Two British soldiers were talking together. One had been a Christian for some time; the other was recently converted. The new Christian, Joe, looked at Sam and asked, “Have you known the Good Shepherd long?”
“No, hardly two years,” answered Sam. “More shame to me, for I had a good mother who taught me all about Jesus and His love. But I always said, ‘Time enough; I’ll serve Him when I’ve had a bit of pleasure - say when I’m thirty or thirty-five.’”
“What changed your mind?” asked Joe. “You don’t look to be thirty yet.”
“No, I’m twenty-eight,” said Sam. “About two years ago I was with my regiment in India. I was learning some of the conjuring and juggling tricks that some of the natives are so good at. I specially wanted to do one where I should appear to swallow a very small but deadly snake. I practiced it two or three times, but once I handled it badly and its deadly fangs fastened on my shoulder.
“I jumped up to run from the room, crying, ‘What can I do? What can I do?’
“‘Sit down!’ said a quiet voice, and a firm hand was laid on my arm. Almost before I knew what was happening I saw that one of the men was sucking the poison out of the wound. I did not know him well, but I had often laughed at what I called his ‘old woman’s religion.’ Now, as I saw him risking his life to save mine, I realized what a grand thing it was to be a true Christian.
“‘Why do you do this?’ I asked him. ‘You know it may kill you!’
“‘If it does, I’m not afraid to die,’ he said quietly.
“‘But I am,’ I said. ‘I know all about the better way. But I’ve scorned the Saviour and His love. If I die today, I’m lost!’
“I’ll never forget the earnest way he looked at me as he slowly repeated the words: ‘The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost’ (Luke 19:1010For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10)), nor the emphasis he laid on the last word.”
“Tell me more,” said Joe. “Did that brave man recover? Of course you did - for here you are today -but did he?”
“Yes, he did. He was sick for several days, but he did get well. I heard from him yesterday. I tell him that, under God, I owe to him both my natural and my spiritual life, for he never rested till I knew the Lord Jesus as my own personal Saviour.”
“And now it was you that pointed me to Him,” said Joe. “All my life long I shall thank God for this sickness and time of quiet that forced me to think. Ah, the Good Shepherd did find me sick and helpless and ready to die.”
“But He didn’t leave you there,” said Sam.
“No, He didn’t,” said Joe decidedly. “It seems to me I can only say, ‘My cup runneth over,’ when I think of all that He’s done for me!”