A young man was greatly troubled about his soul. He knew that he was a sinner in God’s sight; and so deeply did he feel this, that he was often ready to lie down in despair, saying, “Is it possible that God can save such a miserable sinner?” In the daytime he thought of hell as his justly deserved punishment, and at night he would sometimes imagine himself shut up in the pit of outer darkness. He tried to reform, and live proudly on his good works; but, alas! he got nothing better, but rather grew worse. One evening, however, he was passing a large building, where a servant of the Lord was preaching. He went in. Soon after he entered he heard the preacher call attention to the words of our blessed Lord, “Whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16.) “Mark,” said he, “this word, WHOSOEVER!” For the first time this troubled hearer began to perceive the freeness of God’s grace in the Gospel, and to think there was some hope, after all, even for such a sinner as he was; because “whosoever” included him, and everyone else who accepted Christ for his Savior. I need not say, that by the power of the Spirit of God, his heart was thus led to look wholly to Jesus for salvation, and finding joy and peace in believing, he has delighted in the service of the Gospel for many years.
Dear reader, have you thus simply accepted Christ? Are you trusting in Him who died on the cross to save sinners? Is the precious blood of Christ the sole ground of your peace with God? With many others, this saved young man can say:
Until I saw the blood, ‘twas hell my soul was fen ring;
And dark and dreary in my eyes the future was appearing;
While conscience told its tale of sin,
And caused a weight of woe within.
But when I saw the blood, and looked at looked at Him who shed it,
MY right to peace was seen at once, and I with transport read it;
I found myself to God brought nigh,
And “Victory” became my cry.
But there is another “WHOSOEVER,” equally general in its scope, and free in its application. Yet, oh, how wide the contrast! “Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Rev. 20:15.) Mark, it is “whosoever;” for God is no respecter of persons. How solemn! If a man has not Christ Jesus, the Son of God, the Giver of everlasting life, for his Savior, how can his name be written in the book of life? Dear reader, solemnly ponder these words, “Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire,” and ask yourself the solemn question, “Shall I be there?”
H.H. Snell