The toil of the summer day was over at last, and Mr. T’s shop was closed for the night, at least, so he thought. But there was a ring at the bell, it was the mail-cart driver, who had come in for a friendly chat. He had recently met with an accident while driving the cart; it had been overturned, and he had been thrown out over the hedge.
“If your neck had been broken, John, instead of your arm, where would your soul have gone?”
The arrow struck home. All that John could stammer out in reply was, “To hell, I am afraid.”
Several months passed. Mr. T. was away from home on one of his business trips, when, at a house at which he called, he was accosted by an elderly man, whom he recognized as John’s father, who asked him to see his son who was seriously ill. Mr. T. looked at his watch, and said,
“It is only ten minutes before my train starts.” But the anxious father was importunate.
“If you mean to see him at all, you must see him now, for I fear he has not long to live. Mr. T., do you remember having spoken to John about his soul, when he was thrown out of the cart?”
“Yes,” and the question, “Where would your soul be?” had searched the inmost heart of the poor sufferer, who lay exhausted on his bed.
“You are nearing eternity, John,” said Mr. T. “Are you ready to go—ready to enter the presence of God?”
“I don’t know. I can’t make out at all,” was the reply. He knew not whether he was lost or saved, but said, “I should like to be sure, one way or the other.”
“Have you never read ‘God is love?’”
“Yes,” John answered, “I have.”
“Have you not read, too, that ‘God is light?’”
“I think I have read that somewhere.”
“But have you not faced the fact ‘that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all?’”
“No, I have not thought much about it,” answered John, “only I don’t feel ready to die.”
“And now you are entering into the presence of Him who dwelleth in the light, which no man can approach unto. How can you bear to stand before the great white throne, when the books shall be opened, and the dead shall be judged out of those things which are written in the books according to their works?”
“O, I know! I know, now! I am a lost soul. I am not saved. I never was.” The poor sufferer trembled as he spoke.
“You may think I am dealing hard with you, John, at this time in bringing before you such truths,” said Mr. T. gently, “but this is God’s way, His own blessed way of making you feel and know your need of a Savior. Concerning your lost condition, God would have you know the provision He has made. He has said, ‘I have found a ransom;’ and for whom—for the righteous or the sinner; for the saved or the lost?”
“And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.”
“Who was it that said, ‘It shall be accepted for him,’ John?” Then, handing him the book, Mr. T. showed him that it is the Lord who speaks, and if such was the case, how could the Israelite not rest satisfied? Mr. T. then turned to the words:
“Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world,” also,
“He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed,” and asked, “Do you believe this?” John believed, but he did not feel saved, and he hesitated. His friend pressed him earnestly to rest on the Word of God— “with His stripes we are healed”—and not to refuse the gracious words.
“No, I must not—I will not do that! I now take God at His word,” said John.
The end of the conversation was that John was enabled to say, “Yes, I trust and I thank Him, and I feel happy, too. He has saved my soul! I know it now! O, I can praise Him! I can praise Him, for He has saved my soul!” His testimony was bright, and his confession of his Savior clear. He delighted to tell all who came near him what, great things God had done for his soul.
Dear reader, the same loving Savior who was so gracious to John, waits to be gracious to you, poor anxious soul. Take courage, come to Him as John did, simply taking Him at His word.
No longer doubt the message,
No longer stay away;
A full, a free salvation
His blood provides today.
O! trust thy soul to Jesus,
If thou would’st happy be;
While the Lord Himself is calling,
Calling thee.