James was a young mechanic, intelligent, upright and well-behaved. He was what the world calls a respectable young man; but he knew nothing of the truth as it is in Jesus.
His wife was a true believer in the Lord Jesus, and she earnestly desired the salvation of her husband. On one occasion she tried by every means in her power to induce him to accompany her to some gospel meetings which were being held in their village; but her entreaties were of no avail.
She invited the evangelists to come to the house when James was due to be at home, so that they might get an opportunity of speaking to him. But James, determined not to come in contact with them, found business elsewhere and left. But, though he could get away from man, he could not escape from God. There was no fleeing from His presence, and the fact often appalled him that he must have to do with Christ now as his Savior, or by-and-by as Judge. Still he tried to put off all such thoughts, and to occupy himself only with present things.
James kept persistently away from the village meetings and laughed at his wife when she begged him "just for once" to accompany her. In fact, he began to get angry and threatened not to allow her to go, and made fun of her "religion," as he termed it.
The last night of the meetings had come. The evangelists were to leave on the morrow. Scoffingly James said he would go and see what the magnet was that induced so many people to spend their time at such a place:—but he would go alone! At the hall he took up a hymn book. He opened it and read one hymn after another until he came to these most touching words:
“O Christ, what burdens bowed Thy head!
Our load was laid on Thee;
Thou stoodest in the sinner's stead,
To bear all ill for me.
A victim led, Thy blood was shed:
Now there's no load for me."
He read and re-read the hymn from beginning to end, and the truth dawned upon him that he was a guilty sinner. He tried to dismiss the thought from his mind. But no; it was seed planted by the Holy Ghost. As he trod that dusty, homeward road, the solemn thought possessed his soul, the solemn words of the hymn kept ringing in his ears, till he neither heard nor saw anything around him. He walked on, he knew not whither, until he found himself at home! Lifting the latch, he heard a voice, and paused at the threshold. It was the voice of his wife, pleading with the Lord for him. He entered softly, and, kneeling down beside her he cried aloud: "God, be merciful to me!"
The Lord never turns a deaf ear to that cry when it comes from the depths of a truly contrite heart. As James knelt there he heard the gracious words of love, "Thy sins are forgiven thee: go in peace," spoken even for him. He had seen his own utterly lost condition and he accepted Christ as his Savior. That night there was joy in the presence of the angels of God over one more sinner brought to repentance.
Reader, does your load of guilt rest upon you? Or can you say in faith, "The Lord hath laid on Him"—the blessed Son of God who came to do His will—that terrible burden?