A YOUNG lady was sleeping on her bed at night. As a child she had been taught to read the Bible, but when older had enjoyed whatever pleasures of the world she could attain unto, and very few thoughts of the future had troubled her. But on this night she suddenly and unaccountably awoke from sleep, and heard, as distinctly as if someone had spoken them in her ear, the words, “This night thy soul shall be required of thee.” Thoroughly aroused, she lay trembling. Her previous knowledge of the Bible left no doubt on her mind as to whence came the words (Luke 12:2020But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? (Luke 12:20)), and as she pondered them sleep fled away and fear took its place. What should she do? She knew not the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and prayer was her only known resource. “I felt,” she said, “as if I must wrestle and struggle with God in prayer; as if I must call on Him to save me. Before morning I might be dead, and what then?” Dear reader, if you have ever faced the thought of your sins, a holy God, and the future, you will guess what her feelings were. God had spoken to her. He had applied this passage of scripture, hidden in her memory, in living power to her soul, by the Holy Ghost, sent down here to convince the world of sin. She was like the lost sheep, who knew that it was lost, and after whom the Shepherd goes, “until He find it.”
But what means could be used to find this soul thus calling on God? Do you remember the verse that says, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved”? (Romans 10:1313For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13).)
Yes, blessed be God, so free is His grace, that even if a soul be in ignorance of His way of salvation, He never turns away from one who calls on Him, and Himself finds the means for accomplishing His gracious ends. “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
As my friend lay trembling and praying, suddenly and softly came stealing in on her soul the words, also as distinctly heard as the previous ones, “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:4343And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:43).) Again the voice of God―His still small voice making itself heard―she heard, and her soul lived. No more fear for the future; her night was turned to day, and instead of a night wherein to be summoned into God’s presence to hear of her sins, it had become a day wherein she could be glad and rejoice; for she trusted Him who had shed His blood on Calvary. Very dimly she saw it all at first, but very calmly she lay blessing God, recognizing too that she had passed from darkness to light. “Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man, to bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.” (Job 33:29, 3029Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man, 30To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living. (Job 33:29‑30).)
Another person, a few years later, also was sleeping on her bed at night. This time it was a Roman Catholic woman, who had never been taught to read the Bible, and had been brought up in a foreign land in utter ignorance of the truths of the gospel. “By what means could God speak to such an one?” you ask. “He giveth not account of any of His matters,” and He can do His work in His own way. “God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; then He openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction.... He keepeth back his soul from the pit.” (Job 33:14-1814For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. 15In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; 16Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, 17That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. 18He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword. (Job 33:14‑18).) On this night this woman awoke in a terrible fright. She had seen in her dream a beautiful abode from which she was shut out; and though you and I might not be affected by such a dream, my Roman Catholic friend was, and endured nights and days of misery therefrom. She dared not go to the priest, for she had neglected her supposed “duties” of confession and mass-going, and now she knew not what to do. But God, who had His own thoughts of mercy concerning her, brought her into connection with another woman who had received blessing to her soul, and who induced her to attend some gospel meetings.
“Are you unhappy still?” said one who was visiting her a few weeks later.
“No, I am quiet in my mind now.”
“But remember there is a quietness that the devil gives; he lulls his victims to sleep, and persuades them that hereafter is not to be thought of.”
“Oh, it is not so with me! My quietness comes from this. I know that the Bible says, ‘Whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.’ Ought I not to be happy, now that I do believe He has forgiven me?”
Yes, she ought; for she too had taken God at His word, and in her case too He had devised means whereby His banished might be brought home to Him. God had said, “Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.... He shall pray unto God, and He will be favorable unto him.” (Job 33:24, 2624Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. (Job 33:24)
26He shall pray unto God, and he will be favorable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness. (Job 33:26).) The Lord Jesus Himself has said, “Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice.” (John 10:1616And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. (John 10:16).) Do you think He will be disappointed? Oh, no! One by one He is bringing them in by different roads from the many paths where they have been wandering over the mountains of sin and difficulty; one by one they hear His voice, and are carried home on His shoulders with rejoicing. And soon will come the day when He shall “see the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied.” Have you heard His voice? Will you let God use the means He has devised to bring you home too? “God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave Himself a ransom for all.”
H. L. H.