Charlie was a terror to all who knew him in the town where he lived. The children would run away when they saw him coming, and no one wanted to be in his company.
A servant of the Lord who lived in the same town, used to call on Sunday afternoons from house to house leaving little gospel tracts. Charlie would often be sitting at his door, in his working clothes, untidy and dirty, pouring over a newspaper. The gentleman always greeted the old man kindly, but only received a surly grunt in reply.
Nothing daunted, he continued to call week by week at the cottage, leaving a little tract each time. If Charlie would not take it, he would lay it on a chair near the door. As he passed on, his heart was lifted in prayer that God would use the silent messenger, telling of His love to sinners, in blessing to the gruff old man.
And so the years went by, and the gentleman continued calling at Charlie’s cottage on his round, without any sign of encouragement from him. But one afternoon in answer to his knock, he heard the words,
“Come in, my friend, come in,” and on entering he was greeted with a bright and happy smile from the old man.
It was with a glad heart now, so welcomed, he entered the small room for the first time, and heard with joy from Charlie’s lips, how his eyes had been opened to see his need of the Saviour. The little books that had been left so often, he had for awhile been reading, and they had pointed him to God’s Word, which told Him of the Lord Jesus who was ready to pardon and forgive even such a great sinner as he was.
Simply as a little child he had believed on God who “raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification” (Rom. 4:24, 2524But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:24‑25)), and he was now rejoicing in the knowledge of the forgiveness of all his sins.
Full and deep was the thanksgiving and praise which rose from that little cottage that Sunday afternoon, as they knelt together to thank God for His great mercy to the old man who had for so many years resisted His loving entreaties.
Let me plead with those of my readers who have never yet come to that loving Saviour. Do not think because you are young you have plenty of time. God wants you to be saved now. He is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:99The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)).
May this story encourage those who do know the Lord Jesus as their Savior, to continue seeking to spread His glad tidings, even though you may have to wait a long time, as this servant of the Lord did, before you see any result from your labors. Remember the verse which says: