think of better things; he was too poor!
We longed that the poor man should have something lasting—yea, everlasting. We read to him how a man may receive everlasting life, not by doing but by believing.
"John," said we, "believing in Jesus is having! These two always go together in Scripture. Mind, hoping is not having. It does not say, believe and hope—but it does say, believe in Jesus and have.”
"Well, Ma'am," exclaimed old John, "I'm just a poor old man. Many a preacher I've heard, but I never knew before how to be saved. I'd rather hear what you've told me than to get a handful of gold.”
The riches of God's grace began to unfold before the old man's soul. He saw that the mercy of God extended even to him, poor as he was. He now believed that Jesus had died for him, and His blood had cleansed away his sins; and this faith brought peace and quiet to his soul.
And now, although old John was as poor as before, he was not fretting and lamenting over his poverty. Far from it! "I am happy, quite happy," were his words.
'To test him we inquired: "And what is it that makes you happy, John?”
"Oh, Ma'am, because Jesus died on the cross for sinners; and I believe He died for me.”