I was in a large town where gospel meetings were being held, and I went to them. The speaker was a fearless man, faithful to his Lord, and to his hearers. I thought he was just suited for his audience and was enjoying his plain words, when one evening he made use of what I regarded as a strange and unwarrantable expression. I remember the words well, even to this day—now over twenty years gone by—though no doubt the servant of God who uttered them has long since lost their remembrance, if indeed he has not gone home. The words are these: "The most amiable lady in this town, out of Christ, is as near hell as the greatest drunkard in it."
What dreadful words to use! How dare he say such a thing as this! I went home highly indignant with the preacher, and of course gave him the cold shoulder. I prated to my wife about such manner of preaching as his; but at the same time I was restless. Can it be true, thought I, that a religious man as I am—one who has never drunk a glass of intoxicating drink in his life, and who has lived most morally—can such a one be as near hell as a poor drunkard? No, no; the idea is too shocking. But what does God say? I searched His Word and found: "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23).
I read these words over and over again, and then read many others. By the Spirit I was led to bow to the Word of God. I owned that I was all wrong, and became anxious to be made all right.
Bless God, He soon revealed His Son to me as the only Savior. I believed Him, received the Lord Jesus as my own personal Savior, and then could sing in truth:
"Happy day, happy day,
When Jesus washed my sins away."
Dear lost one, your very nature is sin against a holy God. Believe Him when He says: "There is NONE righteous, no, not one." Accept His salvation accomplished by His dear Son Jesus on Calvary's cross, and eternal life shall be yours.