Mrs.— was much stirred up in her soul.
Several of her friends and neighbors were being blessed under the preaching of the gospel in the town. One and another who had always thought that nobody could be sure of salvation till they came to the final Day of Judgment were being undeceived. The Word of God was setting them free; for the Word of God not only says a man can be sure of his salvation before the day of judgment, but it says also that the believer in Christ "shall not come to judgment, but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24).)
It says that "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God" (1 John 5:11Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. (1 John 5:1)); that the sins of all such are forgiven (2:12); and it wants them to know the blessed portion which is theirs now in this life (5:13).
This lady seemed unable to lay hold of it. She had been so long trying to build up some airy religious fabric that to simply believe the Word of God seemed too childlike.
"Can you really and honestly say, in the face of eternity, that you are saved now, that you are sure of heaven?" she asked of her neighbor.
"Yes," said the neighbor, "I can, and therefore I enjoy sweet peace with God.”
"O that I could say it too!" was the earnest though sad reply.
"Only believe," said her neighbor. "It is all done: only believe.”
"The Lord Jesus Christ came into this world to go to the cross to die for sinners, to bear the judgment of God that was due to all sinners, and now all who will accept Him as their Savior and Lord are eternally saved.”
A few days later, as she sat listening to the precious gospel of Christ, she perceived how that by His blood He had obtained eternal redemption for us poor guilty sinners. She believed, simply, and with a face shining for joy, she said, "Why didn't I see it before? It is so simple that it is a wonder how I could miss it.”
God grant that none who may read these pages may finally "miss it.”
Until I saw the blood,
'Twas hell my soul was fearing,
And dark and dreary in mine 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 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.
The fear of death was passed,
The sense of sin had vanished,
And all my misery of soul
Was now forever banished
By the blest truth, which, entered in—
That Jesus' blood cleanseth from sin.