Richard Warren was a prize fighter. One night he was lying on his bed and thinking about a fight that was to come off in a day or two. Just then Richard’s brother came into the house. He had been to a gospel meeting and Richard’s wife asked him what the speaker had preached on. In reply he quoted to her the text:
Richard overheard the brief conversation, and applying the text to his ovvn case, he asked himself, “What then shall I do when God riseth up in judgment against me?” And pondering it over, he thought, “If I die now, hell will be my doom.”
That night he passed in misery of soul. Sleep fled from him and he found no comfort. A day of wretchedness and another wakeful night followed. Finally he decided he could bear it no longer, and thought he would try to drive away the impression by drink. So getting up, he went to a village four miles from where he lived, and sought to carry out his desire. This, however, was but a vain hope. As he returned home, words which he had heard years before were brought to his mind, and seemed to sound in his ear: “Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?” Isa. 33:1414The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? (Isaiah 33:14). Fear of hell, which seemed to open to receive him, led him to cry to God for mercy.
The next morning he again left the house and hiding himself in a sandpit, he told out all his misery into the ear of God. His whole evil past life came before him, and he frankly confessed his sins and guilt to Him. In childlike faith he trusted that the blood of Christ, which washes whiter than snow, could cleanse him from every stain; the storm which had raged over him the past two days was hushed and poor Richard’s weary soul found rest and peace in Jesus and His love.
The prizefight never came off. Richard had entered another conflict—”The good fight of faith”—which henceforth he sought through grace to win.
Dear reader, will you ask yourself these questions?
ML 02/01/1959