WHOSOEVER means anyone. Now just let us read John 3. 16 together, and change the word whosoever: " For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that anyone who believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." How strange that more souls do not take advantage of this message of mercy and receive eternal life. It is without money and without price-free-for anyone. Reader, if unsaved, do you take it, and take it now.
A TRUE INCIDENT WELL ILLUSTRATES THIS.
An old woman was dying, she had but a brief time, to live. By her bedside sat a little girl reading the Scriptures to her. She was reading this Chapter (John 3), and had reached verse 16, when the poor old woman's attention was arrested by the word, " whosoever." She stopped the child, and asked her what " whosoever " meant. The child did not know " Then," said the woman, " run as quickly as you can, and ask the first person you meet."
The girl put down the Bible, and ran away to inquire the meaning of the word, " whosoever."
She stopped the first person she met, and said, " If you please, Sir, can you tell me the meaning of the word, ' whosoever '?
" Oh! yes, my little girl," replied the gentleman, " it just means anybody that likes."
She thanked him, and ran back to the old woman.
As soon as she reached the bedside the poor dying creature raised her fast-closing eyes, and said, " Oh! have you found out yet? "
" Yes," replied the girl. " I met a gentleman, who said it just means anybody that likes."
" Thank God! " she replied, as she put her thin hands together, and looked up to heaven, " Thank God then, I like, I like! "
And soon after she breathed her last, and without doubt passed away to be with Him who had been set before her as the object of faith.
Allow me, dear reader, to draw your attention to this remarkable verse, and also to divide it for you. Please to notice the two sides:-
GOD’S SIDE
“God so LOVED the world, that He GAVE His only begotten Son.”
YOUR SIDE
" That whosoever BELIEVETH in Him should not perish, but HAVE everlasting life."
Remark, the loving and giving are God's side; the believing and having are your side.
Now do not follow the bad example of so many. They are trying to change sides with God; trying to do the loving and giving, and wanting Him to do the believing and having; that is, they are trying to love God and trying to serve God; then they hope He will believe in their earnestness, and receive their good works, and give them eternal life on account of it all.
No, my friend, no. You are all wrong. You must keep your own side of the line, or you will never get the blessing. God has loved you, and given His Son for you; that is His part. Now do you really believe in Him with your heart? If so, then God says you shall not perish, and that you have-now-here in this world-everlasting life.
" He that believeth on the Son HATH everlasting life " (John 3. 36).
Another Scripture is equally emphatic: "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may KNOW that ye HAVE eternal life " (1 John 5. 13). God could not put it in plainer, simpler, and more emphatic language. How happy it is we have Scriptures, the meaning of which cannot be mistaken. What assurance! What certainty is the portion of the simplest believer, who takes God at His word.