Upon returning home late, one evening, I received a message asking me to go and see a person who was dying of consumption.
“She is very unhappy,” said the bearer of the message, “and is continually calling upon God for help. We have vainly sought for one who could give her comfort. Tonight Mrs. G— thought of you; will you come?”
“Most gladly,” said I, “and I do trust that she may receive the truth as it is in Jesus, and find rest and comfort.”
I entered her room, silently taking a chair offered by her husband and I looked to the Lord to give me the right words to speak to her. Only a minute was given to me, for the sick one beckoned me near her, saying,
“I’m so glad that you’ve come, surely God has sent you.”
“What is your trouble?” I said, “are you afraid to die?”
“Yes,” she quickly replied, “for I am not fit for His presence. O! this fearful agony.”
“What agony?” I asked, “your poor body?”
“No, no,” she answered, “the pain of this poor frame is nothing, it’s my poor soul. Help me if you can, O, do help me.”
“Dear woman,” I replied, “you must look above me, I am only a poor creature like yourself, but I can tell you of One who is able to save you. ‘Come unto Me,’ says the Lord Jesus, ‘all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.’ Does not this meet your need?”
“I do want rest,” she replied, “but it doesn’t help me. Please tell me more.”
“Have you heard the story of the brazen serpent?” I asked. She nodded assent, and I went on. “Those Israelites bitten by the serpents were dying fast, but God told Moses that whosoever looked upon the uplifted serpent of brass, should live. And so it came to pass. You, Mrs. G—, are like to a bitten Israelite—sin has destroyed you, but God has provided a way whereby you may be saved. His Son has been lifted up—Jesus died upon the cross for sinners—the work of salvation is completed—look and live.”
“Look and live,” she repeated, while a ray of brightness passed over her poor sad face.
“Yes,” I said, “this is God’s saving way; are you willing to be saved His way?”
“What else can I do?” she replied, “I am helpless, vile, and ready to perish.”
I waited a few moments ere I spoke again, and then I asked her if she trusted the Lord Jesus, whose blood had paid sin’s heavy debt. Then came another pause.
“Bless God!” at length came from her lips, “I can trust Him! O! the power of those little words!”
“What words?” I asked.
“‘Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish,’” she replied.
“And so you can fully trust Him? and believe that you will not perish? and that you have eternal life?” I inquired.
“Yes, bless His name,” she responded, with fervor, “I can believe all that; those precious words have freed me.”
“Then you are not afraid to die?”
“Afraid!” she replied, her face lighting up as she spoke, “O! no, I’m very, very happy! I’m quite ready to go. His is a complete salvation. I know I shall go to be with Christ. I long to see Him!”
Together we praised God for His wondrous love in revealing Jesus, and then I rose to go.
“How can I thank you enough,” she said, as she grasped my hand, “for coming to tell me such blessed news? The Lord bless you.”
“Don’t thank me,” said I; “thank Him! The work was His alone—
“‘Alone He bore the cross,
Alone its grief sustained
His was the shame and loss,
And He the victory gained;
The mighty work Was all His own,
Though we shall share His glorious
throne.’”
She would say, “I rest upon God’s Word which cannot alter. God says, ‘whosoever believeth’ on His Son hath eternal life; I believe what He says, and therefore I know I am saved.”