======================================================================== WRITINGS OF OF GRACE ECHOES - VOLUME 1 by Of Grace Echoes ======================================================================== A collection of theological writings, sermons, and essays by Of Grace Echoes (Volume 1), compiled for study and devotional reading. Chapters: 99 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TABLE OF CONTENTS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1. … ”And That Means You” 2. 00.00. Titles/Contents 3. 1984 4. 400 Million Dollars 5. A Better World 6. A Candid Confession 7. A Child’s Faith 8. A Common Mistake 9. A Completely New Life 10. A Crushing Reply 11. A Divine Necessity 12. A Faithful Friend 13. A Father's Plea 14. A Footstool in Heaven? 15. A Friend of Sinners 16. A Genuine Gold Coin for a Penny 17. A Great Deliverance 18. A Greedy Man 19. A Happy Ending 20. A Jew's Faith 21. A Knock at the Door 22. A Lawyer Looks at the Resurrection 23. A Letter 24. A Life Changed 25. A Lighthouse in the Desert? 26. A Lost Sheep Found 27. A Message of Mercy 28. A Miracle of Grace 29. A Moment of Time 30. A Moment to Remember 31. A Musician’s Story 32. A Need That Is Greater 33. A Nurse's Story 34. A Pardon Refused 35. A Pauper's Grave 36. A Peculiar Poster 37. A Personal Decision 38. A Personal Matter 39. A Present Possession 40. A Rare Find 41. A Remarkable Letter 42. A Safe Harbor 43. A Sailor's Conversion 44. A Saved Moslem Writes.. 45. A Scotchman’s Conversion 46. A Single Page 47. A Sinner Saved by Grace 48. A Small Cause and a Far-Reaching Result 49. A Straight Line to Christ 50. A Stupid Mistake 51. A Submarine Rescue 52. A Sudden Call 53. A Tale of Two Horses 54. A True Friend 55. A Useless Ticket 56. A Wandering Sheep 57. A Waste of Time 58. A Wicked Wretch Released 59. A Wise Fool 60. A Word Fitly Spoken 61. A Wrong Diagnosis 62. A Young Soldier's Testimony 63. Abigail Becker 64. Accepting the Gift 65. After This 66. All Grace―All Glory 67. All Sin 68. All Sin 69. All That Believe 70. All of Mankind 71. All or Nothing 72. All's Well That Ends Well 73. Alligators! 74. Almost 75. Almost Gone! 76. Almost Lost 77. Always Confined 78. Amnesty 79. Amos Is Dead-Dead 80. An Atheist Said: 81. An Empty Tomb 82. An Empty Tomb 83. An Infidel’s Conversion 84. An Offering for Sin 85. An Officer's Message 86. An Old-Time Preacher Hits Hard 87. An Old-Time Preacher Hits Hard 88. An Old-Time Preacher Hits Hard 89. An Old-Time Preacher Hits Hard 90. An Old-Time Preacher Hits Hard 91. An Old-Time Preacher Hits Hard - Jonah's Sermon 92. And I Refused! 93. And Jesus Said 94. Answered Prayer 95. Anxious Questions With Wonderful Answers 96. Are We Free? 97. Are We Going up or Down? 98. Are You Adopted? 99. Are You Born of the Spirit? ======================================================================== CHAPTER 1: … ”AND THAT MEANS YOU” ======================================================================== … ”And That Means You” "I don’t believe it!" Not every unbeliever is as bold in his unbelief as was Anthony Harrold―a tough, illiterate old army pensioner who called "a spade a spade." Along with other vices he was a hard drinker. As his ungodly behavior increased, his poor wife became greatly troubled and succeeded in persuading him to attend a gospel meeting. Although not a Christian herself, she recognized that "religion" could be helpful. At the gospel meeting the Holy Spirit convicted Anthony of his sins and he saw himself lost and condemned before God. John Lawson, an ex-sergeant in the Royal Artillery was an earnest Christian. He heard of Anthony’s case and paid him a visit, hoping to lead him to Christ. Opening his Bible, Lawson read slowly: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him..." Here he stopped, and looking Anthony straight in the eye, added: "And that means you." He then resumed reading: "should not perish, but have everlasting life." Here he again interjected, "And that means you." Anthony was amazed. That God should love a drinking, swearing old sinner like him was quite beyond him; and that God should give His only begotten Son to die to save him from hell was even more unbelievable. Striking his big fist on the table, he shouted: "I don’t believe it!" Ignoring the violent interruption, Lawson again read the verse, and gazing at Anthony repeated: "And that means you." Again Anthony struck the table and shouted: "I don’t believe it!" Instead of chiding Anthony for impugning the Word of God, Lawson inquired how long he had been in the Army? "Twenty-one years and fourteen days", he replied. This time it was Lawson’s turn to strike his fist on the table and declare: "I don’t believe it!" "Do you think I would tell you a lie?" retorted the old man. "It was twenty-one years and fourteen days." "I don’t believe it!" reiterated Lawson. "Wife, bring me the parchment," Anthony demanded; and the document was presented. Lawson perused it and then asked Anthony if he believed it. Anthony’s answer was, that although he was unable to read, others had read it to him, and he believed what they told him. "How can you expect me to believe it when you refuse to believe the Word of God?" demanded Lawson. Then for the fourth time he read John 3:16, adding: "And that means you." Suddenly the scales dropped from the eyes of the old pensioner’s heart, and the light of the glorious gospel of Christ streamed in. He exclaimed: "I see it all! I believe it! Thank God!" Anthony Harrold became a new creature in Christ. The lion became a lamb. The bottle was abandoned. His home life was changed completely. He resolved to learn to read. His first spelling book was the Bible and his first lesson was from John 3:16. Afterward Anthony was used of God in the conversion of his wife and they loved to read the Bible together and talk of God’s amazing grace. May the reader too believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as he or she reads these lines. When you do, you will be able to say: "GOD LOVED; GOD GAVE; I BELIEVE; AND I’M SAVED." ======================================================================== CHAPTER 2: 00.00. TITLES/CONTENTS ======================================================================== Echoes of Grace - Library … ”And That Means You” 1984 400 Million Dollars A Better World A Candid Confession A Child’s Faith A Common Mistake A Completely New Life A Crushing Reply A Divine Necessity A Faithful Friend A Father’s Plea A Footstool in Heaven? A Friend of Sinners A Genuine Gold Coin for a Penny A Great Deliverance A Greedy Man A Happy Ending A Jew’s Faith A Knock at the Door A Lawyer Looks at the Resurrection A Letter A Life Changed A Lighthouse in the Desert? A Lost Sheep Found A Message of Mercy A Miracle of Grace A Moment of Time A Moment to Remember A Musician’s Story A Need That Is Greater A Nurse’s Story A Pardon Refused A Pauper’s Grave A Peculiar Poster A Personal Decision A Personal Matter A Present Possession A Rare Find A Remarkable Letter A Safe Harbor A Sailor’s Conversion A Saved Moslem Writes.. A Scotchman’s Conversion A Single Page A Sinner Saved by Grace A Small Cause and a Far-Reaching Result A Straight Line to Christ A Stupid Mistake A Submarine Rescue A Sudden Call A Tale of Two Horses A True Friend A Useless Ticket A Wandering Sheep A Waste of Time A Wicked Wretch Released A Wise Fool A Word Fitly Spoken A Wrong Diagnosis A Young Soldier’s Testimony Abigail Becker Accepting the Gift After This All Grace―All Glory All of Mankind All or Nothing All Sin (2) All That Believe Alligators! All’s Well That Ends Well Almost Almost Gone! Almost Lost Always Confined Amnesty Amos Is Dead-Dead An Atheist Said: An Empty Tomb (2) An Infidel’s Conversion An Offering for Sin An Officer’s Message An Old-Time Preacher Hits Hard - "Have You a Remedy?" An Old-Time Preacher Hits Hard - Jonah’s Sermon An Old-Time Preacher Hits Hard - One Thing Lacking! An Old-Time Preacher Hits Hard - Taking God at His Word An Old-Time Preacher Hits Hard - The Word of God Simple and Definite An Old-Time Preacher Hits Hard - What Does "Converted" Mean? And I Refused! And Jesus Said Answered Prayer Anxious Questions With Wonderful Answers Are We Free? Are We Going up or Down? Are You a Stranger? Are You Adopted? Are You Born of the Spirit? Are You Converted? Are You Crazy? Are You Ready to Meet Him? Are You Ready? (2) Are You Sure? Are You Thirsty? Are You Waiting? As Good as Many Christians As It Was in the Days of Noah" Luke 17:26 Asleep in a Burning Bed At the Last Back to School Barney’s 100Th Birthday Be Not Afraid Be Not Deceived! Be Prepared Be Prepared! Because God Says It Because He First Loved Because It Works Bed Afire but He Slept On Bees Will Sting! Behold the Man Believe Believe in God Believe It!” Believeth―Hath Believing Is Seeing Benny’s Hope Better Than, Lighting His Pipe Big Bill Big Winners Blind Landing Board the Train to Life Braley Buries His Past Briefs By-And-By Call I Is Name Jesus Call! Called Can I Find Him? Can Water Burn? Can We Be Sure of Salvation? Can We Know? Cash in and Cash Out Catastrophe Caught" “Red-Handed” Change for a Twenty Dollar Gold Piece? Choos Now Choose Life! Choose Your Side! Christ Alone Can Save Christ Got Hold of Me Christ in Japan (2) Christ Is Coming Christ Is Coming! Christ Is the Answer Christ or Self? Christ, Not Krishna Christ, or Self? Christopher Code 99! Collision Course Come Unto Me Come Unto Me … I Am the Way Come! Coming Tonight Coming Tonight! Confession Conflicting Advice Conversion Conversion of a Hindu Converted by His Own Story Creation Cyclone Daisy Danger Ahead Danger! Keep Out Dead Weight Deadlines Deaf Ears "Having Ears, Hear Ye Not?" Dear to God Death Over San Diego Death Valley Death With Dignity Deathbed Repentance December 7 Decision for Christ: What Does It Mean? Delivered From the "Pit" Dennis the Cat Desperation Detroit to Saint Louis Dipped From Death Disintegrating Promises Divine Certainty or My Thoughts Divine Relationship Do You Have a Comforter? Do You Have Peace With God? Do You Know God? Do You Know Grace? Do You Know the Shepherd? Do You Know? Do You Need Sleeping Pills? Do" or "Done"? Doctor, Don’t Let Me Die! Don’t Go, John! Don’t Panic D-O-N-E Don’t You Believe in Good Works? Dream or Reality? Earth’s Passing Trifles Effective Proof Eighteen Today Election Eternal Life―The Gift of God Eternal Safety Eternal Salvation Eternally Night Everybody’s Doing It Examine Yourself Excused Excuses Facing the Judge Faith Alone Fame Without Future Family Trees Far Too Easy a Way (2) Farmer John Farr Too Easy a Way Fatal Inattention Father Forgive Fear of Death or Hope of Glory? Feelings Fire Alarm Fire if You Dare! First Anglo-Saxon Translation of John First Pray! Flame-Out Over Portland (2) Following the Plan For My Neighbor For or Against? For Seeking Souls For Thirty Dollars For Us Both Forest Fire! Forgiven Found out and Turned Out Four Things He Knew Fred, the Miner Freedom Freedom From Fear Full Confidence Fullness of Joy Fun or Happiness, Which? Get My Mother In! God Answers Your Questions God Held Him Fast! God Is Knocking God Is Satisfied God Is Satisfied! Are You? God Loves You God Revealed God Speaking God Struck My Limbs God Will Not Sell His Blessing God’s Answer God’s Answer―A Telegram God’s Blessed Man God’s Gift God’s Glittering Sword God’s Grace God’s Love God’s Salvation: a Free Gift God’s Time Is Now God’s Universe God’s Way (2) God’s Way of Salvation God’s Word Is Sure God’s Works Are Perfect Going With the Crowd Grandma’s Faith Grandpa’s Sale Great Discoveries Grounded! Halley’s Comet Happiness Happy New Year Haunted for Fourteen Years Have I Christ? Have You Believed the Gospel? Have You Raised Anchor? He Arose and Came He Came but Why? He First Loved Me He Giveth Power to the Faint He Hid for Half His Life He Is Happy He Is Risen! He Kissed Me! He Loves You He Made the Coupling He Never Said Goodbye He Satisfies He Settled It Last Night He Took My Place He Took My Whipping for Me Healed Healed by His Stripes Heather’s Rescue Her Eighteenth Birthday Here I Am! Hid With Christ in God Hide Thyself Hide-And-Seek Him That Cometh Him That Cometh to Me His Father’s Will His Last Chance His Last Ride His Life for Me! His Pain―My Gain His Stripes Hold-Up! How Am I to Come to Christ? How Can I Know? How Can I Meet God? How Charles Boblitz Was Saved How Deep May I Drink? How Do I Know My Sins Are Forgiven? How Do You Olean House? How Far Is It to Hell? How Far? How Foolish We Are! How Jack Was Made New! How Many Baths? How Much Does Sin Weigh? How to Be Saved How to Have a Happy New Year I Always Knew There Must Be a Way I Am Saved! I Am the Lord’s I Am Too Bad I Can Do Nothing I Cannot Feel Saved I Come Quickly I Could Not Hold On I Didn’t See God in Space I Don’t Want It There! I Don’t Want to Be Sad I Don’t Believe in the Right Way I Don’t Feel Right I Don’t Know Where I’m Going I Have Done Nothing to Deserve God’s Mercy, I Have Sinned I Have Sold My Soul I Just Came I Love You! I Need Life First I Often Look at Him! I Think I Thought He Would Knock Again I Thought I Was Dead I Want More Time I Was a Prisoner I Will Give Up I’ll Never Walk Again I’m a Thief If a Man Does the Best He Can If He Should Come Tonight If I Die Tonight If We Neglect In a Prison Cell In Black and White In Paradise In the Beginning In the Dark In the Hands of the Master - to Think I Almost Refused the Master! In the Twinkling of an Eye (2) In Thy Youth Inflation Invited Is My Religion Enough? Is That All Is There a God? Is There a Hell? Is Your Name Written … ? Is Your Soul Safe? It Don’t Believe It! It Has Life in It It Is Finished! It Is the Gospel of God It Stood the Test It Was for Me It Wasn’t Justice! It Would Not Burn It’s Bad News It’s No Joke I’ve Got Ten Years! Jesus Gave Her Water Jesus Is Enough Jesus Loves Me Jesus Saves! Jesus the Messiah (2) Jose, the Burglar Joy and Peace in Believing Just Another Day Just as I Am, Without One Plea Just as You Are (2) Just Lippen to Jesus Just Plain Facts Just Take It Keruba the Bandit Know the Lord! Latitude 25, Longitude 54! Laughter―The Big Cover-Up Leonardo and the Birds Let Go of Your Rope Let Go, and Let God Let Not Conscience Make You Linger Let Us Alone Let’s Get the Record Straight! Liar and Fool Lie Still! Lie Still! Life in a Look Light in the Valley Like a Child Little Girl Lost Little Orphans Little Things Living With Danger Look Lord Curzon and the King of Terrors Lost at Sea Lost Islands Lost on Mount Seymour Love Your Enemies Love’s Greatest Monument? Main Street" and What It Means to Me Make Me Good Make up Your Mind Man, I Am Sorry for You! Man’s Greatest Sin! Man’s Strange Sense of Values Marooned! Mary Maximilian Kolbe Me Memories Mercy, Jesus Mighty to Save (2) More Than a Hope Mother, I Dare Not Pray! Mother’s Prayers Answered Must I Quit All These? My All My Eyes My Sheep Hear My Voice My Sinful Nature Napoleon and the Soldier Napoleon’s Testimony Neglect Neglect, the Super Thief Never Enough! New Life―A "Must" Nine Religions No Christians in Hell No God? No One Ever Cast Out No Profit" or "Great Gain" No Relies No Resurrection? No Time No Time to Get Ready None Good Enough, None Too Bad Not of Works Not Sure of Tomorrow Not the Righteous Nothing Nothing but the Blood of Jesus O Happy Day! O Sleeper, Arise! O Word Old Hundred’s Heart Trouble On the Sand On the Value of Time One in a Million One Sheep? One Sin (2) One Step Too Many Only a Step Only a Touch Only a Touch! Mark 5:25-34 Only an Enquirer Only Believe Only God Could Do It! Only One Church Open Thou Mine Eyes Opportunities Opportunity Our Dream? Our Living Souls Out of His Mouth Over the Edge Pain Pathan or Christian? Peace Peace and Rest Peace and Safety Peace! Peace: False and True Personal Conversion Plane Crashes Playing With Death Polluted! Prayer Preaching―Yet Unsaved Procrastination Professor or Possessor? Do You Have Religion or Christ? Profit and Loss Statement Pull Me up Janet! Pull Over Put My Finger There Raised up Together … in Christ Jesus Raking It In Rattlesnake! Read It to Me Again Real Love Religion or Salvation Religion, or Christ Rescue Rescued! (2) Resting in Jesus Resting on the Word Resurrection Reuben Johnson’s Pardon Reveal Thyself to Me! Rich for a Moment Ring out the Old! Roadmaps Robben Island Roosevelt’s Mistake Run for the Gate Runaways, Get Free Ride Home Salvation ―A Gift Salvation by Grace Alone Salvation for the Needy Salvation Is for the Lost! Sam Leary’s Barn San Francisco’s Earthquake Sand Castles Saved and Happy Saved by a Sheep Saved by a Thread Saved by Grace Saved by Grace Alone Saved in a Post Office Scripture Quotation Secure, Now and Forever See How Much I Will Lose Settled Peace Shall You Be There? Shark Attack She Risked Her Life Shed for Me! Shut Up! Shut Up! I Am Busy Sin and Its Remedy Since Now Sincerity Sinking or Rising? Sins Covered Sir Walter Scott and The: Bible Skrudur Rock Slow of Heart to Believe So as by Fire So Thirsty! Something Better Something for Nothing Something Missing Something That Had to Be Done Sorry! Soul Satisfaction Spiders That Go to School Standard Oil Job Not Big Enough Standing Before the Judge Starting to Get Ready to Begin Stewart and Billy Still Waiting Storm Warnings Street Gangs Struck by Lightning Such a Little Thing Summer Plans? Sure of Heaven Take It! Take Me as I Am Taking God at His Word Taking or Giving Which? Taxi Driver Saved Tell Him All Telling Others About Jesus That Little World "Alone” That’s My Prayer Thay Put It in Writing The "British Sportsman" The "Portland" The “Challenger” Explodes The Amazing Power of Magnets The Ant Lion The Artist and the Gypsy Girl The Astrologer The Awakening The Barometer The Barometer’s Warning The Believer’s Destiny The Best of All Times The Best Thing in the World (2) The Big Question The Bird in the Boat The Birds and the Lighthouses The Black Sheep The Blessed Hope The Book and the Blood The Brahmin Student The Burglar Alarm The Cat’s "Meow" The Cave The Certainties of Scripture The Changed World The Clown The Coming of the Lord The Coming Year The Convict The Corporal The Costliness of Salvation The Crossing Guard The Cure for Fear The Danger of Delay The Debt Is Paid The Decision The Doctor’s Discovery The Election The End The End of His Days The Enemy Pardoned The Engineer’s Surprise The Fear of Death The Fire Extinguisher The Fortune Teller The Fountain The Fruitless Search The Gamblers The Gift of God The Gift, or the Wages The Gobi Miner The Good Shepherd The Gospel "Abc" The Gospel Cap The Gospel in a Teacup The Gospel Message The Gospel of Joy The Gospel Through the Keyhole The Great Clock The Great Cover-Up The Great Divide - Luke 23:1-56 The Great Physician The Great Trip The Greatest Gift (2) The Greatest Question in the World The Hand That Never Failed The Hiding Place The High-Water Mark The Holiness of God The Homing Instinct The House of Refuge The Immeasurability of Creation The Infidel Farmer The Inventor The Joke The Joy of Salvation The Katia The Kloof of the Crying Child The Land of His Dreams The Last The Latter End The Leak The Life Vest The Light Shines Out The Lord Cometh The Lost Sheep Found The Love of God The Love of Life The Man Who Found God in a Well The Man Who Had Nothing The Memorial The Merry-Go-Round to Hell The Mindless Stream The Most Beautiful Book The Most Ungodly Man in Town The Mountain Lion The New Birth - Its Necessity and Its Nature― John 3:1-36 The New Boat The New Heart The New Helmet The New Policeman The Nurse’s Mistake The Old Signpost The Only Solution The Only Way The Opera Door The Pearl The Pharisees The Pleasure Poll The Pony Express The Power of God The Power of the Bible The Prescription The Question Answered The Race Car Driver The Red Light The Refuge The Remedy: Have You Applied It The Rest of His Time The Right Ticket The Right Way The ’’Robber’s Bible The Robin’s Message The Royal Hunt The Russian Dancer The Saving Touch The Seeking Soul The Sergeant’s Mistake The Silent Smoke Alarm The Skeptic’s Challenge The Skipper’s Way― Is It Yours? The Sky Diver The Slide The Smoke Alarm The Storm The Stranded Bird The Survival of the Fittest The Teacher The Time Is Short The Traveler The True Friend The Twelfth Hour The Two Doctors The Unkindness of Skepticism The Unlocked Door The Unseen Helmsman The Waiting Friend The Way Made Plain The Will to Live The Wolf Hunter The Work Finished The World Passeth Away” 1 John 2:11 The Worst Way to Die The Wrath to Come The Wrong Place The Wrong Way There Is a Path There Were Ninety and Nine There’s Plenty of Time Thirsty Thirty Years of Service This Man This May Be It This Very Moment Thoroughly Sincere Thou Art the Man Thou God Seest Me Thou Remainest Though the Mountains Shake Though Your Sins Be as Scarlet Three Certainties Three Indisputable Facts Three Inscriptions Three Men on a Cross - Luke 23:37-43 Three Weeks to Live Through the Straight Gate Time Enough Time Enough Yet Time Is Short Time Its Short Tomorrow Too Cheap Too Far to Help Too Fast Too Proud Tracts Everywhere Trapped! Treacherous Footing True Faith True Peace Trust Trust Him Wholly Truth in the Inward Parts Trying to Be Good Twenty-Three Two Doors Two Songs Two Strings to Your Bow Under His Wings Useless Advice Waiting to Feel Something Wake Up! Walls Wanted: an Eyewitness! Was It a Lie? Was It Justice? Water Snow Frost We Are Left―We Must Die Weather Report What About Him? What Are You Waiting Fur? What Best Thou for Me? What Came of Missing the Train What Can Wash Away My Sins? What Can You Believe? What Can You Give to God? What Do You Know? What Do You Say for It? What Is "Grace"? What Is a True Christian? What Is Heaven? What Is Hell? What Is Man? What Is Meant by Believing? What Is Salvation What Is Saving Faith What Is the Gospel? What Is the Way to Heaven? What Is to Be, Will Be What More Can I Do? What More Do You Want? What Price Ransom? What Rs Wrong? What Shall a Man Give in Exchange for His Soul? What Shall I Do? What Shall It Profit a Man? What the Bible’s All About What the Man Said Was True What the Word of God Says About Sin: What Then? What Time Is It? What Will the Harvest Be? What Will You Say? What Would It Cost? What’s Your Name, Doctor? What’s in a Name? When and Where When God Said "No!" When I Met My Savior When I Survey the Wondrous Cross When Should a Sick Man Take Medicine? When Will You Let Me In? Where Are Your Sins? Where To? Which Is Worse? Which Thief? Which? Which? Were? (2) While You’re Young Whiter Than Snow Who Are You Counting On? Who Cares? (2) Who Created These? Who Is on God’s Side? Who Is This Man? Who Made It? Whom Does God Love? Whosoever Whosoever" Means Me! Why Am I Not a Christian? Why Delay? Why Did He Die? Why Did This Happen to Me? Why Didn’t You Pay the Ransom Why Not You? Why People Don’t Read the Bible Why Was the Epistle of John Written? Why? Will Come Will He Do It Today? Will You Live to Be 100? Will Your Anchor Hold? William Cowper William! Wonder-Working Books Wrong Thoughts About God You Are a Marked Man You Are Afraid to Die You Call Me … Yet You Can Be Saved You May Know You Need a New Heart You Need Christ You Need the Blood You Stole My Sheep You, Me, or Anybody Else Your Greatest Need Your Lack Your Soul Is Immortal Your Soul! Your True Place Yourself or Himself? ======================================================================== CHAPTER 3: 1984 ======================================================================== 1984 What an ominous sound that has! When George Orwell, the English novelist, wrote his prophetic novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, that grimly imaginative picture of life in a future year, he simply reversed the date of the year in which he was writing from 1948 to 1984. Since then the year 1984 has come to have almost a "Doomsday" sound to it. Through the mercy of God, the predicted totalitarian state has not yet fully developed. There is still religious freedom in many countries. But evil is rapidly and openly increasing; wars and threats of war seem epidemic, and incident after incident seems to be propelling the whole world into one great final holocaust. How strange it would be if the year 1984, that date chosen apparently by chance, should really be the last year of life as we have known it―the last year of our familiar civilization―the last year of the day of grace. There is no question that the end of our age is near! "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers... lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God." 2 Timothy 3:1-4. That certainly describes our times, and our times are the last days of this age. Then what? Then "the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." 2 Peter 3:10. Terrible, terrible future! Is there no way to escape? Of course there is―but only now "while it is called today:’ When the day of grace has ended the door will be shut, firmly and finally, to all who have been saying, "I’ll think about these things―tomorrow." "I want to be saved, but not NOW." NOW is all the time we have, now is the day of grace, "now is the day of salvation." Why wait? Why not "seek... the Lord while He may be found, call... upon Him while He is near"? Why not "acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace"? "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee." Isaiah 26:3. Our coins say, "In God We Trust." The Lord Jesus says, "Ye believe in God, believe also in Me." To those who believe in Him and who come to God by Him there is no threatening future this year or any year, no fear of judgment to come, only the wonderful promise, "I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14:3. For the Christian, 1984 may well be the happiest of years, the year in which our Lord comes to take us home to be with Himself. "I will come again, and receive you unto Myself." John 14:3. "Behold, I come quickly." Revelation 22:7. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 4: 400 MILLION DOLLARS ======================================================================== 400 Million Dollars Two steady streams of bubbles rose above the divers digging in the silt and mud of the ocean bottom near Key West. Bubbles, silver bubbles, were steadily rising and bursting at the surface. Under the water, the divers stared unbelievingly at real silver solid silver in what looked like a reef of silver. No silver bubbles these! Sixteen years of treasure hunting had paid off; they were looking at last at the Atocha treasure, lost in a hurricane in 1622. Hard years they had been; years of search and storm and sorrow. At least three lives had been lost in the search, including the son of the chief treasure hunter himself, but "it was worth it," he said, as he considered the $400 million worth of gold and silver to be recovered from the old wreck. "Gold shines forever, dazzling, brilliant, blinding... I’m under the spell," he said. Many, many others have been "under the spell." Gold fever is not new; witness the recurrent gold rushes in history. All through the ages men have fought and schemed and murdered and died for gold and silver, treasures of the earth. Very recently there was another kind of "gold rush" when speculation and frantic trading pushed the price of gold up towards $1000 per ounce. The mining industry spent millions of dollars expanding their operation and opening new mines. What happened? The price peaked at $850, and then began to slide down - down - down. Today it is a little above $300, but in some mines it costs more than that to mine an ounce. For many mines and miners the situation is critical, and they face an uncertain future if the market does not rise soon. The Bible tells us not to "trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God." 1 Timothy 6:17. The Atocha treasure must be guarded day and night; otherwise that gold may be "dazzling, brilliant, blinding" in the eyes of a thief. The finders of the treasure may that "better is little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure and trouble therewith." Proverbs 15:16. The truth is that even gold will not "shine forever." It can be melted by heat or chemical action and all its brilliance lost to view. And, no matter what value gold and silver may have on earth, it is still true that "they that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him... that he should still live forever, and not see corruption.... Men die... and leave their wealth to others." And the reason: "For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth forever." Psalms 49:6-10. All the gold and silver in the world is not enough to redeem one soul. The soul who comes to the end of life with nothing more than gold and silver―or stocks and bonds―or bank accounts and other investments ―will find too late that the redemption of his soul has ceased forever. If wealth cannot save a soul, what can? The Apostle Peter answers in 1 Peter 1:18-19 : "Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold... but with the precious blood of Christ." Christ died on the cross to redeem our souls so that now, even though "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God," we can be "justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Romans 3:23-24. Freely―freely―FREELY! "Without money and without price" salvation is offered now to everyone, rich and poor alike. Believe it. Receive it. It is a treasure that will last forever. "Nor silver nor gold hath obtained my redemption, Nor riches of earth could have saved my poor soul; The blood of the cross is my only foundation, The death of my Savior now maketh me whole. "I am redeemed, but not with silver; I am bought, but not with gold; Bought with a price―the blood of Jesus, Precious price of love untold." ======================================================================== CHAPTER 5: A BETTER WORLD ======================================================================== A Better World "I don’t wish for any better world than this," a friend said to me the other day. Yet he had to leave this world! And you and I must leave it too. As surely as the leaves will one day fall, so surely must we one day leave this world. And when this happens, what then? If you were told that within the year you would have to leave your home, and your country, and relocate in a foreign land to spend the rest of your life there, how anxious you would be to know where you were going and what that country would be like. And yet, knowing that one day death will take you by the hand and lead you into eternity, have you ever faced the question, "Where am I going, and what will become of me?" There are two places to spend eternity, only two, and their names are heaven and hell. Heaven is where God is, the One before whom angels bow proclaiming Him, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty." Hell is to be the place of the devil and of all who die in their sins. Have you ever sinned? God knows man well, and He says, "All have sinned." Romans 3:23. Every sin you commit―that is, each wrong thought, wrong word, wrong act―is written down in the Book of God, and all sin demands judgment, for God is a just God. But you do not need to die in your sins. There is a way in which God can be just and yet forgive you and take you to heaven. God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world. He lived a perfect life; there was not the least taint of sin in Him, and then He went to the cross where He "suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God." 1 Peter 3:18. He "offered Himself without spot to God" that sin might be judged in His own holy person. On that cross He shed His precious blood, and now we can know that "the blood of Jesus Christ His [God’s] Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:7. When Jesus had been in the grave three days, God raised Him from the dead and now sends this wonderful message to the world: "Through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by Him all that believe are justified from all things." Acts 13:38-39. This is God’s message to you, and this is the way to heaven. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 6: A CANDID CONFESSION ======================================================================== A Candid Confession Some missionaries had gone to a previously unreached tribe. Their message was listened to with interest for a while, but then the tribesmen spoke: "You say that the God of the Christians knows everything, that nothing is hidden from Him, that He is everywhere and sees all that is done. Now, we do not desire a God so sharp-sighted! We choose to live with freedom in our forests without having a perpetual observer of our actions over our heads." In their simplicity they told what was in their hearts. But what they uttered candidly is what many secretly wish might be the case. Man’s desire is to hide himself from God. He wishes that there were no God who observes his ways and to whom he must give account. In all his thoughts it is, No God for me. No one to control my action. No one to record my sins against me. No one to call me to account. But God IS. And whether people of savage tribes or "civilized" people like it or not, He observes men’s ways. The wicked... will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.... He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: He hideth His face; He will never see it.... Thou hast seen it; for Thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with Thy hand. (Psalms 10:3-4; Psalms 10:11; Psalms 10:14) God has seen. Who is this God who "has seen" and who "will requite"? Is He a God delighting in judgment? Is it His pleasure to condemn the sinner? Far from it. He delights in mercy. He has made Himself known through the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. There He has revealed Himself in His true character: God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8.) Sin deserved judgment. For believers, judgment has fallen. But it has fallen on the One whom the love of God provided. The way of blessing is open now. God is known as Love, and those who once feared Him, now rejoice in His presence. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 7: A CHILD’S FAITH ======================================================================== A Child’s Faith "I thank Jesus that He was punished for me." Such was a child’s confession of faith in Christ. It was simple, yet expressive, brief, but full of truth and meaning. It contained the sum and substance of the glad tidings of salvation through a crucified Christ. The little one knew herself to be a sinner, and knew that she deserved punishment; she saw a Savior who bore that punishment instead of herself; she believed God’s Word, and accepted God’s substitute. She just applied the prophetic words in Isaiah 53:6 to herself, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all." The possessor of the mightiest intellect that ever existed has just to take the place of this little child before peace in believing can be enjoyed. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 8: A COMMON MISTAKE ======================================================================== A Common Mistake In a country village an old man was anxious to know how he could get the forgiveness for which he felt such a need. A preacher had visited him from time to time, and had taught him that he must pray as long as he lived, and hope in the end for God’s mercy through Christ. He told him that he could not know that his sins were forgiven till the day of judgment. A servant of the Lord heard of the old man’s case. He went to see him, hoping to be of some help, and asked him, "How do you expect to be saved?" "Well, I keep on praying, and hope God will have mercy on me." "Because you pray?" "Well, yes; I cannot expect to be saved unless I do pray." "Then your prayer is to save you?" "Why, as to that, I suppose it is Christ who must save me, but I continually pray for forgiveness." "That is, YOU must have a hand in it. Now, if I were to hold out a five dollar bill in my hand and ask you to accept, would you beg and pray me to give it to you, or would you take it?" "Why, TAKE it, of course," said the poor old man, smiling at the apparent absurdity of such a question." "My friend," he said, "God Himself offers you full forgiveness of sin. He holds it out to you and asks you to believe Him. He declares that ’the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.’ 1 John 1:7. "Instead of taking what He offers, and believing His blessed Word, you keep on asking Him to give you the great Gift He has been offering to you these many years. "He asks you to look to Christ! You look to prayer. He declares to you forgiveness through the blood of Christ! You tell Him in return you don’t believe Him, for if you did you clearly would not ask Him to give you that which He freely offers you. So, you make God a liar, and hope to be saved for doing so!" The old man’s eyes were opened. He was astonished at himself; his conscience was exercised; a real conviction of sin against God followed, and he finally believed and was saved. "This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent. Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:29; John 6:37. "I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand." John 10:28. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 9: A COMPLETELY NEW LIFE ======================================================================== A Completely New Life His old friends were trying to turn him back to his old life. "All right, boys," he said, "go on, say all you want to, make all the fun of me you want, but I have tried it now for over six months. "Taverns do not get my money now; I have a clear head, a clear eye, and a happy heart, all because I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior." "These words spake Jesus... and these things I speak in the world, that they might have My joy fulfilled in themselves." John 17:1; John 17:13. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 10: A CRUSHING REPLY ======================================================================== A Crushing Reply A native chief in the New Hebrides Islands was before his conversion a cannibal. Years later as a happy Christian he was one day reading his Bible when a French trader hailed him. The trader exclaimed: "What is that you are reading?" "The Bible," answered the chief. "O, that’s played out: I don’t believe it ever did anyone any good." "Don’t you?" replied the chief calmly. "Then let me tell you, sir, if it were not for the Bible, you would be in my oven!" "Who was before a blasphemer, and persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy." 1 Timothy 1:13. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 11: A DIVINE NECESSITY ======================================================================== A Divine Necessity "Ye must be born again." So said the Lord of glory in John 3:7. This truth can be explained in this way: you can take a vessel of any metal, and reform it, change its shape and design. You can melt and mold it into quite a variety of forms. But you cannot change its essential nature. If it is of iron, or brass, or silver, it will remain the same metal. Not until you can change the iron into brass, the brass into silver, the silver into gold, can you change by your own effort your sinful nature and be a partaker of the divine nature. The outward life may be reformed, but the soul remains the same in essential quality, in the sight of God. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." John 3:6-7. Have you been born again? ======================================================================== CHAPTER 12: A FAITHFUL FRIEND ======================================================================== A Faithful Friend There was once a farmer who had a dog that had been very useful to him. But the dog was getting old, and his ungrateful master made up his mind to get rid of him by drowning him. Taking the dog with him to a river near his farm, he got into a boat and rowed out to the deepest part. He had brought along a heavy stone which he had tied to a cord, and this he fastened around the dog’s neck. Then he threw him into the water. The poor dog sank, but the cord broke, and as he rose to the surface, he tried with a whine to get into the boat again. Unmoved, his pitiless master pushed him off a number of times with an oar. At last the heartless man stood up in the boat with the oar in his hands, intending to strike the dog a blow that would send him to the bottom. However, in the attempt he lost his balance and fell into the water himself. He could not swim and would have drowned, but when the faithful dog saw his master struggling in the water, in spite of the cruel treatment he had just received from him he swam up to him, caught hold of his clothes and brought him safely to land. What an inhumane way to treat an animal whose only fault was old age! We only hope he had a change of heart and showered his faithful friend with kindness for the rest of his days. But stop a moment, friend. Have you not been guilty of a far worse breach of the laws of kindness and uprightness? Let us go back nineteen hundred years to the time when Jesus the Son of God came into this world. Though He was God Himself, the Truth and the Light, He brought nothing but love and blessing for poor ruined man. He went about doing good healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, raising the dead, feeding the hungry, and bringing joy to the weary and sad. And yet, what did men do with Him? They cried out, "Away with Him," and nailed Him to a cross. What terrible wretchedness and wickedness was found in man’s heart! But that is your heart, and mine, too. The Bible says, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9. We will take His blessing from His hands one moment, but will get rid of Him the next if His will crosses the path of our will. Now let us look at that blessed man on the center cross, and see the heart of God told out. There is not a word of scorn or resentment, not a finger raised in opposition; "He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb." Isaiah 53:7. It is all love going out to a world of guilty sinners. Then we hear Him pray, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." Though the cross was the place where men sought to get rid of Him, in His death it became the place where His saving grace flows out to all who come in repentance, confessing their sins, and own Him as their Savior and Lord. The farmer’s faithful dog turned around and saved his master’s life, but Jesus saves not for time only, but for all eternity; He gives eternal life. "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." If you do not yet know this blessed Savior, we urge you to come to Him now, while it is the day of His grace. Soon He will come in judgment on this world, and what will happen to the ungodly and the sinner in that terrible day? "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." 1 John 4:9-10. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 13: A FATHER'S PLEA ======================================================================== A Father’s Plea In South Korea today there is freedom of religion, but it has not always been so. During the year of the Japanese occupation, Shinto shrine worship was compulsory. Even children in school were required to bow before the shrines, and older Christians who refused were sent to prison. At last the Japanese withdrew and the Christians were free to worship God again, free to hold jobs and to send their children to the public schools. Mr. Sohn of Sunchon was one of these. Released from prison, he soon resumed his old work in charge of a leper hospital in Sunchon and sent his two sons back to school. Like their father, the two boys were faithful and out-spoken Christians and were soon the leaders of a band of Christians in their school. But peace had not really come to Korea yet. Rioting began in the southern districts. As the older son of Mr. Sohn was praying in his room, the door was thrown open by one of his own classmates who shouted, "Here is the most obnoxious Christian boy! Take him!" Rioters poured into the room, beating and stabbing Elder Son with bamboo spears. He was dragged to the people’s court and sentenced to be shot. As Elder Son was dragged away to the place of execution, Younger Brother threw himself in front of him, crying, "Don’t kill him! Kill me instead!" The rioters shot both boys to death. The day after the double murder the national army occupied Sunchon and order was restored. Many of the rioting students were arrested, and among them was the one who caused the death of the two Sohn boys. He was tried and sentenced to be shot. Mr. Sohn heard of the sentence and, even though still grieving for his own two boys, he hurried to the army headquarters to beg the commanding officer to pardon the boy. At first the answer was, "NO!" But he pled so earnestly that at last the officer consented and released the boy to Mr. Sohn. Then Mr. Sohn took the wretched boy who had caused the death of his own two beloved sons into his own home. He fed him and cared for him and above all told him how Elder Son and Younger Brother had believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, how they had trusted themselves to Him for time and eternity, and that, thought they were dead, they were with their Lord Jesus and alive forevermore. Such love and grace―is it any wonder that the boy soon became a Christian just like the "most obnoxious Christian boy" he had hated? What a little picture this is of God’s love and grace! He sent His own beloved Son into the world, yet the world hated Him and cried, "Away with Him!" Now what does God say to the world that crucified His Son? "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16. "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God." John 1:12. Sons of God! Even as Mr. Sohn saved the life of that poor Korean boy and took him into his own home, so God now accepts all who will receive Him. "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." 1 John 4:10. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 14: A FOOTSTOOL IN HEAVEN? ======================================================================== A Footstool in Heaven? My mother was born in a small town in Germany. As a child she was brought up in the popular religion of the country, which impressed upon her the fact that she was a sinner. Often as a child, Mother would pray, "Lord, make me Your footstool in heaven but don’t cast me down to hell." She always longed for a real sense of peace, but the years went by and she did not find it. In her twenties, she was invited by a school friend to move to America. She got a job as a stewardess on an ocean liner, and soon found herself in Boston. Still the search in her heart went on. Crossing the ocean had not changed her, nor did her marriage, nor yet another move to California to live. She continued to pray, "Lord, make me Your footstool in heaven!" Still she was conscious of a dreadful fear that He might reject her at the last. One day Mother was hanging out clothes and singing in German. Her surprised neighbor called to Mother in German, and a warm friendship was begun. As they talked, the neighbor said, "We’re Christians, and if you would like to come over and read the Bible with us we’d sure like that." Soon the Bible study with her neighbors grew to be a vital part of Mother’s life. But one day as they were sitting around the table with the Bible open, Mother shut the Book hard and said, "It’s no use to go on. I’m such a sinner." The neighbor replied, "How wonderful!" Mother exclaimed, "How can you say that? If you only knew how I suffer!" Then how happy her Christian neighbor was to tell her again of the One who has finished the work of salvation for sinners and now says, "Come." This was what Mother was looking for; this was the answer to her halfway-around-the-world search. She was ready to go on her knees that afternoon and accept the Lord Jesus as her Savior. But―a friend came by and said, "Come with us for a little drive." Taken by surprise, Mother went. As she sat in the car she just groaned in her heart and prayed, "Lord, please bring me home in safety so that I can have the opportunity once again to come to You and be saved." The Lord did bring her home again, and she wasted no time before she came to the Lord Jesus and knew that He had received her. The search was ended; there was peace in her heart―and she prayed no more to be a footstool in heaven. She had learned that "as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." John 1:12. Not a footstool, but a child of God at home in the Father’s house was to be her portion forever. "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ." Romans 8:16-17. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 15: A FRIEND OF SINNERS ======================================================================== A Friend of Sinners "A friend of sinners!" What a name―what a title to give anyone! What man of the world would not consider it a disgrace to be called "a friend of sinners"? And yet that was what they called Jesus when He was here upon earth. Who was it who gave Him this title? It was not those who were known to be sinners, but the respectable people, those who thought themselves better than others, those who kept up the outward appearance of religiousness. Speaking of the Lord Jesus, they said, "He receiveth sinners, and eateth with them!" Although this is the title they gave Him―they, the respectable and religious people of that day―how true it was then! And how true it is to this very day! They little thought what a reality His friendship for the sinner was. They knew nothing of their own need of His friendship and His help. They hated Him because His presence and His words proved them to be sinners themselves, and showed that their covering of religiousness was a greater sin than any other, for it tried to cover up what could not be hidden from God’s all-seeing eye. Do you admit that you are a sinner? If so, there is a Friend for you. The Lord Jesus Himself tells us: "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16. The Lord Jesus speaks to us in our sins of God in His grace and mighty power. And then He speaks of Himself: "I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners." "The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." Notice the words: not only to save, but to seek and to save. Fellow-sinners! God’s Word says that "there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." But the promise is to "WHOSOEVER believeth in Him." Can you not rest in Him, the One who took the sinner’s place and suffered in the sinner’s stead? For "God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 16: A GENUINE GOLD COIN FOR A PENNY ======================================================================== A Genuine Gold Coin for a Penny Captain Barclay, an eccentric Englishman, once bet another gentleman 500 British pounds that he could not sell 20 British sovereigns within an hour on London Bridge at a penny each. The sovereigns were actually worth 240 pennies each. The bet was accepted, and Captain Barclay with the gold coins in his hands took his stand at a favorable spot. "Gold, gold, genuine gold, a penny each!" he cried. But the stream of people hurried along, paying no heed to his marvelous offer. Some smiled at the well-dressed man, doubtless wondering if he imagined that anyone would be foolish enough to believe him. But he continued his call: "Gold, gold, genuine gold, at a penny each!" But the Londoners were unbelieving. The hour had nearly passed when a poorly-dressed man edged up to Captain Barclay, and riveting his eyes on the sovereigns, bought half-a dozen. On closer examination he was convinced of their true value and would have bought more. But the sixpence that he had invested was all the ready cash he had. Darting off to cash one of his newly-acquired gold pieces, he returned only to find the "sovereign-a-penny" man had gone. Captain Barclay therefore won the bet. Greater and far more important things are illustrated by this incident: God at infinite cost has provided salvation for the perishing. He presses it on their acceptance as a free gift. But the masses of the people do not accept it on His terms. He pleads with them to take salvation freely, "without money and without price," but they think that this is too good to be true. The "genuine gold sovereigns" were not offered as a free gift. It was certainly a splendid bargain to be offered a gold coin worth 240 pennies for one penny. But if God offered salvation on the ground of a sinner’s heaving one single sigh ― or shedding one only tear ― or renouncing one sin―or performing a single good deed, then it would not be all of grace. Yet the Bible says: "By grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9. God is satisfied with what Christ did for us. Now He wishes us to be satisfied with that which satisfies Him. Look to Christ and you will obtain peace, pardon, and eternal life. Do not try to merit God’s free gift of a full and present salvation. Take salvation! Take it now and happy be. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 17: A GREAT DELIVERANCE ======================================================================== A Great Deliverance Sailor Bob sat in a bar with his friend, Jack. He had just returned from a long voyage, and now he was busy catching up on his drinking. "Just look at this," said Jack, as he pulled a little gospel tract out of his pocket. "Can you imagine these religious people giving out such stuff as this? How could it do you any good, I would like to know? It is just another way they have of trying to get your money." Bob took the tract and tried to read it, but he was too intoxicated to read, so he thoughtlessly tucked it into one of his pockets. Later, Bob was changing his clothes when the little tract fell out of his pocket onto the floor. He picked it up to see what it was, and then he remembered that Jack had given it to him in the bar. It was something about religion. He sat down and read it through, but he still could not understand what it was all about. He realized that his life needed changing, but he did not have time to think about that right now. So he tossed the tract aside and went out. But he did not feel quite as comfortable as before. He began to realize that there was something seriously wrong, and that he needed something he did not have. One evening soon after this when Bob was taking a walk, he saw a big crowd of people on the street ahead of him, and heard some shouting. "Must be a big fight," he exclaimed, as he began running to see what it was all about. There was a big Irishman standing in the middle of the crowd. "After I spent my last dollar for whiskey, I would go home and beat my wife. Poor woman, she needed food, but all I gave her was a beating. I don’t see why she put up with me. I did try to stop drinking and be decent to her, but the very next payday I got drunk as ever and then went home and beat her again. I just couldn’t leave the drink alone. "And then Jesus found me. A man told me that Jesus loved me enough to die for me, and that if I would accept Jesus as my Savior, I would receive the forgiveness of sins. That, was just what I needed, so I came to Him and received Him as my Savior. And thank God, He did save me and made a new man out of me. Now we have a happy home, a Christian home, and God has taken away my desire for liquor. What I needed was Jesus, and that is what you need, my friends. Come to Jesus, and He will save you from judgment and make you happy." "That’s what I need, too," said Bob, as the Irishman finished his testimony. Bob received the Lord Jesus as his Savior then and there, and he has lived to prove that what the Irishman said was true. Jesus can deliver you from the bondage of sin forever, and make you happier than you have ever been in your life before. "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." John 1:12. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 18: A GREEDY MAN ======================================================================== A Greedy Man MRS. Ling and her husband were moving from Australia to Hong Kong. Her mother and her daughter, and her daughter’s friend, were also traveling with them. At the airport she obtained her baggage carts, one for her mother and the girls and the other for herself and her husband. All through the trip she had carefully guarded the small carryon bag containing all their valuable documents and papers, including their passports and her daughter’s school transfer records. Now Mrs. Ling set that bag also on the cart, trusting that it would arrive safely at their car which was parked a short distance away. She then hurried to take her daughter’s friend to meet her parents. On returning, she asked the porter how many bags he had and he answered, "Five." "No, no!" she exclaimed. "There were three on each cart!" "There are only two on this one," he said. A thief had taken the carry-on bag! How true it is that while we are in this world we must guard all of our treasures, but the Lord Jesus said, Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven... where thieves do not break through nor steal. Everyone searched frantically, but it was of no use. Mr. Ling scolded the porter for not watching the luggage more carefully, but Mrs. Ling stopped him and said that it was all her own fault: "I shouldn’t have left it on the cart." She suggested that they should pray about it, which they did. When they arrived home they all went to their knees and prayed again, asking the Lord to help them recover the important papers which would be very difficult to replace. Mrs. Ling prayed many times in the days that followed, confessing all the time that she was entirely to blame. After two weeks had passed with no sign of the papers, she began to think and fret and prayed less and less. She went to the consulate office and filled out all necessary forms to secure duplicates, which would be very expensive and time-consuming to replace. She began to feel her prayers were not answered, and concluded that God was punishing her for her carelessness. Two days after her visit to the consulate a package came addressed to her. It was wrapped in plain paper and taped tightly shut. Inside were all the papers and documents that had been stolen! There was a note also, signed: "A greedy man." He said that he had spent $11.00 of what he had taken for postage to return the papers, for something kept telling him that these papers were too important to throw away. The book of Proverbs tells us that a thief coveteth greedily all the day long, but the Lord, in answer to prayer, had touched this greedy thief’s conscience. In reflecting on her frantic efforts at the consulate office, Mrs. Ling said: "I didn’t have the patience or faith to let the Lord work; He heard my prayers and answered in His time and way." God does answer prayer. Like a human parent, it is His joy to answer the request of His children. But one must come and ask in faith, for without faith it is impossible to please God. He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Only a true child of God has the right to expect an answer to his prayers. It is necessary first to make sure of our position in the family of God, to know that we are children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Then―like Mrs. Ling―like countless millions through the ages past―like millions more today―we can confidently bring every need and problem to our loving Father. In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Php 4:6-7.) Isn’t it great to be a Christian, a child of God? ======================================================================== CHAPTER 19: A HAPPY ENDING ======================================================================== A Happy Ending "And they lived happily ever after." A "happy ending"―now, that’s the way for a story to end. All troubles over, all problems solved, all relationships neatly worked out, and nothing ahead but enjoyment of the new and permanent pleasures. Yes, that’s the happy ending of a story, but―life isn’t like that. Life―mortal life―ends very differently. In a hospital or on a sickbed at home―in a crashing accident on the street in a war, or as the victim of a crime―life comes to its suffering, sorrowful end. Mortal life, that is―the life we have lived in our bodies. But there is another life, a life that does not die, the life of the soul. That life will go on―and one―and on―beyond the utmost limits of our finite minds. There will be no "happy ending" there; no end will be possible. But there are two choices for that endless existence: it can be spent with God, where there will be "fullness of joy"... where you will be in "the blackness of darkness forever." And the choice is yours. The choice must be made, too, and made now before your life on earth comes to its end. It is not possible to wait until after death and then say, "Oh, I made a mistake! I don’t like the darkness; I wish I had made the other choice. I’m going to change my mind!" It will be too late to cross over; there are no bridges between hell and heaven. If in this life you have refused―or merely neglected―to receive God’s offer of eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ, it will be too late to change―forever too late. God says, "I have set before you life and death... therefore choose life." Deuteronomy 30:19. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 20: A JEW'S FAITH ======================================================================== A Jew’s Faith I was brought up a Jew and taught to observe the ceremonies and rites of Judaism. When I grew up, I became friendly with some atheists and began to believe that they were right in claiming that there is no God. While I was still outwardly conforming to the ritual of the synagogue worship, skepticism was undermining my belief, and I was beginning to lose faith in God’s revelation. At this time God began to work with me in a special way. Even then His unseen hand was guiding, and He caused me to be brought into contact with a godly Christian man. I soon knew that this man had something about which I knew nothing. It was not so much what he said as his reality and his godly walk that impressed me. What surprised me most of all was to see a man delighting in the One whose name I despised and blasphemed. Seeking to follow in this Christian’s footsteps, I began to pray and read my Bible. I became a teacher in a Sabbath school, and very devoutly followed the Jew’s religion. I vainly imagined that what faith in the despised Nazarene could procure for a Gentile, Judaism could surely give to a member of Jehovah’s chosen race. I did not know the scripture which thunders out in unmistakable language: "ALL OUR RIGHTEOUSNESSES ARE AS FILTHY RAGS." Isaiah 64:6. One Sunday afternoon I took a walk into the city. There I saw and joined a crowd surrounding three men who were singing on the street corner. They were just singing the words, "Whosoever will may come." That word "whosoever" stuck to me. When the singing was over, the three friends asked the bystanders to follow them to a meeting room. Among others, I was invited by one of the preachers, but declined. Thereupon he looked me in the face and asked me, "Are you saved?" I replied, "Yes, but not in your way." This answer of mine drew from him the Scriptural fact that there was only one way of salvation, and he quoted God’s Word: "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other Name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12. I began to argue with him, but he quietly answered, "Friend, in a little while I will be praying for you." Not long afterward, his prayer was answered. God showed me my real condition before Him. I learned that I was a sinner against God who is "of purer eyes than to behold iniquity." I was stripped of my self-righteousness, leaving behind a dismal void and an accusing conscience. Sin, my sin, was making life a burden and existence a misery. "The pains of hell got hold upon me; I found trouble and sorrow." The thought came to me with awful intensity, "Where shall I flee for refuge?" Everything in which I had trusted proved insufficient to bear the weight of my guilty soul. My friend, whose life had so impressed me, began to tell me at this time of the Lord Jesus, though he was utterly unaware that I was anxious about my soul. I did not argue this time, and soon learned that "salvation is of the Lord." I learned that, if I were ever to be saved, it must be by faith in the Lord Jesus, and by Him alone. At last, one afternoon I came to Jesus as I was. I rested my weary soul on Him who died for me on Calvary’s cross. From that moment I knew that I was one of the WHOSOEVERS. I believed in Him and my sins were forgiven for His name’s sake. Now my heart rejoices in His Word, knowing, as I could not before, that my "transgression is forgiven" and my "sin is covered" in His precious blood. (Psalms 32:1.) ======================================================================== CHAPTER 21: A KNOCK AT THE DOOR ======================================================================== A Knock at the Door Have you ever responded to a knock at the door of your house, to find someone there whom you have never seen before, and to find that he or she is there on business―business in which you have little or no interest? In a moment you must decide: should I ask this person in, or should I turn him away? Sometimes you may have allowed the stranger into your home, and felt better for showing this little act of kindness. Other times you may have turned the caller away. And have there not been times when you felt you have missed something in turning someone away? Your heart has a door also, a door at which there are many callers. One Person is knocking at the door of your heart now, a Person who can give you new life if you will bid Him welcome. It is the Lord Jesus Christ, and as He knocks He speaks: "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me." Revelation 3:20. Will you answer His knock? The handle is on the inside of the door; you must open it. Let Him in, and you will never regret having welcomed Him. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 22: A LAWYER LOOKS AT THE RESURRECTION ======================================================================== A Lawyer Looks at the Resurrection Most people admit the fact of Christ’s resurrection, and legally the question is beyond doubt. Any court of law should be compelled to admit it. If you read your Bible you will see that there are thirteen witnesses, unimpeached and unimpeachable, and whose names are known. They were well acquainted with Christ, having met Him many times before His death. They saw and talked with Him after the resurrection. Five hundred persons also saw Him at the same time. In the eyes of the law, one witness―not an accomplice―is sufficient to prove the highest offense known to the law: murder. Could they have been mistaken? No! There could have been no case of mistaken identity. It is said that the five hundred witnesses were liable to err through bias. But where was the motive? Their cause was condemned, their leader killed, themselves outcasts. Would they swear falsely to His identification? It is incredible! The witnesses to the resurrection of Christ never contradicted or denied their testimony, but told the same story as long as they lived. These witnesses led exemplary lives. As long as life lasted they lived in poverty and virtue, as their Master had taught. Most of them suffered martyrdom, after preaching the gospel all their lives long at great personal hazard and discomfort. Had they not been sincere they would not have persisted as they did to the end. "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Romans 10:9. SALVATION God thought IT Jesus Christ bought IT The Holy Spirit wrought IT The Bible taught IT Faith brought IT The Devil fought IT Have you caught IT If not―it’s time you sought IT Tor whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 23: A LETTER ======================================================================== A Letter Dear Sister: In one of your letters you write, "Father was asking about your conversion." Abounding grace is connected with that conversion. As early as twelve or thirteen years of age, God exercised my conscience about my sins, but I loved the world and would not give it up, so in spirit I said, "Go Thy way for this time." Many other times in His grace He came to me, but always got the same answer. Coming west from Massachusetts I listened to infidel sentiments and quite accepted them. In August I went back to visit Mother, and she spoke to me about eternal things. I combated her with my infidel sentiments, and fairly closed her mouth. After this she said, "William, do you read your Bible and pray every day?" "No!" I replied. She said, "If you do this, my boy, you will get light," and she left the room with tears rolling down her cheeks. Left alone in the room, the Lord made me feel how I had grieved my mother, whom I loved, and He led me to realize there was one thing I had not done, that was to read my Bible and pray every day. I made up my mind to try it, partly because I knew it would please Mother and partly to test my infidel position. I left the room and got a Testament that I had owned when a boy, and put it into my pocket. Going to bed that night, I read the first chapter of Matthew and knelt down beside the bed to pray. I had no interest in what I read, only I remember my thought on my knees: "I would hate to have anyone catch me in this position!" However, I had taken up the matter as a test and would not be diverted from it. This went on until about the end of the year. Then the Lord began working in my soul, making me realize I was not as good as I thought I was. I sought to make myself better, but the more I tried to make myself better, the worse I became, until I saw myself only fit for hell. Then the Lord came and showed me that trying to make myself better was the wrong principle-that faith is the principle on which peace with God is secured. Giving up doing, and resting now on God’s Word, I was brought into peace that first Lord’s Day in the new year. To Him be glory! Your brother, Will ======================================================================== CHAPTER 24: A LIFE CHANGED ======================================================================== A Life Changed A young Scottish girl had just accepted Christ as her Savior. A week later when asked if her life was changed, she gave a beautiful reply. "Something, I know, is changed! It may be the world; it may be my heart. There is a great change somewhere, I’m sure; for everything is different from what it once was." What made the change? She had been "born again" from above. What had she now received? She now had a new life with new desires, and new hopes, far superior and happier than the old. And she now had a new object―to live no longer to herself, but to Him who died for her and rose again, and who waits to have her with Himself in that happy place above. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17. It is a new life altogether. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 25: A LIGHTHOUSE IN THE DESERT? ======================================================================== A Lighthouse in the Desert? Most lighthouses are on the shore near rocks or dangerous places in the water. Practically all lighthouses seem to say, "Stay away from here. Danger!" There is a lighthouse that says just the opposite, for it says, "Come!" This lighthouse is in the middle of the Arizona desert. There is no water to be had for over thirty miles in every direction, but just where that lighthouse stands there is a well. So there is a light there at night, to let thirsty people know where the well of water is. The tower in the daytime and the light at night say, "Here is water." Isn’t that just like the Lord Jesus who, in the midst of the desert of this world, would stand and cry, "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink." Where else can you go for living water but to the Lord Jesus? The gospel is still offering to all, "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Have you come to that life-giving water? Nothing else can satisfy soul-thirst, both now and forever. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 26: A LOST SHEEP FOUND ======================================================================== A Lost Sheep Found "Who are you?" "I am nobody." "Where are you from?" "Everywhere." "Where are you going?" "Anywhere." "Where do you belong?" "Nowhere." "Do you want a job?" "I would be glad of a job if I could only get away from my present boss, for whom I have worked faithfully for two years." "And who is your boss?" "Satan." "Does he pay good wages?" "Good wages? No! Big wages? Yes." "What kind of wages?" "Hunger enough for a hundred men. Rags, desolation, shattered nerves, ruined character and a burning thirst for the thing that has wrought my ruin." So ran the dialog between a shepherd and a young tramp early one frosty October morning in the hill country. In his arms the shepherd held a poor sheep which he had spent most of the night looking for. He had just arrived home to find the young man standing beside the barn. Looking at the sheep the shepherd thought: "I’ve spent half the night in trying to rescue this four-legged sheep. Dare I drive that two-legged one from my door and make no effort to rescue him?" Looking up he said to the young tramp: "You look as if you could eat some breakfast; how about it?" Evidently moved by the kindness of the invitation, the young fellow straightened up and replied: "Thank you, sir, I am very hungry, but I am not deserving of such kindness." "Young man," was the reply, "I have never turned a hungry man from my door, and with God’s help I never will so long as my name is Robert West." At the mention of the name the stranger turned pale, but bracing himself he said: "I appreciate your kindness and gratefully accept your invitation." Having put the sheep which was lost in the fold with the others, West led the way to the house where Mrs. West stood in the doorway to welcome her husband. Together all three sat down to a hearty breakfast. Before the meal began Robert reverently gave thanks for the food. Their unexpected guest ate as only a hungry man can, yet with the manner of a gentleman. It was plain to see that he was thinking as well as eating. As he listened to Mr. West’s account of his search for the lost sheep, tears welled up in his eyes. With the meal over and still sitting at the table, Mr. West, as was his custom, opened a Bible and read. He had chosen the parable of the Lost Sheep and the Prodigal Son in the 15th chapter of Luke. The reading was followed by prayer and earnest supplication for the wandering boy. The visitor, kneeling with the others, was deeply moved. And when West and his wife sang, "Rejoice! for the Lord brings back His own," the wanderer wept aloud. As the song ended he stood and said: "By some strange chance I came to your door this morning, a prodigal, a pauper, a bankrupt clothed in rags. Yet at your table you have treated me as an honored guest. "Nearly two years ago," he continued, "I turned my back on a beautiful home. I closed my ears to the appeals of my Christian father and mother. I have tried to drown the memory of their prayers, but only to find myself at the end in another Christian home. "At college I learned to drink. I graduated with the highest honors, but only to gain a consuming thirst for liquor. Every effort of my dear parents and friends failed to break the chains that bound me. At last I fled from home and from those that loved me most. "For nearly two years I have tramped hither and thither, until this morning, when we were down on our knees I confessed my sins and put my trust in Him, the Lord Jesus Christ, who promises ’to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him.’ Sir, the desire for drink has left me and He is able to keep me. "I said it was a strange chance that sent me here, but I was wrong. It was the Lord that guided me to your door. It was His will that you should bring back this wandering sheep. Do you wonder why? You will understand when I tell you that my name is Robert West Beatty." "Are you the son of my old college mate, Frederick Beatty?" exclaimed Robert West in amazement. "I surely am, and my father named me after you in memory of his college chum," was the rep. "Then God has now enabled me to pay a debt of gratitude I owed to your father", said West. "I never heard Father say you owed him anything." "Probably not, but now listen to my story: "Fred Beatty and I entered college together and we became fast friends. Like you, I began to drink. One evening I returned to the room which your father and I shared; I was plainly under the influence of liquor. "Your father waited until I was sober, and then if ever one talked out his heart and gripped the heart of another, that man was Fred Beatty. "We got down on our knees, and I took your father’s Savior as my Savior. And I asked the Lord to help me give up drink. "Through His mercy I have never touched a drop of it to this day. God helping me, I’ll be as true to Fred Beatty’s son as Fred was true to me!" The Spirit of God worked a complete change in the newly converted young man. He lived to please the Lord. Mr. West gave him a home and a job on his farm, and they called him Bob. Some months later, Robert West, unknown to Bob, sent a long letter to his old college chum, Frederick Beatty, inviting him and his wife to pay them a visit. "I have a fine flock of sheep," he wrote. "I spent nearly a whole night last October searching for one that went astray. Before I got back to the house I found two sheep; the one that belonged to me and another one. I will give you that other sheep." Early one morning two weeks later, Robert West drove to the station to meet Mr. and Mrs. Beatty who had gratefully accepted his invitation. Just before they reached the house, Mrs. West said to Bob: "Bob, Mr. West has gone to the station for a present for you. I know you will like it. I want you to go to your room until I call, so we can get the present ready for you at breakfast." The company arrived, and just as they were sitting down at the table Bob descended the stairs and entered the room. "Fred and Mary," said Robert West, "here is the other sheep I found. Bob, here is your present." Words cannot describe the joy of that reunion. The lost sheep was found." "The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10. "Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." Luke 15:10. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 27: A MESSAGE OF MERCY ======================================================================== A Message of Mercy A man stood looking into the water as a scrap of paper came floating down the stream, tossed from ripple to ripple. "I am just as helpless," said he to himself, "borne downwards by a tide which I cannot stem, and from which I cannot escape. There is no one to lift me clear of the tide of destruction as I can lift you, poor miserable scrap." As he spoke, he caught the paper with a stick and lifted it from the water. He noticed that it was a fragment of a torn-up letter, and one word upon it attracted his attention as being in thorough keeping with his own feelings. The word was "miserable" and the remaining fragment read like this: "I assure you.. I used to be very miserable... and trust Christ Jesus only... Salvation and now... Christ Jesus only Salvation and now joy and peace." He read the words over and over. It had been written by someone who had been, like himself, very miserable, but who had been led to trust Jesus Christ as his Savior, and so had attained to joy and peace. "Oh that I could find the same," said this poor young man. "And yet, why should I not? Christ Jesus came to save sinners. I believe if He chose He could lift me out of the stream of evil and ruin, as I have lifted this scrap of paper. I wonder if He would be willing to save me?" And then a verse of a hymn that he had sung in better days came into his mind: "If I trust Him to receive me, Will He say me nay? Not till earth and not till heaven Pass away." "Oh, is it true?" he cried in an agony of earnestness. "Is it true? I believe it is. When He was on earth He received sinners, and invited the heavy-laden to come unto Him, and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever! I do not deserve it, but He will receive me!" God has many ways of reaching the human heart, and can employ the humblest and meanest of instruments. Do not doubt His willingness to save, for the Lord is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9. Come then to Jesus Christ; trust Him as your Savior, and find in Him peace, and joy, and rest for your soul. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 28: A MIRACLE OF GRACE ======================================================================== A Miracle of Grace He took the guilty culprit’s place; He suffered in his stead. For man, O miracle of grace! For man the Savior died. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 29: A MOMENT OF TIME ======================================================================== A Moment of Time It is in a moment that the most solemn of all decisions is made―the soul’s surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ. The soul itself, amid the conflict of emotions, may scarcely be able to tell the precise moment when the Yes is spoken; or it may have been back in early childhood and be forgotten. There may have been long preparation going forward, and the soul may have been hesitating and trembling on the verge of surrender, but the Yes that means acceptance of Christ and brings salvation is spoken in a moment. A moment may make the difference between life and death. ’Too late’ may be too late by a moment only. The missing of the right moment may be the missing of the "accepted time." "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" 2 Corinthians 6:2. "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" Hebrews 2:3. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 30: A MOMENT TO REMEMBER ======================================================================== A Moment to Remember I was in Viet Nam, back in the late sixties, with the First Infantry Division and many times we came face to face with death. Once I was in a machine gun bunker with two other soldiers. Inside our bunker was a cot for one man to sleep on while the other two kept watch, a 30 caliber machine gun and a telephone which connected us to the command post. There was no door; you entered the bunker through an opening on the back side. The officer in charge of the guard was not to come out to the bunkers unless he first called to inform us. One night while we were gazing out into total darkness, talking to one another, I heard a footstep behind us! Someone was outside our bunker! At that moment I felt I was a dead man; the Viet Cong had slipped in behind us! I swung my own rifle around to shoot, but it jammed! And it was not the Viet Cong at all but the officer of the guard. He had come out to check our guard post but had neglected to call us first. In remembering that night, two scriptures come to my mind: "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" Hebrews 2:3. That officer’s neglect almost cost him his life. For you to neglect so great salvation, offered through the finished work of Christ on Calvary’s cross, will cost you your soul. The other scripture is found in Amos 4:12 : "Prepare to meet thy God." At the time of that incident I was not prepared to meet God. I did not know the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior. Had that footstep really been that of a Viet Cong instead of the officer, I would not be here now to tell of it. In that moment of decision, in what seemed the face of death, God was far from my thoughts. I tell you this story to warn you if you are among those who have neglected "so great salvation." Don’t put off for another moment which is so vital. That incident in Viet Nam happened twenty years ago and I still remember it as if it happened yesterday. The Word of God tells us that when we leave this world we’ll take our memory with us. Where will you be? Will you be remembering in a lost eternity the gospel you rejected? Don’t let that happen. Come to Christ before it is forever too late. "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31. "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Corinthians 6:2. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 31: A MUSICIAN’S STORY ======================================================================== A Musician’s Story I was born and raised in an orthodox Jewish home. Every Friday night my mother would light the candles and say the Jewish prayers. We also had three sets of dishes: one for dairy products, one for meat and one for Passover use according to the custom in most Jewish homes, I received my religious instruction from a rabbi. My brother suggested my taking up the saxophone while I was attending high school. The instrument seemed to be fitted for me; often I spent six and seven hours a day in practice, even on the hottest days, and I dreamed of being a great musician. When I graduated from high school I played with several bands; in them were all kinds of nationalities and religions. One had nothing better than the other. We were all in the same boat―hopeless and lost. With the others, I drank and gambled and thought of nothing but to have a good time. All the while, however, I felt that something was lacking, but I did not know what it was. I tried philosophy. I read James, Plato and Schopenhauer, seeking satisfaction but finding none. About this time I came home to Brooklyn after a New Jersey engagement. One evening I noticed a small crowd on a street corner. I went over to the gathering and saw a man holding a saxophone. Another man was speaking. What he was saying meant nothing to me, but the saxophone did. I wanted to see how well he could play it. I had to stand there fifteen minutes before the man picked up the saxophone. Then he only played a simple note to start the singing! I did not particularly enjoy the singing but I wanted to hear the man play a saxophone solo. So I waited still longer. In the meantime I became more and more interested in what the speaker was saying. It was twenty minutes before the man picked up the saxophone again, and this time he only picked it up to pack it up―and the meeting was over! However, by this time I had become really interested. At the close of the meeting one of the singers came to me and invited me to come to the mission the next evening. Then he did something else for which I will be grateful as long as I live―he gave me a New Testament. After we parted I went straight home. I began to read the Book, and continued to read on and on―hour after hour until I had read most of the New Testament through before dawn the next morning. Within twenty-four hours after I received that copy of the New Testament on a street corner in Brooklyn―through the simple reading of the Word of God―I saw that I was a sinner and that the Lord Jesus was Israel’s true Messiah. Then I did the only reasonable thing that one could do under the circumstances: I believed in my heart that He bore my sins in His own body on the tree. The following night I went back to the mission and publicly confessed my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Now I am a saved Jew because I believe in the true Messiah of Israel. When Christ came into my life He made me a new creature! Old things have passed away and all things have become new. The wonderful joy and peace that have come into my life far surpass all the so-called pleasures of my former life. Today I have the blessed hope of being with my Lord for all eternity. "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink." John 7:37. "Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." John 4:14. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 32: A NEED THAT IS GREATER ======================================================================== A Need That Is Greater A man who had been sick for thirty-eight years lay beside the Pool of Bethesda. We read of him in John 5:2-15. He had no friend to put him in the water, and lay helpless while others stepped down before him. Can you not imagine his despair as he saw others come from the water cured, while he must continue to lie there? Then Jesus, One who was able to meet his need, came there. He said, "Wilt thou be made whole?" The poor, helpless man answered, "Sir, I have no man...to put me into the pool." Jesus replied, "Rise, take up thy bed, and walk." And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked. The Lord Jesus is no longer on earth going about healing as He did then, but He is always waiting to take care of a need that is greater than curing a sick or crippled body. We, sinners, cannot go to heaven unless our sins are forgiven. We are just as helpless as the poor sick man. Have you felt your load of sins and your need of a Savior? Jesus is able; He is willing and ready to save you. He is the Savior for those who cannot save themselves. "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37. "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." Romans 5:6. Special gospel meetings had been going on for some time, and there had been many conversions. The effects had been felt throughout the city, but not everyone was sympathetic. Some young men ridiculed the whole thing, and they particularly laughed at the requests for prayer that were so much a part of the meetings. One of them suggested that they should send in a "request for prayer" as a joke, and they promptly picked a young lawyer to send it. He wrote the note asking prayer, and he also went to the meeting to see the reception of his foolish joke. As usual, each request was read out while the people knelt in silent prayer. The lawyer saw that his request was not read. The evangelist, however, soon called the attention of the audience to a request which seemed to him to be a hoax, but he asked the assembly to pray for the soul of the sender. In perfect stillness the great crowd bowed in silent prayer, and the thoughtless young man in their midst realized for the first time how serious was the act he had committed. A whole multitude of strangers was praying for his conversion! He stayed to listen to the whole meeting-stayed after the meeting to learn more of the way of salvation-and went home that night a "new creature in Christ Jesus." The next day he resigned his profession to devote himself to the service of God. He who once studied the laws and precedents of this poor, sinful world became an ardent teacher of another law: "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:2. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 33: A NURSE'S STORY ======================================================================== A Nurse’s Story As a Christian nurse I had been longing for some special message to carry for Jesus, when I was ordered to a new ward. Passing along by the bedsides, I observed a young girl who had, along with other ailments, a very bad heart condition. She was reading a book, but seeing a new nurse approaching, she laid it down upon the bed. I picked it up and read: "Food for the Children of God." I expressed pleasure in seeing her read such a book, and she said it was very good. "Are you one of God’s children?" I asked. "Oh, no!" she replied. "I am not able to say that; I wish I were." I had time for only a few words, but I tried to encourage her to come to Christ as her Savior, for then she could fully enjoy the "food" as her own. Later on I had to give her her medicine. When she had taken it I said: "If you could take Christ as easily as you have taken this medicine, would you not do it?" "Oh yes," she said, "I wish I could." "You can," I said. " ’The gift of God is eternal life.’ He will give it to you; He longs to bless and save you." Many days later I had an opportunity to visit that ward again. My sick friend was much weaker. I slipped in, and approached her bed. She at once recognized me, and putting her arms around my neck as I bent over her, she said: "Oh, nurse, I’ve got it! I am not afraid to die now!" "What have you got?" I asked. "Eternal life! And I shall never perish. No one can pluck me out of His hands." Then she added: "Nurse, I have you to thank." I stopped her by saying: "Both you and I have to thank God, for it is He who loved us, and gave His only begotten and well-beloved Son, that we might have eternal life through Him." "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 34: A PARDON REFUSED ======================================================================== A Pardon Refused About a hundred years ago a man named George Wilson was sentenced to be hanged for robbing the United States mails and for murder. Andrew Jackson, who was then President, exercised his prerogative and sent him a pardon. Wilson, however, refused it, and insisted that it was not a pardon unless he accepted it. The Attorney-General said that the law was silent on this point and the matter was referred to the Supreme Court. Chief Justice Marshall gave the following decision: "A pardon is a paper, the value of which depends on its acceptance by the person implicated. It is hardly to be supposed that one under sentence of death would refuse to accept a pardon, but if it is refused it is no pardon. George Wilson must be hanged!" And he was. What could have induced Wilson to refuse the pardon that meant life and liberty to him? I do not know, but it was no greater folly than that which leads thousands to refuse, day after day, the pardon that is freely offered them by God. Men need pardon because they are offenders against God. Sin is a terrible offense in His sight, and all have sinned. ALL, therefore, need pardon. None can earn it, for men are not only sinners but "without strength." "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." Romans 5:6. But the Lord "is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." God has not left us to perish without hope. On the ground of the atonement made by His own Son, He offers a free pardon to all. However, that pardon, if not accepted, will do you no good. Do not, I beg you, let this priceless pardon slip from you through indifference or stubbornness of heart. "He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." John 1:11-12. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 35: A PAUPER'S GRAVE ======================================================================== A Pauper’s Grave Big headlines proclaimed: "HEIR TO FOUR MILLION DOLLARS IN PAUPER’S GRAVE." A newspaper reporter, writing about it, said: "Every heir to four million, or four hundred million, lies in a pauper’s grave. Every corpse is a pauper. ’There are no pockets in shrouds,’ no bank accounts in the place to which we go from here." That is only partly true. So far as taking material possessions along when we pass out of this world, it has been expressed this way: Out of this life I never shall take Things of silver and gold that I make, All that I cherish and hoard away, After I leave, on the earth must stay. All that I gather and all that I keep, I must leave behind when I fall asleep. And I wonder often what I shall own In that other life, where I go alone. But to say that there are "no bank accounts in the place to which we go from here" is the very opposite of the Scripture that commands us to "lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal." Matthew 6:20. On the other hand, we are told in the previous verse: "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal." Everything in this life is uncertain and perishable. The stock market rises, making "instant millionaires," and then falls and leaves them impoverished. Banks and savings institutions fail. Great corporations become bankrupt. Uncertainties, all. But in heaven, everything is certain and sure. No banks fail, no thief or rust or moth threatens. Is your treasure there? ======================================================================== CHAPTER 36: A PECULIAR POSTER ======================================================================== A Peculiar Poster The walls of the community hall were nearly covered with posters of all sizes. But, strange to say, one poster alone drew the attention and anger of the custodian. It was a large piece of cardboard on whose white surface the simple, black printed message "stood out like a sore thumb," as he described it. And what were the words which made him so angry? "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that buildeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of god abideth on him.” John 3:16. Glancing around, he saw among a group of young people a pleasant-faced young man who, he decided, was the culprit who had placed it there. "Hey, Sam," he called out, "you are one of the religious type that would do this. Why do your kind of people put up these posters on the walls? Why don’t they keep these things to themselves?" "Why? They have as much right, if it comes to a question of that sort, to do so as others have to put up their notices or advertise their wares." "Yes, yes, of course; but what does this thing mean?" "Just what it says, sir. Read it the same as you would read anything else. Use the same thought in reading it as you would in reading another poster and it will be clear enough." "But will you just explain it a bit to me?" "It needs very little explanation," said Sam. "It is from the Bible, and thank God, the Bible is plain enough to those who want to understand. It is difficult only to those who won’t. "These words tell us that everlasting life belongs to those who believe in the Son of God―that is, to those who take Him to be their Savior, their Redeemer, their Lord―to those who accept Him as the divine Substitute for them, bearing their sins and taking their punishment on Calvary’s cross." "But what if a man does not believe that?" "Then there is the other thing: he shall not see life. If you will have Christ as your Savior from sin, you will have everlasting life. That is God’s way. It is ’Yes’ or ’No.’ "It does not matter what you are; unless you are `born again,’ become a new creature in Christ, you cannot see the kingdom of God. Scripture says: `Ye must be born again.’ John 3:7. "Now be clear on this point―no new birth now means no entry into heaven later. Take Jesus Christ into your heart now, and be ready for a blessed eternity with Him in glory." It was a very subdued and thoughtful custodian that walked away thinking about those solemn words. Will you take Sam’s advice and receive His Savior? "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31. "For with the heart man believeth." Romans 10:10. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 37: A PERSONAL DECISION ======================================================================== A Personal Decision Many people believe in a general way the doctrines of the gospel, as they believe other things they read, but such belief brings no salvation to the soul. Faith is a personal reliance on Jesus Christ, confessing Him as "the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20. It is a personal decision to receive as mine the One whom God has given to the whole world to be the Savior. "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16. The moment anyone makes this personal choice and says, "Christ for me," receiving Him definitely and decidedly as Redeemer, Savior and Lord, God answers that faith by making the believing one His child. There is nothing more clear or sure than this fact as revealed in the Bible. "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." John 1:12. Yes, "born of God," then and there accepted and owned as His children and no longer strangers but of the "household of God." Have you ever definitely and decisively accepted the Christ of God to be your personal Savior? If not, do so now, just as and where you are. Say to God, "Christ for me!" This is not merely making a resolution; that would be of very little value. It would only be another human effort to do something toward salvation. Like all other such efforts, it would surely fail. But to accept Christ as Savior, Deliverer, Lord and Keeper, as He is presented in the gospel is to put yourself into vital touch and living union with the One who is mighty to save. That marks the difference between human efforts to obtain salvation and a personal trust in Another to do it all for you. This is saving faith. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 38: A PERSONAL MATTER ======================================================================== A Personal Matter "Christianity," said Martin Luther, "is a religion of personal pronouns." How true! It is not, we are all sinners; but I am a sinner. It is not, Jesus is a Savior; but Jesus is MY Savior. A young man in the West Indies once said to the preacher: "I believe all you say, and I like your preaching; yet I am not saved. How is that?" "Have you ever," replied the preacher, "got into the presence of God and said, ’Oh God, if there were not another sinner in the world, I am one. As a sinner, I claim Christ as my Savior, even though every other sinner refuses Him’?" "Well," said the young man, "it is your very personal way of putting it that I do not like." There was the answer to his problem. He was not saved because he refused to make his own soul’s salvation a personal matter between himself and Christ ― the One with whom we have to do. "Marvel not that I say unto thee, YE must be born again." John 3:7. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 39: A PRESENT POSSESSION ======================================================================== A Present Possession Salvation by faith in Christ is repeatedly declared in the Scriptures to be the present possession of those who believe. Thus the Lord said: "Verily, 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. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 40: A RARE FIND ======================================================================== A Rare Find An Australian farmer, digging post-holes on his farm, unearthed a single chunk of gold worth 77,000 dollars. He promptly named it his "Mortgage Stone," sold it, and paid off his mortgage. A nugget of gold that size is rare and valuable, but covered with mud it looked like any other ordinary stone in the same dirty condition. The farmer could have pushed it aside and continued with his digging in the dirt, but the nugget caught his attention. He looked, and he tested, and he proved its value. The gospel of God’s grace is like that piece of gold in some ways. The farmer was busy with the common duties of his life when he discovered it, and we too may be busy in the ordinary course of our lives when the gospel is presented to us and we discover the Christ of Calvary. Finding the gold made the farmer far richer. Now let a person genuinely believe the happy news: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life," and he will have received true riches―riches that will last forever―because the moment he believed he passed from "death" to "life." It would have been a large loss indeed, if the farmer had failed to recognize the gold as he pulled it out of the hole, but it is a tragedy when someone fails to recognize the truth of the gospel and never submits to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The farmer might have lost his farm to the loan company, but the person who fails to find the Savior loses far more; he loses his soul. "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Mark 8:36. The person who finds Jesus Christ the Savior makes the happiest, most valuable find possible in his or her lifetime. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 41: A REMARKABLE LETTER ======================================================================== A Remarkable Letter Perhaps a no more remarkable letter was ever written ― certainly none under more extraordinary circumstances ― than the dying message of Jay C. Sterrett, a young cowboy of Alberton. Iowa. The story of his tragic death, accompanied by the letter to his mother, appeared prominently in State newspapers, and was copied in many more distant cities. It reached the hearts of all who read it. And such was the interest and sympathy aroused in his own community that people from far and near, neighbors and strangers alike, drove from one farm to another telling and retelling the story. While rounding up cattle late one evening, Sterrett was thrown from his horse into a creek. The fall injured his spine, paralyzing his body below the waist. He fell on his knees in such a position that he could keep his head above the water only by supporting himself with his elbows on the bank. Hour after hour he lay in the icy stream, calling for help. His only companion was his dog, Ring. In this painful predicament he managed to take from his pocket a note book and by the aid of his flashlight write a farewell message to his mother. His body was found in the stream next morning by a search party, his faithful dog marking the place. The following letter to his mother, tied with twine, was found on the bank: "Dear Mother: If you were only here tonight. I am lying in the creek in Bracewell’s pasture and can’t get out. The water isn’t deep and I will try and fight it out until somebody hears me. If I had only listened to you and not rode the gray until I got a saddle blanket! "Don’t worry about me, for I sure feel that God is with me tonight. O, Mother, I am so thankful I was brought up in a Christian home. Dear brothers and sisters, live so you can always be prepared to die when you get into a place like this and think maybe you can’t get out. "All your sins come up before you, but if you pray for God to blot them out for Christ’s sake, they will leave, and peace comes in their place. "I am feeling better now. The water don’t seem so cold, only my head gets dizzy sometimes. I forget everything and seem to fall asleep awhile. O, if I could only get out of here I would do more towards bringing others to Christ. "My legs are paralyzed and I can’t reach anything. Maybe someone will see my flashlight and come. I’m going to keep up as long as I have strength. "I do want to see you all so much. There is a verse keeps running through my head and it is so beautiful: ’God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life!’ I suppose this writing will all be useless if I get out, but somehow I don’t feel like I would. "The roads are so bad and it looks so stormy and I’ve yelled until I can’t make a sound above a whisper. "I’m getting awfully bad again. I’m getting so tired holding myself up to write, I must rest again. "My back is hurt some way. I can’t write any more. I want to bid you all good-bye. God bless you all. It is getting light in the east.... "Mother, it will soon be over. I’m in a hurry to go now. My suffering will be over forever." (Signed) "JOY." Sterrett had often expressed a desire to lead others to the Lord Jesus. When he returned from the Army at the close of the war, he told his mother he would like to work bringing souls to Christ. Evidently his desire was fulfilled in a manner of which he never conceived. His testimony given in the hour of weakness and dissolution has reached more persons, and with greater effectiveness than most Christians influence in a lifetime. Like Samson, he accomplished more for \God in his death than in his life. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 42: A SAFE HARBOR ======================================================================== A Safe Harbor The fishing schooner, Flora, was sailing toward her home port in Lunenberg County, Nova Scotia, with her hold full of fish. The men were tired and anxious to be home after their two months on the fishing banks off the coast of Newfoundland. In rough seas about 150 miles from home both the wind and tide were against them. They could see Isaac’s Harbor Light. After sailing off about ten miles and then tacking back again, they were still off Isaac’s harbor. They had made no headway. At last, Captain Fralick decided to enter Isaac’s Harbor for the night. As soon as the ship entered the harbor there was calm, peace and rest. What relief from the constant motion and pounding of the sea! Lawson, a young Christian in the crew, thought, "This is just like heaven will be after the difficulties of life." The Lord Jesus is there already. What peace and safety we have as believers in Him! He is our anchor, already in the harbor. "We... have a strong consolation [encouragement], who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast." Hebrews 6:18-19. It is so important, whether your life is rough or easy, to have the knowledge of this safety when life is over. Those whose sins have been forgiven can look forward to the rest and peace of heaven. Lawson is now an old man. He has weathered many a storm of life, yet he looks on with confidence to that home above, the Father’s house. What calm―what peace―what rest await us there! Oh, what pleasures there await us! There the tempests cease to roar; There it is that those who hate us Can molest our peace no more; Trouble ceases, trouble ceases On that tranquil, happy shore. Will you be there? How do you answer the hymn-writer’s question, Will you anchor safe by the heavenly shore When life’s storms are past forevermore? "The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." Isaiah 57:20-21. Another hymn says: Had I wealth and love in fullest measure, And a name renowned both far and near, Yet no hope beyond, no harbor waiting, Where my storm-tossed vessel I could steer, If I gained the world but lost the Savior Who endured the cross and died for me, Could then all the world afford a refuge Whither in my anguish I might flee? "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Mark 8:36. Are you trying to gain more of this world for yourself or do you look forward with confidence to the peaceful shore of heaven―the Father’s house? To be with Jesus―what joy it will be! Which is it for you? ======================================================================== CHAPTER 43: A SAILOR'S CONVERSION ======================================================================== A Sailor’s Conversion When I went away to sea, I had a horrid feeling of being unsafe, of some unseen danger very near me, and I could not shake it off. All through our outward passage this feeling clung to me. I would not speak of it to my shipmates, but kept it secret and suffered from it alone. We were on our way home again and it was my midnight watch. The sea was rolling in mountainous waves in the pitch-darkness and I was alone on the bow of the vessel, looking out. Suddenly there rose a mighty wave which swept me from the vessel far out on the rolling waters. I could feel that I was borne forward on the crest of a great wave, as helpless as a straw. I knew that I would not be missed from my station for a while, nor could I be seen if I were missed. The roar of the waves drowned my cries and I felt that there was no hope for me. Oh! the horrible, heart-sinking agony! I pictured my wife widowed, my children fatherless and only a void where I had been! What horror I felt! I thought of the sermons I had heard, of my lost chances, and of my death close at hand. All this went through my mind as I struggled fiercely with the wave that was blinding and choking me. I had no hope. I was headed for a grave in the black raging sea and from there to the scarlet fire of the unforgiven. It was near me, close upon me-a matter of a few seconds-and then eternal darkness and sorrow! Oh, how I struggled with the choking waters! Then my heart went up in a mighty cry for pardon. All that there was in me of life and sense and feeling was in that cry. I had given up all hope of being saved, but I struggled on so that I might cry and pray. Prayer after prayer, as swift as lightning, went up from my heart as I struggled more and more feebly with the wave that was drowning me. I was losing consciousness, having lost all hope of rescue when I suddenly felt something touch my hands and I clutched at it in desperation. It was one of the ropes trailing behind our ship! Weakly I clung to it until breath and strength returned and I was able to climb again to the deck, safe and uninjured, except for the fright I had passed through. I had not been missed. But, when I could go below, the first thing I did in the presence of all the men was to fall on my knees and humbly and heartily thank God that my life had been spared. There was no mocking. They stood in respectful, appreciative silence, feeling that I was doing the right thing. Since then I have thanked the Lord every day, not only because He snatched me out of the wild waters that night, but because with loving kindness He rescued my soul from eternal destruction. With the same loving kindness, He brought me safely back to my wife and children. "They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; these see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep. For He commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.... Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and He bringeth them out of their distresses.... Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!" Psalms 107:23-31. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 44: A SAVED MOSLEM WRITES.. ======================================================================== A Saved Moslem Writes.. I was born in Calcutta thirty years ago. According to the Moslem rite, the words meaning the greatness of God and the apostleship of Mohammed were pronounced in my ears, and thus I was received not only into this world but also into the fold of Islam. At a very early age I had finished the whole of the Koran, and under an Arab Hafiz I had begun to memorize it. I also acquired knowledge of my vernacular Urdu, and at the age of ten I knew how to say the prayers prescribed by Islam. Under the guidance of a professor of Moslem theology, I acquired some knowledge of it and of the laws regulating prayers and fastings. Thus armed with the necessary Islamic knowledge, I turned out to be a strict observant of Mohammedan laws. I could hardly tolerate the Moslems who did not observe the prayers and fastings, or who were not good Mohammedans, and my indignation against non-Moslems knew no bounds. Indeed I was growing into a fanatic. The little reading of books about the early conquests of Islam so influenced my thoughts that I would delight in imagining another jihad (holy war) and drawing a sword against all unbelievers, and then dying a martyr in a glorious fight for Islam. The guiding principle, or the motive behind my religious zeal, and the tenacity with which I followed the practice of Islam, lay in my blind faith in the truth of Islam. To me every other religion was an invention of the devil, and all non-Moslems, as followers of false religions, had no right to exist. One day a copy of the Gospels was given to me by a Moslem friend. On previous occasions I had torn it into pieces as a book of Satan. This time I was prompted to read it again, and studied it carefully and tried to discover something Satanic, but there was nothing which I could discard as a lie or corruption. The simplicity of the life of Christ impressed me. The story of the crucifixion was something new and contrary to what I was taught, yet it seemed to be the natural development of the whole thing. My faith in Islamic interpretation was shaken. The gospel story, either right or wrong, was not, at least, Satanic. The moulvies had told a lie. I managed to obtain a copy of the Bible and started reading it every day. Then came difficulties: there were so many questions to be solved; I wanted someone to guide me. I was introduced to Dr. Zwemer who, using a mixture of Arabic, Persian and English, spoke to me on the Koranic text, "Show me the straight path." It was the first occasion that the Christian message in its absolute purity was presented to me. I had found the existing Bible to be the real Torah, Zabur and Injil mentioned in the Koran.... Now I learned that Christ and only Christ is the Way, and that I must become a Christian not only for the intellectual satisfaction but in order to be saved, saved from the hell and judgment with which I was familiarized in Islam. I learned that I must accept Christ as my living murshid (spiritual Guide), and follow Him with unhesitating steps to the end of life. It became clear to me that Christ is the Path leading to God, for He is the way between God and man, for He came from God and has returned to God. The path was clear and straight, and my soul cried out in exultant joy. It was the joy of a man who had lost his way and then found it again, and, recognizing it as his path leading to his home, would feel happy and relieved. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 45: A SCOTCHMAN’S CONVERSION ======================================================================== A Scotchman’s Conversion I was big enough and old enough to do what we call in Scotland "join the church," but I knew I had not the great qualification for that. I knew my father and mother wished me to join, but I could not do it simply to please them. God had made me honest enough to know the blackness of my heart, and that even if my sins had not all hatched out, still the eggs were all there. I was never bothered with self-righteousness! In perplexity I wrote to an old Christian friend. There is a verse in Acts 16:31 which says, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." I put that text in my letter, and I wrote: "I believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, all about Jesus, and all the Bible says of sin and salvation and heaven and hell. I believe all about it, but I don’t feel one bit better. There is something wrong." Two or three days afterward I was just going to open up the ticket office window to sell the tickets for the 10:30 business train to Glasgow. The postman was just coming round. He gave me a letter, and I recognized my old friend’s handwriting. I will never forget reading that letter! This is how it began: "You will never know how glad I am to get a frank, open, honest letter from you about your spiritual condition, even though you are evidently all in the dark. I am glad you have taken Acts 16:31 as a challenge text. It says, ’Believe,’ in your heart of course, as you believe in your mother or your father, for it is faith and not a proposition of Euclid, but ’believe on [have full confidence in] the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.’ "But John, you say you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and don’t feel a bit the better for it. Now, I want to know which I am to believe about you. Am I to believe yourself saying, ’I don’t feel a bit better,’ or am I to believe God when He says that the man who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ is and shall be eternally saved? "John, you would quote the text of Acts 16:31 as if it read, ’Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will feel easier,’ instead of ’Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.’ God says it. Never mind your feelings!" It was like the lifting of a curtain for me, and I saw it all bold and clear. I was saved! No great feeling came even then; I just knew it was so. I took a walk in the station, alone, to the far end of the platform. I remember saying to myself, "Has the station been whitewashed?" The very dingy brick wall, all covered with smoke and soot from the engines, looked whiter! But it was not the walls, it was my mind that was brightened, because now I knew the Lord as mine. The next morning I woke up, and my heart was just like a fire you had left burning over night. I was as cold as could be. The devil said, "It’s all a hoax." But I got grace to fight that battle. I rallied myself: "Has God’s word altered through the night?" "No." "Has Acts 16:31 altered?" "No.” "Has the value of the blood of Jesus to blot out my sins altered?" "No!" "Then nothing has altered that I am resting on, nothing but my feelings. And you don’t need to rest on your feelings you are saved by trusting the Lord Jesus Christ." "What must I do to be saved?" "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:30-31. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 46: A SINGLE PAGE ======================================================================== A Single Page Crossing through north India a Christian missionary met an old man. Overcome by the heat and the strain of travel, he sank down dying by the side of the road. The missionary saw him and, kneeling down at his side, whispered into his ear: "Brother, what is your hope?" The dying man raised himself a little to reply, and with a great effort succeeded in answering: "The blood of Jesus Christ... cleanseth us from all sin." A moment later he died. The answer and the calm and peaceful assurance of the man astonished the missionary; he felt assured he had died in Christ. How, or when, he thought, could this man have obtained the knowledge of salvation? As he thought of it, he saw a piece of paper grasped tightly in the hand of the dead man. Surprised and delighted, he found it was a single page of the Bible containing the first chapter of the first epistle of John. On that one page the man had found the Word of Life. Many of us have Bibles of our own, but do you value the Word of God as this poor man did? Have you ever put your trust in the Lord Jesus and His shed blood on Calvary? If you haven’t, why delay longer? Come to Him now and know with assurance that He has washed your sins all away in His own precious blood. "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:7. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 47: A SINNER SAVED BY GRACE ======================================================================== A Sinner Saved by Grace "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." Ephesians 2:8. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 48: A SMALL CAUSE AND A FAR-REACHING RESULT ======================================================================== A Small Cause and a Far-Reaching Result Not many years ago a scientist in Massachusetts imported to the United States some caterpillars that interested him. He kept them in a bottle. One day the bottle tipped over, and some of the caterpillars escaped. Unnoticed, they made their way into the garden, and in due time stocked it with gypsy moths. These moths became a plague, and the swarms produced by them have done millions of dollars of damage to the woods and orchards of New England. How far-reaching are the results of some acts, insignificant in themselves! The tipping over of the bottle was a trivial incident, but thence resulted all the damage done by the insect pests. People sometimes speak as if the original sin of Eve in the Garden of Eden had been a trifling matter. "Merely the eating of a piece of fruit," they call it. But from that act all the trouble in the world has resulted. Think of the wars, the crimes, the cruelties, the diseases, the loathsome vices that have filled and polluted the world. All the consequences, of that one sin! Death, too, the king of terrors, is "the wages of sin." But after death comes the judgment; and this not because of what Adam or Eve did but because of what men themselves have done. Men will be judged, not because Adam was a sinner, but because they are sinners; not because their first parents fell into disobedience, but because they have followed in their steps and have loved sin and practiced it. Thank God, though there is no remedy for all the calamity that sin has brought upon the world, save God’s own intervention in power (which He will bring to pass when Christ comes to earth to reign in righteousness), there is a remedy, a grand and complete remedy, for the individual sinner. He may get rid of the burden of his guilt through Christ’s precious blood. "By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." Romans 5:12. "Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins." Romans 3:24-25. Their Future is Safe? Perhaps you have seen the above words on a billboard in your town, and a picture of a mother with her child in her arms. The advertisement tries to impress the reader that if the father is taken suddenly, they are provided for, and that they are happy because they know "their future is safe." But for how long? Are we wise if we only look ahead for a few short years? What about eternity? Your days are passing quickly, and, life insurance or no life insurance, you are passing into eternity. Are you neglecting your real future by being so engrossed with the present? Remember that God calls a man a fool who is not "rich toward God" for eternity. What can make my future―your future―safe? This: "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich." 2 Corinthians 8:9. Think―make yourself think―"Soon I must leave here!" Into eternity you must go. To make your future safe the holy Son of God left His home in glory and came into this scene of sin and sorrow. He had no place to lay His head, and finally He was nailed to a cross and laid in a borrowed tomb. To make your future safe He suffered, and bled, and died. Now, if you will come to Him as a needy one, a helpless one, and trust His precious blood, your sins will all be "blotted out" (Isaiah 44:22), forgiven" (1 John 2:12), and remembered "no more" (Hebrews 10:17). Trust that blood now, just as you are, and then "your future will be safe" and you will know it is so from God’s own Word, for Jesus says, "I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand." John 10:28. "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, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." 1 John 5:13 ======================================================================== CHAPTER 49: A STRAIGHT LINE TO CHRIST ======================================================================== A Straight Line to Christ Peter the Great, Emperor of Russia, when the railway was to be made between Moscow and St. Petersburg, employed a great number of engineers in making plans. He looked over many of their maps, and at last, like the practical man that he was, he said, "Here, bring me a ruler." They brought him a ruler; he took a pencil, and, drawing a straight line, he said, "This is the way to make it; we want no other plan than one straight line." There are a great many ways of attempting to engineer souls to Heaven, but the only one that is worth considering is this: Draw a straight line to Christ at once. Did I hear one awakened soul say, "I should like to talk to Mr. So-and-So"? By all means talk to him, but do not stop for that. Go to Christ first. "Oh, but I should like to talk with a good woman―a dear Christian lady." I recommend you to go to the Lord Jesus Christ at once, and see the lady afterward. There must be nobody between a soul and Christ. Go straight to Christ. "Which way?" do you say. Look and live. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 50: A STUPID MISTAKE ======================================================================== "A Stupid Mistake" A young woman was earnestly trying to "make her peace with God." She went to church regularly and did everything she could to secure God’s favor. Still, in spite of her efforts, she failed to find the rest of soul and peace of conscience for which she longed. A preacher of the gospel visited her one day. After some conversation, he thought he understood her problem, so he asked to be allowed to use her well-thumbed Bible. She willingly handed it to him and he, turning to Colossians 1:20, read aloud to her: "And, having made peace through the blood of His cross." He read the words again and said: "You see, you have set yourself a hopeless task. You are trying to do what Christ has already done." She was astonished. Taking the Book in her own hands, she said: "Let me read that for myself." Slowly she read the words: "And, having made peace through the blood of His cross." Joyfully she exclaimed: "Oh, it’s strange that I never saw that before! And it was there all the time. I’ve been trying to do what Christ had done long ago. What a stupid mistake! I might as well have tried to accomplish my own redemption. But thank God, I see now, He made peace for me. I’ll just be satisfied with His work, and rest my soul upon it." "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1. Will you not also stop your working and striving for salvation, and accept the finished work of Christ on the cross, and receive the peace of God which passeth all understanding? "Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." 1 Peter 2:24. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 51: A SUBMARINE RESCUE ======================================================================== A Submarine Rescue A ship was sailing down the east coast of North America. A sailor on the lookout, surrounded by the vast stretches of the ocean, suddenly heard a telephone bell sounding out across the water. Startled and wondering, he looked around. Was he dreaming or only half awake? What was the matter? Where did it come from? The bell sounded again! He was sure it was a telephone bell, but where was it? How could there possibly be a telephone away out there on the ocean, with nothing to be seen but the endless waves? He called one of his mates, who, coming on deck from below, also heard it. They told the captain, and he heard it too. They stopped their ship and some of the crew went off to investigate. They were not long in finding a buoy floating on the waves with a telephone fixed to it. The line was connected to a submarine in distress. The sub was under water except for a few feet of the stern and swinging about in a most helpless manner. Inside, the men were suffering from lack of fresh air, having been thirty-five hours in this dangerous situation. When the sailors returned to their ship, a radio message was sent to the U.S. Admiralty for help. The ship was brought close to the sub and a hawser firmly attached to it until more help came. Then they cut a hole in the upturned stern of the sub through which fresh air and hot drinks were poured for the exhausted men. In the meantime, an American boy name Moore, trying out his homemade wireless set, picked up the ship’s message. Thrilled to have received so important a communication, he sent a telephone message to the Navy Department, and was more delighted than ever to find that he was the first to have received the call for help. At once ships and tugs were despatched to the scene. The hole in the sub was soon enlarged, so that the men could get out. What a joy it must have been to the sailor who first heard the telephone bell, to see twenty-seven men step out of the submarine, saved from a horrible death, and know that he had played the first part in their release. This wonderful rescue came about first, because the imprisoned men by means of the telephone bell sent out a cry for help; second, the sailor heard the bell, and third, the young boy, Moore, on shore, picked up the wireless message and sent for powerful help. Had the man on the lookout been deaf, the poor men in the sub would probably have perished, for few ships passed that way. Twenty-seven men were saved because they cried out for help and because two people heard. But greater wonders are going on around us every day, for men and women and children in distress are constantly crying for help, and their cries are heard from an immeasurable distance by God Himself, who is willing and able to save. "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13. On the other hand, there are multitudes who are daily sinking down to death and judgment, without God and without hope (Ephesians 2:12), to be lost forever in the ocean of eternal punishment. Oh, do not be among them! God loves you; Christ died for you! You can be saved now. Only call upon Him and you will be safe forever. "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though yours sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Isaiah 1:18. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 52: A SUDDEN CALL ======================================================================== A Sudden Call The call for Tommy was sudden and final. In a moment a major stroke paralyzed his left side and rendered him speechless. A few hours later, he lay on a hospital bed―dying. Through the mercy of God his powers of sight and hearing were spared and his mind was clear. He was aware that only a few hours of life remained to him and the knowledge terrified him. He was not ready for death, and he dreaded it. Such utter unpreparedness was surprising, because life insurance had been Tommy’s chosen profession. He had worked for years for a big insurance firm, and protection against the uncertainties of life and the certainty of death were his stock in trade. But the fact that the hour would surely come when he too must die and meet God, was something he would not think about. It could wait for that indefinite "tomorrow" which never comes. Adding to his mental anguish was the memory of a Christian office associate who had often pressed upon him the importance of having to do with God about his soul. Tommy, however, would not listen. The blood of Christ as the sinner’s only insurance against the second death, he had resolutely ignored. He would not have Jesus then: and he thought it was too late now. But was it too late? "The Lord... is long-suffering... not willing that any should perish," (2 Peter 3:9) and the Lord was still waiting for Tommy. At this point Tommy’s office friend came to his bedside with a message of hope. "Tommy, you know you will not get better. You know the gospel―I have told you many times. Let me tell you once more, God loves you. He sent His Son to die for you. He wants to save you now. "Call upon Him while He is near. Pray the publican’s prayer. Here, I will read it to you from the Bible: ’And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified.’ Luke 18:13-14. "God knows you cannot speak, but you can believe in your heart. Be like the publican―lift your good arm in faith to God. He will see and hear, and forgive all your sins for Jesus’ sake. And I will meet you in heaven." Tommy tried to speak, but he could not move his lips. So with eyes full of tears, he raised his right hand and struck himself on the chest, then lifted his arm heavenwards. At this point, Tommy’s wife and daughter entered the room, and his considerate friend left. That night Tommy’s soul went to be with his Savior. At the funeral home Tommy’s heart-broken wife told him: "We cannot understand Tommy’s actions when he was dying. He kept laying his hand on his breast and then pointing upwards." Tommy’s old friend was glad to be able to tell her what had happened in the hospital the night before, and to tell her that she, too, might learn the way home to heaven as told us in the Scriptures: "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life." John 14:6. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 53: A TALE OF TWO HORSES ======================================================================== A Tale of Two Horses Many years ago, not far from our farm was a pasture where droves of unwanted horses were processed for fox food and dog food. To me it was a dreadful place. One day I had the misfortune of losing one of my team. So, needing another horse, I called those in charge there to see if I could buy one of their live animals for a replacement. The answer was: "Yes, go over to the holding pasture and pick out the one that suits you." I drove over, and what a sight! There were about one hundred horses out in that field. There were all breeds, colors, sizes and ages―some old and feeble, some evidently quite young. They were all doomed to die, so many a day, and more to follow. It was a cold winter morning and the horses were eating what little grass they could find on the bare, frozen sod. My heart ached for those poor horses in their miseries, and soon to be destroyed. However, glad to be able to save at least one, I looked around for the horse which would suit me best. Singling out a fine, sleek mare, I went towards her, calling kindly and holding out my hands. However, she had no wish to be approached, even in kindness. Laying back her ears and opening her mouth wide, she stretched out her neck to bite. Then suddenly turning, she quickly ran away. I thought, how like many poor lost sinners who reject and despise God’s proffered grace! I turned sadly and selected another mare. She was not as good looking, nor so young either. But she gladly received the kindness I offered. So I took a piece of cord and tied it about her neck to identify her as mine. Shortly afterward I happily led her home to our farm, where she lived comfortably and worked faithfully for several years. To one that loved horses, that barren field full of doomed horses was a most sorrowful operation. But if we have eyes to see, how infinitely more sad is the sight of multitudes of poor lost sinners following the broad road that leads to destruction, despising the One whose nail-pierced hands are stretched out to save. Thank God, that some (like my humble horse) receive salvation and escape. But my illustration is only a feeble picture, and falls far short of reality. I could save only one horse from death that day, but God is not willing that any―man, woman or child―should perish (2 Peter 3:9). He has provided a full, free salvation for all who will receive it, without money and without price. "As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?" Ezekiel 33:11. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 54: A TRUE FRIEND ======================================================================== A True Friend How much true friendship is needed in this world, but how little of it is to be found! Friendship shown in a day of trouble when the clouds are heavy is so appreciated, but how disappointing when there are none to help. But there is One who exactly meets this great need of humanity, One who is a Friend in the day of adversity, "a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24. Yes, Jesus is the true Friend. "Doctor, what shall I do?" asked a patient. "I have no friends in this town." He said, "You may have one Friend who is never away, but is always near, and is always true. Jesus is the best friend for both earth and heaven." The last words of one man when he came to die were, after bidding his friends good by, "Now where is Jesus of Nazareth, my true and never-failing Friend?" And so saying, he fell asleep. May we ask you, do you know Jesus as your Friend? Put your faith and trust in Him today. He will never fail you. "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10. "The Son of man came... a Friend of publicans and sinners." Matthew 11:19. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 55: A USELESS TICKET ======================================================================== A Useless Ticket How wonderful it seems to ride above clouds, high above the earth, looking down on the world beneath. The time it takes to fly from one place to another is so short that we hardly realize the distance. Of course taking an airplane ride isn’t a very difficult problem today, but one must first buy the ticket. Then you must go out to where the plane is ready and waiting for you. You can study the time schedule if you wish, and talk to those boarding the plane, but there is one thing more―the most important thing of all. You have made your decision to fly, bought your ticket, checked the schedule, talked to others about it, and even seen the plane, but unless you get on board, it will not take you to your destination. This is like being saved. Unless you trust Christ, you cannot be saved. Just as the plane cannot take you to your destination unless you board it, so you cannot reach heaven unless you accept the Lord Jesus Christ as you own personal Savior. He paid the price in full. On Calvary’s cross He died in our guilty place that we might be saved from our sins, and by accepting Him into our hearts by faith we are saved. Once you are on the plane you trust the pilot to take you to your destination. And so once you have decided for Christ and have become a Christian, you trust Him, as your Pilot through life, to guide and keep you till you reach that home above. The airplane pilot might fail, or the plane itself might fail, but the Lord Jesus and His saving power never will. He will bring every one of His redeemed ones safely to heaven, and there is no other way but through Him. Have you ever knelt down and thanked the Lord Jesus for His wonderful love in dying for you? If you haven’t, won’t you bow before Him now and, owning your lost sinful condition, thank Him for shedding His precious blood to save you? "Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree." 1 Peter 2:24 "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God." 1 Peter 3:18. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 56: A WANDERING SHEEP ======================================================================== A Wandering Sheep I was a wandering sheep, I did not love the fold; I did not love my Shepherd’s voice, I would not be controlled: I was a wayward child, I did not love my home, I did not love my Father’s voice, I loved afar to roam. The Shepherd sought His sheep, The Father sought His child; They followed me o’er vale and hill, O’er deserts waste and wild; They found me nigh to death, Famished, and faint, and lone; They bound me with the bands of love, They saved the wandering one. Jesus my Shepherd is, ’Twas He that loved my soul; ’Twas He that washed me in His blood, ’Twas He that made me whole: ’Twas He that sought the lost, That found the wandering sheep; ’Twas He that brought me to the fold, ’Tis He that still doth keep. I was a wandering sheep, I would not be controlled, But now I love my Savior’s voice, I love, I love the fold. I was a wayward child, I once preferred to roam; But now I love my Father’s voice, I love, I love His home. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 57: A WASTE OF TIME ======================================================================== A Waste of Time A father and son were out on the sea in their small fishing boat one day, looking for hawksbill turtles. (At that time their shell sold for a high price to be used in the manufacture of "tortoise shell" combs, brushes, and other small and expensive items.) Soon they spotted one, clearly visible in the beautiful transparent waters of the Bahamas. Anxiously they pursued it, estimating that its shell would sell for considerably more than $100.00. But the turtle eluded them, vanishing among the corals of the reef, and all their efforts proved to be in vain. They went again to the same spot the next day, and the next, but in spite of hours of searching, they saw no more of their wished-for prize. At last the father gave it up as a waste of time. The son, however, decided to continue the search alone. He told his father that if he stayed home and the turtle was captured, the father would lose his share of the money it brought, but the father was not to be persuaded. The boy pled with his father, saying, "You know, Dad, very often the day you stay home is the very day you would succeed, so you had better come." But the older man said, "No," and he meant, "No." The boy urged and coaxed, but he finally had to go alone. As it turned out, that very day he caught the turtle. In triumph he returned to the little village with his catch. The news had preceded him by another boat, and so, when he landed his prize on the wharf, quite a number of the villagers were there to see it. Among them was the father, who had forfeited his share of the prize money. If he had only gone out that morning―but it was too late. "Say, Son," he cried, "why didn’t you take me with you?" "You know I asked you, Dad." "Yes, but you should have urged me to go," replied the disappointed old fisherman. "I did, Father―you know I did." "But why didn’t you plead with me," the old fisherman insisted. "You know I tried as hard as I knew how to get you to go, Father, but you just simply wouldn’t." "But Son," wailed the old man, "you should have made me go!" The loss of the prize money was a severe loss to the old man, for money did not come easily in his life. But after all, his loss was only money. Do you ever stop to think that you are in danger of losing your precious soul? Your soul stands for your life, your real living. You are in danger of losing forever the blessedness of really living―of knowing eternally the joy of life, divine life, a life of perfect joy and peace and glory. Instead, you are facing eternal death, eternal woe, the weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth of which our Lord Jesus speaks. And in the day of judgment you might think of the Christians you have known and wail, "Why, oh why, did they not ask me to come to Christ―why did they not urge me―why didn’t they make me go?" If we only could, we surely would. We can’t make you go, but we can plead with you. Once more we urge you to come to Christ as a guilty sinner and trust Him as your Savior. He died for you that you might live forever with Him. Come to Him now; make no delay. Today is the day of salvation! "COME NOW, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Isaiah 1:18. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 58: A WICKED WRETCH RELEASED ======================================================================== A Wicked Wretch Released A foreign prince, once traveling through France, visited the arsenal of Toulon, where the galleys were kept. The commandant, as a compliment to his rank, said he was welcome to set free any prisoner whom he should choose. The prince, wishing to make the best use of this privilege spoke to many of them in succession, inquiring why they were condemned to the galleys. Injustice, false accusation, oppression, were the only causes they gave. They had all been ill-treated and were innocent. At last he came to one who, when asked the same question, answered: "My lord, I have no reason to complain, I have been a very wicked, desperate wretch. I have often deserved to be broken alive on the wheel. I account it a great mercy I am here." The prince fixed his eyes upon him, gave him a gentle blow upon the head and said. "You wicked wretch! It is a pity you should be among so many honest men; by your own confession you are bad enough to corrupt them all; but you shall not stay with them another day." Then turning to the officer, he said, "This is the man, sir, I wish to release." Let us take this story to our hearts. All the prisoners were offenders, all guilty, but only one owned and confessed it, and he was set free. So our gracious God deals with us sinners. If we confess that we are sinners, then we can claim the sinner’s Savior, as our Savior, and His blood is sufficient to cleanse the wickedest wretch in the world. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 59: A WISE FOOL ======================================================================== ”A Wise Fool” A certain lord kept a fool or jester in his house, as great men did in olden times. One day his lord gave a staff to his fool and charged him to keep it until he met with a greater fool than himself. If ever he met with such an one, he was to deliver the staff over to him. Not many years later the lord fell sick. His fool came to see him and was told of his master’s illness. Standing by his lord’s bedside the jester asked: "And where will you go?" "On a long journey." "And when will you come again―within a month?" "No." "Within a year?" "No." "What then― never?" "Never." "And what provision have you made for where you are going?" "None at all." "Are you going away forever," said the fool, "and have made no provision before your departure? Here, take my staff, for I am not guilty of any such folly as that." ======================================================================== CHAPTER 60: A WORD FITLY SPOKEN ======================================================================== "A Word Fitly Spoken" A worldly socialite, having spent the evening at a card party, returned home to find her maid absorbed in a book. Looking over her shoulder and observing the title she exclaimed: "Poor melancholy soul! What pleasure can you find in pouring so long over that book?" Without waiting for an answer, she retired to her bed; but not to sleep. In the providence of God, sleep forsook her. And what was it, in this particular night which so suddenly disturbed her spirit and drove sleep away? Was it the gaiety and excitement of the evening, or the weariness which followed? No, it was none of these. It was a word. At times, how much hangs upon a single word; what vital, unalterable issues! The Bible says: "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." Proverbs 25:11. And so it was; a word, a sharp arrow from God’s quiver, had pierced the heart of that pleasure-loving lady. Its first effect was to give her deep anguish of spirit. She found no rest. All night she lay under the hand of God, sighing and weeping from the smart of that one word. Again and again her maid begged to know the cause of her distress. At last, the lady could restrain herself no longer. Bursting into a fresh flood of tears she exclaimed: "Oh, it is one word which I read in your book which troubles me. I saw there the word ’ETERNITY’. Oh, how happy I should be if I were prepared for ETERNITY!" Face to face with that one word, with all that it conveys, with all its tremendous significance, what could the frivolities of this passing world do for the guilty soul of this poor lady? She could but loathe them from the bottom of her heart. But God had mercy upon her soul as He ever has upon such as truly turn to Him. Her heart rested by faith upon the precious blood of Christ which alone can cleanse from sin, and give a troubled conscience peace. "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." Isaiah 57:15. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 61: A WRONG DIAGNOSIS ======================================================================== A Wrong Diagnosis Some time ago a nationally known brain surgeon operated on a convict to curb his desire to steal. "As far as I am concerned, the operation was a failure," said the patient after he had been picked up by the police as he tried to pawn a stolen watch. When the officers went to his house they found all sorts of items that had been stolen from various places. Much to the disappointment of the patient’s lawyer, who had arranged for the operation, the attempt to remedy the trouble by surgery of the brain was a complete failure. Little wonder, indeed, for the diagnosis was absolutely wrong! In Mark 7:21-23, the Lord Jesus Christ says, "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man." From this it is clearly seen that theft is produced by the heart (synonym for the soul) of man. The cause is not in the head but in the heart; it is not that which is physical but that which is spiritual. The heart is the fountain of every evil thing. Jeremiah the prophet declares: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9. It is SIN that has made it so, and the Great Physician who knows man’s heart was apparently not consulted before the attempt was made to remedy the condition without getting at the cause. Many are the efforts being made today to correct the outward condition of the evil that abounds on every hand by physical, therapeutical, psychological and philanthropical means. All these efforts ignore the basic cause and can result in nothing but failure and disappointment. When the truth of God’s diagnosis of man’s sinful condition and absolute ruin is refused or ignored, there can be no other end than death and judgment. "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death." Proverbs 14:12. Because of sin, man is helpless to do one thing to remedy his condition. So far as human efforts are concerned, his case is hopeless. Is there no hope? Is there no remedy? Yes, thank God, there is! The very One against whom man has sinned has provided a remedy. An operation was needed, truly, but it was an operation of divine judgment against sin. The blessed Lord Jesus came to be made sin for us, and underwent on Calvary the knife of God’s righteous wrath against sin, as the Substitute for sinful men. He "suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God." 1 Peter 3:18. His death and the shedding of His blood met all God’s righteous claims. Now God in grace can make an offer to all: "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you." Ezekiel 36:26. This is the real remedy! This is what the Lord Jesus proclaimed to Nicodemus: "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.... Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." John 3:3; John 3:7. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 62: A YOUNG SOLDIER'S TESTIMONY ======================================================================== A Young Soldier’s Testimony At one time I feared to meet God, but now all is changed. I long to see Him. What made the change? I certainly did not, by much effort and self-denial, make myself more fit to meet Him. No; as a poor sinner I came to Him and owned that I was lost without Him and wanted to know such a Savior, Who so loved me and gave Himself for me, that I might be with Him. He saved me, and now I shall never cease to praise Him! ======================================================================== CHAPTER 63: ABIGAIL BECKER ======================================================================== Abigail Becker We should be passing the Long Point Light-house any moment, cried Captain Hackett to the men on the ice-covered deck of the schooner. The ship, the Conductor, was sailing through a raging blizzard and his voice carried only a short distance before it was drowned out by the greater noise of the wind whipping through the sails. As the bow plunged in and then out of the rough sea the captain rubbed the sleeve of his heavy jacket to break loose the ice and snow which was coating his face. It was hard to see, and all eyes on deck strained toward shore hoping to catch sight of the lighthouse or some landmark by which they could steer. At times the visibility through the storm was a half mile; more frequently, the men on deck could see less than a hundred yards. Suddenly the bow of the ship struck a submerged sandbar with terrific force. The men were flung across the deck by the force of the impact. The gusts of wind quickly tore the canvas sails of the helpless ship into rags. The yawl, which was carried on board the schooner as a lifeboat, broke loose from its lashings and was swept overboard. The wind and the waves pounded the ship, pushing it over onto its side. Straining to save themselves from drowning, the seven men aboard scrambled up into the rigging. From there the stranded crew could sometimes catch a glimpse of the faint outline of the shore several hundred yards away. The Canadian shore, well known to the lakemen, was one of the most desolate stretches of Lake Erie. From the only cottage along several miles of shoreline, a woman, Abigail Becker, spotted a smashed yawl as it was thrown up on the beach. Her husband had left early that morning for work many miles away and she was alone with her small children. Seeing the broken yawl as it was thrown ashore, she ran out barefoot into the freezing cold to investigate. Over the crashing surf she spotted the men hanging perilously to the disabled ship’s rigging. Running back into the cottage, she told her children not to be frightened because she had to leave them alone for a while. Acting swiftly, she collected pieces of driftwood and soon had the orange flames of a bonfire leaping skyward. She hoped the men on the rigging would see the fire and be encouraged to keep up the fight for life. Abigail Becker knew that the cold would kill the men if they weren’t rescued within a short time. During a brief lull in the storm the woman cried out with all her strength, "Only swim! I’ll fetch you to shore. But swim!" She repeated the message several times hoping the men would understand and do what she was asking. One of the men stripped off his jacket and boots and plunged into the icy water. He swam with difficulty through the high waves. A few strokes from safety he started to go down. Abigail Becker broke through the surf and swam out to the man and hauled him safely to shore. She brought him to the fire and wrapped him in blankets and poured him a cup of tea from a pot of water boiling over the fire. In a matter of minutes the sailor regained his strength and she learned he was the captain. Another man let go of the rigging in an attempt to swim for shore. This man didn’t make it far before he showed signs of weakening, and the captain went out to help him. The captain no sooner reached the man when both of them appeared to have difficulty staying afloat. Into the icy water again went Abigail Becker, still wearing only a flimsy dress. The two men had disappeared under the water. She dove and found them beneath the surface and with a tremendous effort brought them safe to shore. This brave-hearted woman repeated her efforts until all seven men were safe on shore. "Only swim! I’ll fetch you to shore. But swim!" was her repeated cry. Her plea to the perishing sailors is like the Savior’s plea to a perishing world. Earnestly He is entreating sinners, "Only believe! I’ll fetch you safe to heaven. But believe!" Why is it so important to believe? Because all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Every one of us who does not know the Savior is in a state of spiritual shipwreck and in danger of perishing. That is why faith in Christ is so necessary If you do not know the Savior you are in jeopardy of losing your never-dying soul. Should your grip on life be loosened and you pass out of this world, it will be forever too late to be saved. To PERISH means to Pass Eternally Ruined Into Satan’s Hell. Sin has so ruined us that there is nothing left that we can do to save ourselves. The Lord Jesus died on Calvary’s cross, finished the work of redemption and rose again. What does redemption mean? It means, "Deliverance with power." When the Lord Jesus Christ died He provided a way that we might be delivered from all the trouble sin has brought us into. Ephesians 1:7 says: In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. When anyone truly believes on the Lord Jesus as the Son of God they receive the forgiveness of sins. No longer will they have to dread the punishment from God which their sins deserve. Also, when we receive forgiveness we can know God as a loving Father who will never desert us. This was not possible before. The sins which we had committed were a barrier between us and God to keep us apart. When we are forgiven the barrier is taken down and we are able to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge. "It is finished!" cried the Lord Jesus on the cross. It was one of the last sentences He spoke before He died. He was speaking of the work of redemption, that is, of the work by which sinners would be "delivered with power" from the deadly consequences of their sins. The work is complete. Because of that finished work of redemption, the moment a sinner believes is the moment he is passed from Condemnation to forgiveness. The people of Long Point Bay still honor Abigail Becker. In commemoration of her amazing feat more than 120 years ago her portrait hangs in the Abigail Becker Ward of Simcoe Town Hospital. Will you be one who honors the Lord Jesus for the great work He accomplished on the cross? Or will you pass out of this world without ever having believed on the One who paid such a great price to save you? God commendeth His love toward us, in that, white we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 ======================================================================== CHAPTER 64: ACCEPTING THE GIFT ======================================================================== Accepting the Gift I remember how hard I tried to live the Christian life. One Sunday morning I made up my mind to be a Christian, and I never doubted that I knew just what to do. I must stop doing some evil things. (Already evil things had a place in my life.) I must do good things. I must read my Bible more, pray more and repent more. Surely that was the right way. So I began. On Sunday I did well. On Monday and Tuesday I almost succeeded, but on Wednesday and Thursday I made some serious slips. I gave it up in despair on Friday and Saturday. But it didn’t matter. I would begin again next Sunday. In self-confidence I thought I knew where I had gone wrong, and I could guard against the danger. So I read my Bible more diligently and prayed fervently―prayed until sometimes I fell asleep on my knees beside the bed. I watched more carefully and imagined that I repented more deeply. Still, I could not live the "Christian life." Then came the wonderful Sunday when I heard a new speaker. I can only remember one sentence of his whole talk, but it was a living word for me: "All you have to do to be saved is to take God’s gift, and say, Thank you." Here was a new and great light. I had been trying to get God to take my gift, and trying to make it good enough to be worthy of His acceptance. But the gift was His to give, and I just had to take it. Simply and quietly that afternoon my heart turned to God and I took the gift for which I have been saying "Thank you" ever since. The gift of God is eternal life though Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23.) Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift. (2 Corinthians 9:15.) ======================================================================== CHAPTER 65: AFTER THIS ======================================================================== "After This" "How silly to put a thing like that up there! Some of that tent preacher’s work, I guess, and just like him. I wonder if he thinks that will do anyone any good. Come on, Beth; I wouldn’t stand and read any such rubbish." The two girls had been walking together when they noticed a small white board fastened to the trunk of a tree. On it were printed the words: "AFTER THIS THE JUDGMENT." The other girl stood reading the short phrase over and over again. Her friend, losing patience, called out again, "Come on, Beth! If you stand there much longer you’ll be converted!" "I wish I were, Nancy," said the girl wistfully as she rejoined her companion. "What makes you say that, Beth? I’m sure you don’t believe in tent meetings and singing at street corners. You enjoy having fun too much to join with that kind of thing." "You’re right, Nancy. Still, I’m not always happy. I do stay awake many nights thinking about the hereafter, and I can’t help it. In spite of having fun all evening my conscience troubles me when I go to bed. I can’t help thinking of the eternal future." Nancy was amazed at the turn the conversation had taken, and listened silently as her companion went on: "I once worked in the same room with a girl who was a Christian. I can never forget her―nor some of the things she said to me. She said she didn’t need to go to parties and shows to make her happy; she had Christ. "You can’t imagine, Nancy, what a sweet girl she was. She said those same words to me that are on the tree: After this the judgment. It made me think of her when I read them, and I wish I could be as sure as she was of being ready for eternity." The girls came to the corner where they had to separate. With a relieved and hurried "good night", Nancy went one way and Beth the other. Beth knew full well that she had to meet God, and that she was unprepared. She lay awake for a long time that night; sleep just would not come. In time with the slow ticking of the clock, the dreadful words throbbed through her mind: After this the judgment. How she longed for the next night to come! She made up her mind to go to the tent in spite of Nancy’s ridicule. But that was a long time to wait. What if death should come before? Just then a verse of a hymn she had heard came to mind: Just as I am, without one plea, But that Thy blood was shed for me, And that Thou bidst me come to Thee; O Lamb of God, I come. Beth repeated it aloud and the Lord listened and heard. He knew the longing heart that would trust herself wholly to Him, and in His love and mercy He banished her fears and doubts. Peace came to her troubled spirit. The following night she went to the tent meeting and heard the words: He that believeth on the Son [Jesus] hath everlasting life. This gave her intelligent assurance of her salvation, and with confidence in God’s saving grace she gave witness by her life that she now belonged to the Lord Jesus. Beth was right to have been troubled at the thought of coming judgment, for the day of God’s wrath will soon descend upon this world. Why? Because it has refused His Son, Jesus Christ, and His mighty work on Calvary’s cross. Only by turning to Him now, acknowledging Him as the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world, can anyone escape that coming judgment. I [Jesus] say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation [judgment]; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24.) ======================================================================== CHAPTER 66: ALL GRACE―ALL GLORY ======================================================================== All Grace―All Glory "Do you think you will get better?" was a question asked of a young man lying very ill in a hospital. "If I do, it will be all grace; and if not it will be all glory," was his answer. Not many months after it was "all glory" for him. What about you, dear reader, if you should leave this scene in a few months or weeks, or even less time than that? What if it should be today? It must be to spend eternity with Christ in glory, or to be lost with those in despair. "I have set before you life and death... therefore choose life." Deuteronomy 30:19. To die in your sins Have you counted the cost? To die in your sins And thy soul to be lost? Remember, if you are eternally lost, it is because you choose darkness rather than light. Our Lord Himself said, "Ye will not come to Me that ye might have life." If all the Bible were destroyed, there is one beautiful text sufficient to rest your soul upon for time and eternity. Attend carefully to its sweet message: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have ever-lasting life." John 3:16. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 67: ALL SIN ======================================================================== All Sin It seemed to me as if it were possible that most of my sins might be forgiven. They were bad enough, but then they were no worse than others. But there were some dark spots in my life, sins that I was ashamed to think of, and I could not believe that there could be forgiveness for such as those. I spent many anxious hours over this, but at last, light broke in. This verse was brought by the Holy Spirit to my mind: "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:7. Oh, what a wonderful verse! I just left all my sins, little ones and great ones, inside the word "ALL." Thank God for this message of assurance! He would not leave us in doubt. That word "ALL" is large indeed, though it is made up of only three letters. "ALL sin"―Yes! Sin of every character and shade―"the little sins," as some people speak of them, and the great ones too. "ALL sin." None is too dark or desperate. The soul that comes to the Savior is completely cleansed. "ALL sin." Oh, come to the Savior now. He wants to bless you. The door of mercy stands open wide. Soon the Master of the house of blessing will rise and close that door of salvation. Think seriously of what it will mean to have missed that cleansing, and to be joined forever with your sin and its doom. Don’t be a fool. "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow." Isaiah 1:18. "ALL sin"? Yes, "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:7. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 68: ALL SIN ======================================================================== All Sin It seemed to me that possibly most of my sins could be forgiven. They were bad enough, but then they were only the same sort of sins other people commit, and if others could be forgiven, why could not I? But there were some very dark spots in my life―sins that I was ashamed to think of. I could not bring myself to believe that there could be forgiveness for such sins as those. There were hours of darkness, hours of sorrow, and then at last the light broke in. A verse of Scripture came to mind: The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from ALL sin. And I just left the whole lot, little and great, inside the word "ALL". "ALL sin"―yes! Sin of every character and shade: the "little sins," as people speak of them and the great ones too. "ALL sin." None is too dark or desperate. The soul that comes to the Savior is completely cleansed. "ALL sin." Come to the Savior now. He wants to bless. The door of mercy stands open wide. Soon the Master of the house of blessing will close that door of salvation. Think what it will be to have missed the cleansing, and to be linked with your sins and their doom forever. "ALL sin." Let the words ring in your soul now and forever. The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7.) ======================================================================== CHAPTER 69: ALL THAT BELIEVE ======================================================================== "All That Believe" The devil has been misleading souls for nearly six thousand years. He is an experienced foe, and cannot be overcome, except by the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Take care that he is not misleading you―tempting you to trust in feelings, instead of Christ. The Word of God says, "All that believe are justified from all things." Acts 13:39. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 70: ALL OF MANKIND ======================================================================== All of Mankind All of mankind are sinners, because they have disobeyed God. No created being could pay the penalty for his own sin, much less for others. Yet God has said, "the wages of sin is death." Romans 6:23. Only the death of a Perfect One could satisfy the demands of God’s justice. And God’s love provided that perfect One: The Lord Jesus Christ! Jesus died in our place to give us His eternal life. "Christ... once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust." 1 Peter 3:18. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 71: ALL OR NOTHING ======================================================================== All or Nothing Many years ago, John Duncan, a farmer’s son, was determined to get ahead and not settle down to a farmer’s life. How he got his education for the medical profession would be hard to say, but we do know that he was willing to do any kind of honest work to help pay his expenses. In the city where he earned his medical degree, he was not ashamed to live in an attic and to subsist on the most simple fare. By a rigid economy, ambition, and determination, he did become a doctor and continued in his studies and practice until he became a well-known surgeon. Every year the doctor took his vacation in his old country home. He was never happier than when relaxing in the place of his birth. There, the friends of his early days would sometimes consult him about their ailments, and the great surgeon made a point of serving them without charge when on his vacation. One day a neighbor lady consulted him about her sick daughter. With his usual sense of dedication, he became interested in the case. When he found that an extensive and critical operation was necessary, he performed it most successfully. The daughter was on the road to recovery when the mother asked him what his fee was. He replied that he would not depart from his usual custom when on vacation in his native area, and that he was pleased to use his skill for any who needed it. The mother did not like to accept his kindness. Both her pride and her gratitude hindered her. So she insisted that he must let her pay something! As she pressed her point, the doctor finally said, "Madam, if you want to pay, my usual fee for this operation is one thousand dollars. You must take your choice. It is all or nothing. Which shall it be?" Needless to say, the woman swallowed her pride and accepted the celebrated surgeon’s skill as a free gift. This "all or nothing" attitude is just as applicable in spiritual matters. Most thinking people today recognize that they are sinners before God. They know that death has to be faced, and death without Christ is a terrible thing. "The wages of sin is death." Romans 6:23. And death does not end it all, for we read again, "after this the judgment." Hebrews 9:27. Yet how few will submit to the humbling fact that as sinners they cannot save themselves, nor can they even help to save themselves. If saved, one must gladly acknowledge that: "Jesus did it all; All to Him I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain― He washed it white as snow." So, then, it must be "all or nothing." Which shall it be? Oh, let it be ALL, and then give Him, in grateful worship, YOUR ALL. "Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all." "Verily, 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. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 72: ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL ======================================================================== "All’s Well That Ends Well" "All’s well that ends well" does not mean that a person may live a wicked life and still be all right at last, for the wrong road will never lead to the right goal. Most people want to be on the right road, but they also like the wrong one. They remind me of a little boy who made some very fine mud pies and was sitting beside them crying bitterly. Someone asked why he was crying. "I want to go home to dinner," he sobbed. "Well, sonny, it’s dinner time; run along home at once." "But I want to stay here!" cried the little boy. And because he could not do both he sat and wept. This is a true picture of many people: they would like to have both―the mud pies of this world, and the Bread of Life, the one now and the other hereafter. But it is clear that the prodigal son of Luke 15:1-32 could not sit by the swine trough and the father’s table at the same time. One must be left, if the other is to be enjoyed. If you would walk in the road that ends well, you must leave the road which ends in death. The Lord Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Do not be afraid to commit yourself in simple trust to Him. If the past troubles your conscience, bring it to the Lord Jesus. His blood can cleanse away all its stains. If you fear as you look into the future, bring your fears to Him. He can make you safe forever. If the present is full of difficulties, bring them all to Him, for He can clear the way and give you peace and joy from day to day. Come with your past, present and future to Him; all will then be well along the road, and all will be well at the end of it too. "Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass." Psalms 37:5. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 73: ALLIGATORS! ======================================================================== Alligators! Most people who go to Florida are surprised by the alligators which can be found in almost any lake, pond or river. I remember canoeing down a river and coming across my first one! He was lying in the mud on the bank. What a majestic creature! This one was only about 5 feet long. Another time I came across a ’gator that was 8 feet long. He looked huge, and as I drew the canoe closer to him he stood up and opened his mouth, almost as if to say, "Now you have come close enough." Needless to say, I did not get any closer! Alligators, however, will rarely attack a person. They are naturally afraid of people, and the only time they will attack is if they are cornered. Some folks make the mistake of feeding them, and then are bitten. Unlike the alligator, there is a foe called "the devil" who "as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter 5:8. He is also called the "prince of this world" in John 12:31. He’s that same old serpent who deceived Eve so long ago in the Garden of Eden. The Lord Jesus Christ came into this world to deliver us from the power of Satan. He did this by dying on the cross in our place, to save us from our sins. "Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:57. When a person accepts the work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross for his own sins, he is saved and the Holy Spirit comes in to dwell. He then can say, "greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world." 1 John 4:4. Won’t you come today and confess your sins and your need of a Savior? "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9. Then, as Christians, we can through God’s grace, and in submission to Him. "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 74: ALMOST ======================================================================== Almost Near to the door, and the door stood wide, Close to the port, but not inside, Almost persuaded to give up sin, Almost persuaded to enter in; Almost persuaded to count the cost, Almost a Christian, and yet lost. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 75: ALMOST GONE! ======================================================================== Almost Gone! Each week we collected children from various homes to bring to Sunday School in our car. Once, knowing we were going to be extra busy, we asked Jimmy Brown if he would please pick some up for us. He was willing to help, and could be counted on to be punctual. Jimmy was better than punctual! He arrived at the first stop one half hour earlier than our regular time! But David was nowhere to be found. His mother explained that he had been there just a few minutes ago, and she called, "David! David!" There was no answer, though she called both outside and in the house. She opened the cellar door and called again. Still no response! In sudden panic she hurried down the steps, and there was David hanging by his neck from the ceiling, almost strangled by the rope around his neck. His face was blue, and he was unconscious. They made a quick call to the emergency squad, and the responding ambulance team worked on resuscitation as they rushed him to the hospital. God spared David’s life and the next week he was at Sunday School. We learned that David had seen a stunt man on television tie a rope to the bough of a tree and around himself as he swung from branch to branch. Attempting to imitate what he saw, David tied the rope securely to the ceiling and jumped off the cellar steps to swing to a new perch. The rope caught about his throat and almost ended his life. We asked him where he would be now had Jimmy Brown not come early, and he said he didn’t know. His teacher in Sunday School urged him to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, giving him that precious verse in John 6:37 in which the Lord Jesus says: "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." Time passed... and David, like other young men, took to the wide open spaces on his own motorcycle. One day, in an instant, his thrill of speed and personal control came to an abrupt end. He was thrown from his bike, leaving time for eternity. We surely hope that David had accepted Christ Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Someone told us that he had, but our trust is in the Word of God: "The Lord knoweth them that are His." May we say to you, dear friend, don’t leave your family and friends in doubt as to your eternal destiny. Trust Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior now ― today ― and let others know by your words and your life that you belong to the Lord. "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Romans 10:9. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 76: ALMOST LOST ======================================================================== Almost Lost There was a warm discussion in the hotel barroom that evening; several guests were engaged in it. One man present, however, listened in silence though evidently deeply interested. The discussion centered around the superiority of Christianity over other religions. Some contended that while Christianity had its Superiorities, it was only one religion among many. Its excellencies, they maintained, were owed largely to those people who had accepted Christianity as their faith. The silent man, after listening for some time, came forward and in great seriousness said: "Gentlemen, I know more about Jesus Christ than any one of you; yet I am willing to sell my claim to Him for five dollars." The shocking proposition startled the company; but concluding that the man was only "under the influence", some sneered and ridiculed. But one of the drinkers took up his offer. "Do you really mean it?" he asked. "Will you sell out for five dollars?" "Yes", was the reply, "for just five dollars cash, and that’s mighty cheap." "Are you ready to sell me, here and now, for five dollars, all your right and claim to Jesus Christ?" "Yes, that’s exactly what I said." "Very well, I’ll buy." "Where’s your money? Hand over the five dollars and you may take my rights. I renounce in your favor all claims to Christ Jesus forever." "Here’s your money," said the buyer, producing a five dollar bill," but you must sign a written agreement." "Draw up the agreement and I’ll sign." An agreement like the following was written: "For the sum of five dollars, receipt of which I hereby acknowledge, I, (name), now and for-ever sell my right and claim to Jesus Christ as my Savior. I further agree not to trust in Him at any time, nor pray to Him, nor even ask anything of Him through others; neither will I accept anything He may offer me; neither will I, in any way whatsoever, own Him as my Lord and Savior. This agreement is for eternity." Taking the pen from the writer of the document, the man sat himself at the table ready to sign his name. But as he read the agreement his hand was stayed. He read it again and raised his hand from the paper. After a third reading, he laid down the pen, and with trembling hands, took up the document and read it aloud. He then laid it down, leaned back in his chair, folded his hands and stared at the paper. "Sign that! Sign that document! Did you hear it? Sign such an agreement as that? No sir, never! Would you have a man ― yes, or even a savage ― sign that? I might sign my death warrant, but not that! That is for eternity! That would settle my doom without a possibility of hope, much less of escape." Then turning to the buyer, he said: "I do not want your money. I will not take it. If there is a forfeit, I will pay it. But never will I sign that paper." The on-lookers saw that the man was now both sober and in deadly earnest. They listened in silence while he continued: "Gentlemen, I had a Christian mother, who taught me in my childhood to pray to God and to expect the Lord Jesus to become my Savior. Before she died, she begged me to meet her in heaven. Never until a few moments ago ― when in the folly of drink, when I offered to sell my rights ― have I lost hope of meeting that faithful mother there. "To sign that agreement would mean to break all the promises I made to that good woman. It would mean to make useless and vain all that Jesus has done for me; and render void forever the prayers of that blessed mother. "But I came near doing it. One more glass and my soul would be doomed for eternity. One more, gentlemen! Who tells me one glass will do no harm? If liquor will lead a man to sign away his Savior and hope for his soul, then I’m forever done with drink. I have tasted the last drop. Good-bye, gentlemen. I will not sign; I dare not drink; I cannot remain here. My soul, heaven, my sainted mother, the Lord Jesus Christ, are too dear for me to risk anything further." Without another word the man hurried away, nor did he ever return to that hotel. From that day he remained sober, and soon became a true Christian, a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ. The rest of the party stood silent, their faces showing that they had witnessed a great transaction ― from a farce to what was almost a tragedy. With never a laugh nor a sneer, each guest retired to his room; while the bar-tender wondered what had happened. In reading the above we are impressed with the strangeness of God’s ways. It was not the preaching in a religious gathering, but a most unusual happening in a low public place by which God spoke. It was an event among the rowdies that God used for the awakening and salvation of that priceless soul. And how do you suppose this man became a Christian? Was it by leading a different life? No! it is only by the shining in of the light from above that we are blessed of God for eternity. Unsaved reader, whatever God may use to bring you to the sense of your lost and ruined condition, there is just one way out, and that is through Jesus Christ, who says: "I am the door, by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved." John 10:9. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 77: ALWAYS CONFINED ======================================================================== Always Confined "Pop" Brown lived in the southern section of the United States. The unusual thing about him is that he spent most of his life behind the bars of jails and prisons―over seventy years, in fact. Pop Brown called such places "home". Escape or release from one merely opened the way for being put into another. Again and again the story was repeated until a lifetime was gone. The opportunities and joys of freedom lost forever. He was always confined! You say, Nothing could be worse! But wait a minute―did you ever think about the confinement of HELL? NOTHING COULD BE WORSE! In the Bible this place is called the "Lake of Fire", lake because of confinement; fire because of judgment. Such is the end of the road for everyone who leaves this world without the salvation of God. You and I have sinned. Hell is what we deserve. "For all have sinned." "The wages of sin is death." Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23. HERE’S GOOD NEWS: Jesus Christ died on the cross to save us from the confinement and judgment of hell. He suffered for our sins. With His own blood He paid the full price for our salvation. "Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;... He was buried,... He rose again the third day according to the scriptures." 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. By receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, you get freedom now: PERSONAL FREEDOM―"If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." John 8:36. FREEDOM FROM SIN―"Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness." Romans 6:18. FREEDOM FROM JUDGMENT―"No condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus... free from the law of sin and death." Romans 8:1-2. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 78: AMNESTY ======================================================================== Amnesty There are tens―perhaps hundreds―of thousands of people living in this country who are in it but not of it. They are the illegal aliens, people who have entered this country without going through government channels. Perhaps they slipped across a dark border and purchased false papers on the black market. They have come to the "land of opportunity" seeking work, seeking education, seeking freedom, but there is always the fear in the back of their minds that someday an officer of the Immigration Service will appear on their doorstep or at the place where they work and they will promptly be sent back to their home countries. With the danger of deportation always present, they are resigned to living in a shadowy, hidden world. Often they are employed in the lowest-paying jobs, live under the poorest of conditions, and are afraid to make any complaint lest it call attention to their illicit presence. Unscrupulous employers freely take advantage of them, knowing the fear that haunts the illegal alien. But there is hope at last. A new law has been passed, a new provision made: any illegal alien who has been in this country since January 1, 1982, can apply to become a legal, permanent resident. Or, if the alien only worked in American agriculture for a minimum of 90 days between May 1, 1985 to May 1, 1986, he may be granted temporary resident status, which also can become permanent after two years. In either case, after five years as permanent residents, they will be eligible for full citizenship with all its rights and privileges. It is a great offer, "the chance of a lifetime," as one lawyer said, but they must come forward and register as illegal aliens. Many who are eligible will hesitate a long time over it. As one lawyer said, "They’ve been living for years and years with the fear that they’re going to grab you and take you out of the country. A lot of people are just going to stay in the shadows." It is a bona fide offer; the U.S. is committed to offering amnesty to all the aliens who qualify, but some do not intend to take advantage of it. Some will remain in the illicit underground life they are accustomed to. What will be the penalty if the offer is refused, or ignored, and they are found out? Just what it has always been: deportation. It will not matter how many have come forward and received legal residency. The individual who has not done so for himself is just as much at the mercy of the Immigration Service as ever. Perhaps "mercy" is not the word! Mercy was extended to those who applied for it; justice and the law are all the officers can offer to those who neglect to register. They have no choice but to follow the rules. God is also offering an amnesty to people all people. Aliens or citizens, rich people or poor, all are offered the same free pardon. God is offering love, and life, and light. Is it possible that some will prefer to remain "in the shadows," in darkness and fear, until at last they are apprehended by death and "deported" from the land of the living into "the blackness of darkness" forever? For them it will not matter how many will have received the pardon God offered, how many have come to the Lord and said, "I know I’m a sinner, but Christ died for sinners!" Salvation was offered. They refused, or hesitated, or neglected, or said "someday..." and now it is too late. God’s offer must be accepted now; no "second chance" is ever promised. This is not just "the chance of a lifetime"; this is the greatest opportunity of all eternity, the greatest offer ever made, and it is for "whosoever will." "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 79: AMOS IS DEAD-DEAD ======================================================================== Amos Is Dead-Dead Returning to a village in the West Indies, we asked a Christian woman, "What happened to Amos?" She sadly replied, Amos is dead-dead!" We knew what she meant by that, and paused a little as we thought of poor Amos. Amos had lived in a tiny hut immediately across from a little Christian meeting room in that village, where the gospel of the grace of God was regularly proclaimed and where Sunday school and other meetings were held every week for years. Amos could not walk, and had to pull himself around by his arms and hands. Sometimes he earned a little money by pulling weeds from around the little building, which was actually only six or seven feet from the door of his hut. During the meetings he often sat in his open doorway and listened, but would never come in to hear. Sometimes Amos would make noises mocking the gospel, or make remarks that were not very nice. Many people sought to be friendly with him and tried to talk to him about the Lord Jesus Christ, but he was often rude and would not listen. Many, many gospel tracts and Sunday school papers too had been given to Amos. Our friend continued to tell us about Amos. His health grew worse and he had to be taken to the Poor House to be cared for. He had no family, or friends either, but several Christians went to visit him. They told him again the wonderful news that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, loved him and would save him. They told him that Christ died for sinners, and all that was needed was for him to take his place as a sinner and to receive Jesus as Savior, and then be assured of heaven. Amos still responded rudely. Amos was not a young man when he died, and he had heard the gospel for many, many years, so when we asked our friend what happened to Amos, her response that, "Amos is dead-dead," told us that he had died in his sins, and would suffer an eternity in hell, the lake of fire, which is the SECOND DEATH. (Revelation 20:14-15; Revelation 21:8.) All who knew Amos, and even the nurses who attended to his needs at the end, claim that Amos is "dead-dead"! Of course, only God knows whether poor Amos finally turned to the Lord Jesus Christ, but as far as our friend knew he never did and died in his sins. How awful! He died in the Poor House, and was buried in an unmarked grave, without family to mourn his passing into eternity. But it did not have to be that way, and it does not have to be that way for you nor for any other sinner in the whole world. God is love, and God provided a Savior! "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners!" 1 Timothy 1:15. And He came to save Amos too! "The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world." 1 John 4:14. Have you ignored this wonderful salvation too? Do not be as foolish as Amos was. One of God’s prophets of old was named "Amos" too, and he warned all: "PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD." Amos 4:12. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 80: AN ATHEIST SAID: ======================================================================== An Atheist Said: "There is one thing that mars all the pleasure of my life; I am afraid the Bible is true. If I could know for a certainty that death is an eternal sleep, I should be happy. But here is what pierces my soul; if the Bible is true, I am lost forever!" "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God." Psalms 14:1. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 81: AN EMPTY TOMB ======================================================================== An Empty Tomb In one of the villages in northern India a missionary was preaching in a bazaar. Afterward a Mohammedan came up and said, "You must admit that we Mohammedans have one thing that you Christians have not. We at least can take our people to Mecca where they can see the coffin of Mohammed; but when you Christians go to Jerusalem, you have no coffin. You have an empty tomb." To this the missionary replied, "Praise God, you are right! That is the difference between our faith and yours. Your leader is in his grave; but Jesus Christ, whose kingdom is to include all nations and kindreds and tribes, is not in any grave. He is risen! And He says from the resurrection side of an empty tomb, "all power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth." Matthew 28:18. Our risen Lord is our ever-living Savior. And His promise is, "Because I live, ye shall live also." John 14:19. You ask, "Did Christ really live?" That is one thing that all agree upon―that this Person who claimed to be the Son of God really lived here on earth among men. We know when he lived―from about 5 or 6 B.C. until about 30-32 A.D. We know where He was born―in Bethlehem of Judea, a real town, not a mythological one. We know where He lived for most of the years of His life―in Nazareth, in northern Galilee. There He worked as a carpenter. We know many of the characters of His day―their names appear in other historical writings outside of the Bible: Herod the Great, his son Herod, Agrippa, Salome, Pontius Pilate, Tiberius Caesar, Gamaliel, Felix, Festus. Every history of the ancient world, every encyclopedia, records the fact that Jesus lived during the first century of our era. H. G. Wells, the historian, had a contempt, indeed a hatred, for almost every article of the Christian faith; but he was compelled to give pages to Jesus of Nazareth in his Outline of History. All dates of history are now designated by the letters B.C. or A.D., both of which refer to the time of the birth of CHRIST―not Plato, not Julius Caesar, not Mohammed. JESUS CHRIST LIVED! And now "He ever liveth to make intercession for them" who believe on Him (Hebrews 7:25). ======================================================================== CHAPTER 82: AN EMPTY TOMB ======================================================================== An Empty Tomb In one of the villages in northern India a missionary was preaching in a bazaar. There is naturally a good deal of discussion after such meetings, for India is a land of culture. A Mohammedan came up and said, "You must admit that we Mohammedans have one thing that you Christians have not. We at least can take our people to Medina where they can see the mosque which contains the remains of Mohammed, but when you Christians go to Jerusalem you have no remains. You have an empty tomb." To this the missionary replied, "Praise God, you are right! That is the difference between our faith and yours. Your leader is in the grave, but Jesus Christ, whose kingdom is to include all nations and kindreds and tribes is not in any grave. He is risen! "And He says from the resurrection side of an empty tomb, ’All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.’ Matthew 28:18. Our risen Lord is our ever-living Savior. And His promise is, ’Because I live, ye shall live also.’ John 14:19." You ask, "Did Christ really live?" That is one thing that all agree upon―that this Person who claimed to be the Son of God really lived here on earth among men. We know when He lived―from about 4 B.C. until around 29 A.D. We know where He was born―in Bethlehem of Judea, a real town, not a mythological one. We know where He lived for most of the years of His life―in Nazareth in northern Galilee. There He worked as a carpenter. We know many of the characters of His day―their names appear in other historical writings outside of the Bible: Herod the Great, his son Herod, Agrippa, Salome, Pontius Pilate, Tiberius Caesar, Gamaliel, Felix, and Festus. Every history of the ancient world, every encyclopedia, records the fact Jesus lived during the first century of our era. H. G. Wells, the historian, had a contempt, indeed a hatred, for almost every article of the Christian faith, but he was compelled to give pages to Jesus of Nazareth in his Outline of History. The dates of history are now designated by the letters B.C. or A.D., both of which refer to the time of the birth of CHRIST―not Plato, not Julius Caesar, not Mohammed. Millions in each generation have had their lives gripped and changed by the firm belief that Christ has given the world the most perfect revelation of God, the only gospel that does deliver men from the power of sin, the only assurance of forgiveness of sins, the only positive hope of life to come. Christ has done more to lift and empower the ethical standards of men than all the philosophers of Greece combined. Among all the great men of history, He "is above all." "That in all things He might have the preeminence." Colossians 1:18. JESUS CHRIST LIVED! And now "He ever liveth to make intercession for them" who believe on Him. Hebrews 7:25. "What am I to believe?" A lady once wrote to a servant of Christ: "Will you put it down in black and white what I am to believe? I have been told of many different verses, and they are so many that I am bewildered. Please tell me one verse, and I will try to believe it." The answer came: "It is not any one verse, nor any number of verses that save the soul. It is by trusting the Person and work of the Lord Jesus that we are saved." "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 83: AN INFIDEL’S CONVERSION ======================================================================== An Infidel’s Conversion When Dwight L. Moody was still a young shoe clerk in Chicago, he often went out preaching in his spare time. When holding meetings in an Illinois town, the wife of the district judge asked him to speak to her husband. "I cannot speak to your husband," he replied. "Your husband is a book infidel and I am nothing but an uneducated shoe clerk." But the wife insisted and finally Moody called upon the judge. As he passed through the general office, the law clerks tittered, thinking how the learned judge would confound the uneducated young shoe clerk from Chicago. When he was admitted into the judge’s private office Mr. Moody said: "Judge, I cannot talk with you, you are an educated man; I am nothing but an uneducated shoe clerk. But I just want to ask you one thing: When you are converted, will you let me know?" "Yes," replied the judge, "when I am converted I will let you know." He then raised his voice louder and said, "Yes, young man, when I am converted I will let you know. Good morning!" As Mr. Moody again passed through the general office, the judge raised his voice still louder so that all the staff could hear: "Yes, young man, WHEN I am converted I will let you know!" and the law clerks chuckled louder than ever. But the judge was converted within a year! When Moody revisited the town and called upon the judge, he asked: "Judge, will you tell me how you were converted?" "Yes," the judge replied. "One night my wife went to the prayer meeting as usual, but I as usual stayed at home reading the evening paper. "I began to get very uneasy and miserable, and before my wife returned I was so miserable I was afraid to face her, so I retired for the night. On her return, finding me in bed she came to the door and asked if I were sick. " ’No,’ I replied, ’I am not sick; I am just not feeling well. Good night.’ "I had a miserable night and was so miserable in the morning that I dared not face my wife at breakfast. I simply looked in the door and said: `Wife, I am not feeling very well this morning, I will not eat any breakfast.’ "I went to my office and told the clerks that they could take a holiday. I locked the outside door and then went into my inner office and locked the door to that. I sat down, getting more miserable all the time. "At last, in my misery and my overwhelming sense of sin, I knelt down and cried: “‘O God, forgive my sins!’ But there was no answer. Again I cried: "’O God, forgive my sins!’ but there was no answer. I would not say: "’O God, for Christ’s sake forgive my sins,’ because I was a Unitarian and did not believe in the divinity of Christ. Again I cried: "’O God, for Jesus Christ’s sake, forgive my sins!’ and instantly I found peace." There is divine power in a faith that accepts Jesus Christ as the Son of God. "Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 84: AN OFFERING FOR SIN ======================================================================== An Offering for Sin “Above all, the reason why I believed in Jesus is because He silenced the longings of my soul.” Isaac, a Jewish boy, was brought up to read the Old Testament and to know God’s law and His commandments and judgments. His life went smoothly except for one thing. He worried constantly because he knew that he was a sinner. He was anxious to get rid of his sins. His teacher, a learned Rabbi, told him that his father would bear them for him until he was thirteen years old, and Isaac dreaded the thought of what would happen then. When that unhappy day arrived, he went to his father and said, "Father, won’t you bear my sins a little longer, just a month more?" But his father answered, "No, my son; you must bear them yourself now. I can do no more for you." This was bad news to the boy. Hopelessly he went on reading the Old Testament, specially interested in forefather Abraham’s history. He read how God had called him to leave his country and his people to go to a land which He would show him. The more Isaac thought about this, the more he felt sure that God was calling him in the same way. At last he made up his mind to leave home. His parents, seeing that his mind was made up, gave him their blessing and let him go. First he went to Hamburg, then crossed to England, and finally settled in London. Here he met a German Jew, Rabbi Stern, who noticed his sad expression and said to him kindly, "Are you a Jew, my brother?" This was asked so gently that Isaac opened his heart to him and told him his history and how he was burdened with the weight of his sins, which he had had to carry since he was thirteen years old. Mr. Stern had himself left home and country to find rest for his soul, so he took the greatest interest in Isaac. He read to him the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah and explained to him that the Messiah, as foretold in this and other prophecies, had come and suffered for the sins of the Jews and for all those who put their trust in Him. Isaac listened intently as Mr. Stern read through this wonderful chapter: He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities.... The Lord hath laid on Him [Jesus] the iniquity of us all.... For the transgression of My people was He stricken.... Thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin.... He [Jesus] shall bear their iniquities. Many times in the chapter the words sin, transgressions, iniquities, occur, and in each case they were borne by the Messiah, Jesus, of whom it was said: He shall save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21.) Little by little the truth found its place in Isaac’s heart. He believed the Scriptures and realized that Jesus, the Son of God, loved him, a lonely Jew, and had given Himself for him. His heart rested; the burden of his sins was gone, and he wrote home to tell his father what had happened. His parents were very angry when they found that their son had become a Christian. They disowned him as a relative and refused to have anything to do with him. But Isaac was proving the goodness of God at every turn in his path, and now he learned the truth of a verse which he had read many times: When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up. (Psalms 27:10.) His faith and hope increased as the years went on, and he said to his friends, "Above all, the reason why I believed in Jesus is because He silenced the longings of my soul." He meant that not only were his sins gone, but his heart was satisfied. This is what God will do for every one who believes in Jesus. He will forgive their sins and fill their hearts with peace and joy in believing. He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. (Psalms 107:9.) Many ask this question in their hearts. They do not doubt God’s power, but they wonder, "Is He willing?" It is an important question, and only the Word of God can give the answer. In the Bible in Luke chapter 5 we read of a leper who came to Christ. The one thought in his mind was, "Is He willing?" When he saw Jesus he fell on his face, saying, "Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean." The Lord Jesus responded at once. His tender, loving heart was touched by the man’s misery and helplessness, and He stretched forth His hand and touched him, saying, "I WILL: be thou clean." Immediately the leprosy left him. In His presence, and by His love and power, all need was met, whether it were a leper in his leprosy or a sinner in his sins. "I will: be thou clean" was spoken to the former, and "Thy sins are forgiven" to the latter. It is always so. Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37.) ======================================================================== CHAPTER 85: AN OFFICER'S MESSAGE ======================================================================== An Officer’s Message A young Army officer was in the hospital near death. When one of the men of his regiment, Sgt. Taylor, visited him, he gave him a last message for his mother at home. "Promise me, Taylor, that you will go to Easton and see my mother. Tell her all about me." "Your mother, sir?" The look of sorrow and regret on the dying man’s face made the trooper say gently: "May I tell your mother that you died trusting in Christ?" "No, no," was the bitter answer. "She is a wonderful mother and a real Christian. It will break her heart, I know, but no, it is not true of me." He turned his face away. "But Christ will receive you now just as you are, sir. Why not come to Him?" "Taylor, I have lived only for myself, and given God no thought all my life. How could I be so low as to turn to Him at the end? No! It’s too late. I set my course and left God out." "Wait a minute, sir. Look at it this way. Look at it from Christ’s side. After all He has done for you and He died for you, didn’t He?―give Him the chance of saving your soul. He has suffered enough for you. Don’t cause Him still more disappointment! Give Him at least the chance of saving you now, late though it is." The man’s eyes opened wide in astonishment. This was a new way of looking at it―that Christ would be disappointed if he were lost, and that he would be grieving Him still further―that was a new thought. "Leave me, Taylor, but come back tonight. I must think this through." That evening when the sergeant again stood by the bed of the dying officer there was no need to ask a question. The light in the man’s eyes told the tale. He had not disappointed Christ! The lost sheep had let the Shepherd find him. "Tell Mother that my trust is in Christ, and that He is not disappointed," he whispered. Jesus says: Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37.) He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him. (Hebrews 7:25.) ======================================================================== CHAPTER 86: AN OLD-TIME PREACHER HITS HARD ======================================================================== An Old-Time Preacher Hits Hard - The Word of God Simple and Definite Friends, observe the Bible I’m holding up before you. Do you realize that it is the only book in the world that gives you the knowledge of what is beyond the grave? Man is totally, absolutely and completely dependent on God’s revelation. Not a ray of light pierces the inky darkness of what lies beyond the grave, apart from the Word of God. At every funeral which takes place in this city, I judge that at least one portion is read from this Book. It is the Word of God. The Lord Jesus says in John 12:48 : "He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." Yes, he is going to be judged by the Word of God. This Book is the only book in the world, then, that speaks with divine authority and tells what lies beyond the grave. Everyone in the world, without any exception whatsoever, whether rich or poor, old or young, educated or otherwise, has to leave this world some day. Every beat of your heart, every tick of the clock, every moment of time is just bringing you a little nearer to that moment when you will leave this world. You will leave it, and the great and important question is, Where will you spend eternity? The Word of God is definite that you must spend it either with Christ in glory or in outer darkness under His judgment forever. Romans 3:19 tells us: "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God." The whole world may become guilty before God! There is a simple statement of truth which is not hard to understand. Every boy or girl can understand this language. You will never be saved until you realize that you are guilty before God. My friend, the Word of God is simple and definite. The whole world has become guilty before God, and unless you are under the shelter of the blood of Christ, you will meet the judgment of God. Everyone dies in one of two ways; either they die in Christ, having accepted Him as Savior, or they die in their sins. This Word tells us that the whole world has become guilty before God. Is that not solemn? That is true of everyone. We are guilty before God, and we who are Christians were in that same group. Thank God that now we are under the shelter of the blood of Christ. Now turn to Romans 4:5 : "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." Again how simple the language is! "But to him that worketh not." Thousands of people are making resolutions that they are going to live a better life. But the Word of God never tells us that salvation is found in that way. "To him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly." How can God justify the ungodly (Job 9:2)? "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." Psalms 85:10. How can that be? The cross is the answer. Only by the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ could God justify the ungodly or reconcile mercy and truth. I think of the matchless grace of God that sent His Son into the world, and sent Him to be a sin offering, to bear the judgment that I deserved on the cross. "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up." John 3:14. When the children of Israel were bitten by the serpents God told Moses to make a serpent of brass and put it on a pole and lift it up in the camp, and whoever looked at the serpent of brass was healed. Suppose they argued, "How could that heal any man?" Could anyone give a satisfactory answer to such a question as that? No they could not answer by any human reasoning, but if they looked, they lived. Friend, you will never know the happiness of being a child of God until you accept Christ. The knowledge of Christ will make you happy. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 87: AN OLD-TIME PREACHER HITS HARD ======================================================================== An Old-Time Preacher Hits Hard - Taking God at His Word Faith is believing, taking Him at His Word. Look at 1 John 5:9 : "If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which He hath testified of His Son." Then in 1 John 5:10 we read: "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in Himself: he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son." We are in the habit of receiving the witness of men about many things, and a man is greatly insulted if we won’t receive his witness. But surely the witness of God is greater than that of man! And here we have the witness of God in 1 John 5:11-12 : "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." Faith says, "This is the record of God." Unbelief says, "How do we know?" Faith says, "God has said it and it must be true." Salvation is linked with faith, and faith is linked with salvation. When faith grasps God’s record, it brings to my soul salvation, life, light and joy. You will never be saved till you come and accept God’s record; accept Christ, of whom that record speaks. One of the most dangerous doctrines preached is that it does not matter what a man believes, if he is only sincere. One form of belief is as good as another. That is the devil’s doctrine to deceive souls. You know better than that when you talk of worldly things. A man may be terribly in earnest about getting to London, but if he takes the train to Edinburgh, he may believe what he likes, but he won’t get to London. So a man may believe he is going in the true way to heaven, but if he is not saved, not in Christ, he is going right down to hell all the time. It makes all the difference in the world what a man believes. To believe God and the record He gives of His Son, is to be saved; to believe the devil’s lies is to be lost forever. But faith in a creed or a doctrine is not salvation. If creeds and doctrines do not bring you to Christ, they are worth nothing. You must not only believe that Christ came to save, that Christ died to save, but that He came to save you. You must make it personal. You must get into Christ and then you will be safe. People who have a sound and orthodox creed will go down to destruction, unless they lay hold on Christ. The faith that grasps the Son of God, that receives Him, and that takes God at His Word, is the faith that saves. Isaiah 12:2 says, "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid." How do we get this faith? I used to pray for faith, but all the time I was neglecting the plain teaching of the Bible. In Romans 10:17 we read, "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." Faith is the result of hearing the Word of God; it is taking God at His Word. If you think God is worthy of belief, you believe Him and lay hold of His Word. In John 3:33 we read, "He that hath received His testimony hath set to His seal that God is true." This is just what faith is. It is our setting to our seal that God is true, endorsing it, as long ago they sealed a document with their signet ring on which their initials were engraved. So when you receive God’s testimony concerning His Son, when you receive the witness of His Word, you set to your seal that God is true. Then, and not until then, you will have the knowledge, the peace and the joy of God’s salvation. If you would pass from death to life, if you would be saved and know it, you have simply to take this step. That is all. It seems very simple, very easy, but it is God’s way. He has done all else for us; there is nothing more to be done. He sent His Son to die, the just, for us, the unjust. All is finished―all is done. We do not buy salvation, but we take it as God’s gift when we believe the record He has given of His Son. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 88: AN OLD-TIME PREACHER HITS HARD ======================================================================== An Old-Time Preacher Hits Hard - What Does "Converted" Mean? What does converted mean? It means completely changed. Converted is not synonymous with reformed. Reforms are from without―conversion from within. Conversion is a complete turnabout to Jesus and a willingness to do what He wants you to do. Unless you have made a complete turnabout and are doing His will it will avail you nothing if you’ve reformed a thousand times. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ in your heart and confess Him with your mouth and you will be saved (Romans 10:9-10). The plan of salvation is presented to you in two parts: believe in your heart and confess with your mouth. The Lord says He has something better for you―salvation―if He can get you to see it. Jesus said: "Come unto Me," not to a creed, to Me, not to a preacher, to Me, not to an evangelist. "Come unto Me... and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28. Faith in Jesus Christ saves you. You can attend the services, teach Sunday school, return thanks and do everything that would apparently stamp you as a Christian―even pray―but you won’t ever be a Christian until you do what God tells you to do. The first thing to remember about being saved is that salvation is a personal matter. "Seek ye the Lord"―that means everyone must seek for himself. It won’t do for the parent to seek for the children; it won’t do for the children to seek for the parent. If you were sick, all the medicine I might take wouldn’t do you any good. Salvation is a personal matter that no one else can do for you; you must attend to it yourself. Some think they must come to Him in a certain way―that they must be stirred by emotion or something. Some of you say that in order to accept Jesus you must have different surroundings. You think you could do it better in some other place. You can be saved where you are as well as any place on earth. You need a new heart, not a new suit. You say, "The church is full of hypocrites." So’s hell! There are no hypocrites in heaven. What can I do to keep out of hell? "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31. Jesus Christ became a man; God became flesh and blood. He died on the cross for us, so that we might escape the penalty pronounced on us. Now. what’s our part in salvation? Here it is: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." You say, "It’s so mysterious. I don’t understand." You’ll be surprised to find out how little you have to know. You plant a seed in the ground; that’s your part. You don’t understand how it grows. How God makes that seed grow is mysterious to you. But you leave that up to Him. God says: "Let the wicked forsake his way." Isaiah 55:7. When’? Within a month, within a week, within a day, within an hour? No! Now! The instant you believe, God’s plan of salvation is thrown into gear. You will be saved before you know it, like a child being born. I want you to see what God put in black and white―that there can be a sound, thorough conversion in an instant, and that man can be converted as quietly as the dawning of a new day. What I want to make clear is the fact that a man can be converted without a great display of emotion or ceremony. It is an inward thing. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. Because of His divinity He understands God’s side of it, and because of His humanity He understands our side of it. Therefore, Jesus Christ is the mediator between God and man. He died to save us. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, confess Him with your mouth, and you shall be saved. It is a great salvation that can reach down into the quagmire of filth and pull out a struggling sinner. It is a great salvation, for it saves from great sin. I want to close with this: that the way to heaven is a blood-stained way. "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:7. No man ever has nor ever will reach it without Christ. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 89: AN OLD-TIME PREACHER HITS HARD ======================================================================== An Old-Time Preacher Hits Hard - One Thing Lacking! In Luke 18:18-23 we read about a rich young ruler. He asks in Luke 18:18 : "Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" God knows your thoughts! The One with whom the rich young ruler spake was God, God manifest in His Son. And as God, the lowly Jesus knew all the thoughts of this well-favored young man. The young man lacked one thing. He had earthly possessions and religious attainments, but he did not have ETERNAL LIFE. Many spend their God-given time planning how to get more and more of this world’s goods. Are you accumulating the things of earth? Count it all as rubbish! The Apostle Paul named one by one the things he had possessed, and said: "and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ." Php 3:8. It is a humiliating thing to acknowledge that one is a lost, ruined sinner. I believe that the main reason more people are not being saved is because of their pride; they shrink from taking their rightful place before God as a guilty, hopeless wretch, and the hated position before the world as a believer in the rejected Jesus. In Luke 18:22 we find the key: "Come, follow Me." What! Follow this lowly One? He was born in a manger, not a cradle, in a place suited only for animals, not for the Son of the highest! To follow Him meant to share His reproach, not yet to enter into His glory. He had not yet come as King, but, as Son of the Father, He was manifesting the love of the Father: going about doing good, comforting broken hearts, healing diseased bodies, proving Himself to be God in the form of man. And then―mystery of mysteries!―in His great love for poor, helpless, ruined man, He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross due to you and me. On the cross of Calvary He bore the full load of sin and of judgment. If you will accept Him now as your Substitute, you will have Him eternally as the Savior of your soul. He has the power to judge too, and at the appointed time He will come in that power to judge the world. But now it is the day of His grace and love, and the good news of salvation is still being sounded out. And then Luke 18:23 : "And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich." Sorrowful? Why? Because "he was very rich," and his heart was attached to his riches. If you let possessions have power over you, they will keep you from the Savior. Let Christ alone have power over your soul. Romans 1:16 says: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth," that is, believes what God says and accepts it for himself. And how can you receive it? By faith. Will you accept the Lord Jesus on that basis? "The just shall live by faith." Romans 1:17. Look back at the cross. See Him suffering there for YOU. Take your place before Him as a sinner. Look to Him as the Savior. Let your heart respond to His love. God does not want you to go to the pit. God is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9. Just take your place as a sinner, and He will save you. He Himself said: "He that heareth My word, and believeth... hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." John 5:24. That rich young man went away sorrowful―a sorrow that will never end, if he did not turn to Christ. The blind beggars cried to the Lord Jesus: "Son of David, have mercy on us." They did not care what the world thought or said. They had a need, and they believed in His power to supply that need. Dear sinner friend, you too have a need―a great need. You need eternal life through belief in Christ, the Savior of sinners. Bow to Him now and receive the blessing that only He can give. Believe now! ======================================================================== CHAPTER 90: AN OLD-TIME PREACHER HITS HARD ======================================================================== An Old-Time Preacher Hits Hard - "Have You a Remedy?" "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16. We need turn no further in the Word to find the gospel. What a tale it tells of the love of God! By the grace of God we are able to read this text and find it fresh to our souls. In spite of the fact that we have such a wonderful story of the love of God, we find it necessary to point out first of all our need, your need and mine. We must see ourselves as God sees us. God’s Word is a revelation from Him who looks down at you and sees you tonight, right where you are, and knows all about you. Suppose I have in my pocket a remedy for any and every disease. With what joy I would start out to the hospital, anticipating the pleasure of offering the remedy to the sick boys and girls, and the sick men and women. Do you suppose I would have to spend a half an hour at each bedside pointing out the fact that they are sick, and explaining carefully their aches and pains? Not at all. They would interrupt me, saying, "We know we are sick; have you a remedy?" Or, suppose I have a pocketful of pardons for those who are in the penitentiary. Would I have to tell them that they are behind the bars, or elaborate on the poor food and the lack of liberty? They would soon tell me that they know all about it and want to get out. Again, let me visit the poor house with a purse full of $50.00 bills. No explanation of their need would be necessary. The gift would be readily received without pointing out their poverty. Now I direct you to the Word of God. It unfolds a wondrous tale of the matchless love of God’s heart, of the pardon He offers, of a home in the glory, and of unsearchable riches. But, sad to say, all this is of no interest to a man who has not felt His need. Your need is far more desperate than that of the sickest man in the hospital, for you are dead in trespasses and sins. Your case is worse than the man in the penitentiary, for the eternal wrath of God hangs over your head. And you are in greater need than the poorest beggar in the city. God says, "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23. Then He goes on to say, "The wages of sin is death." Romans 6:23. And He finally warns us, "After this the judgment." Hebrews 9:27. God has faithfully pointed out your need and the warning cannot be exaggerated. But now turn again to the glorious remedy, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." I like to think of this verse as showing us the height, and depth, and breadth, and length of that love. Here surely we find a height we can never reach: "For God so loved the world." If that verse were written at the beginning of the Bible it would be a marvel indeed, but here we find it after 4,000 years of the history of man’s rebellion and failure. LOOK UP and realize there is a God up there whose tender heart beats in love for you. Then we see the depth of that love: "He gave His only begotten Son." I almost fear to speak of it, for it is so solemnly deep and real. Often have we stood by faith at the foot of the cross and marveled in our inmost soul at the depth of a love that could give "His only begotten Son." God looked down on that beloved Son as He went about with a heart filled with love and blessing. He saw the wickedness of man pick up stones to cast at Him; He saw them lead Him to the brow of the hill that they might cast Him down headlong; He saw them strip Him of that seamless coat and beat His back. After man had done all that his wicked heart could think of against the Son of God’s love, then God Himself poured out upon that spotless Victim, all the wrath and judgment that my sins deserved, and yours too, if you will have Him. Is that not a depth of love that cannot be measured? And what breadth: "whosoever believeth in Him." Could greater breadth be possible? That glorious word "whosoever" has been the joy of many a poor sin-burdened heart. "Out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation," Revelation 5:9, have been included in that wondrous word. It meant me and many another here tonight, to the rejoicing of each heart. The heart of God desires that you might know the breadth of that love. Last of all the length cannot be measured. Listen to the glory of it, "should not perish, but have everlasting life." Is there anything like that length in this poor world? Man talks about security, and seeks protection against every possible adversity in this short life, and is thus considered "wise" by the world, but God is offering something with unknown length. He offers "everlasting life" to the man of this world. Do you know anything of this? As you take your next breath, you are either guilty and lost, or cleansed and saved forever. God now waits to record your decision to this offer of His love which has been made known to you. Just as I am―and waiting not To rid my soul of one dark blot, To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot: O Lamb of God, I come! I come! ======================================================================== CHAPTER 91: AN OLD-TIME PREACHER HITS HARD - JONAH'S SERMON ======================================================================== An Old-Time Preacher Hits Hard - Jonah’s Sermon Jonah’s sermon was short; it only contained eight words. Hear what he said, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown." Jonah 3:4. That was Jonah’s message―a word of threatening judgment. Have you noticed what effect these eight words from God had on the inhabitants of the great city? Did the Ninevites sit down and calculate what they could do before the day of overthrow should come? Did they say, "We have forty days before us yet; we will have our fling of sinning?" No! not one spoke in that way. They believed God, and neither scoffed at the preaching, nor reckoned on these forty days of grace. They one and all of them repented. "So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them." Jonah 3:5. You might have heard the king say, "What good will my kingly robe do, if in forty days I shall be in eternity?" He flung his robe aside. We read, "For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes." Jonah 3:6. What a wonderful sight! King and people are clothed in sackcloth, and sitting in ashes! Sinner, have you laid aside your robe? Have you clothed yourself in moral sackcloth, and do you sit in the ashes of repentance? Hear what the Lord says, "The men of Nineveh shall rise up in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it." Luke 11:32. Why? "For they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here." Yes, indeed a greater than Jonas was here! But have you repented? The Ninevites repented when they heard the prophet’s words, and you have often heard the words of the Lord’s ambassador, but have you repented? Do you ask, "Must I repent in order to be saved?" Most certainly you must repent. You must acknowledge to God you are a guilty sinner. Repentance is humbling one’s self before God. Repentance is the tear-drop in the eye of faith. You have sins, for you know you are a sinner. Do not think of others; think of no one but yourself. Repentance is a blessed thing. The moment you repent, God rejoices. "Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth." Luke 15:7. The sinner who repents is awakened to see his real condition before God and heaven rejoices. It is the Spirit of God which works this repentance, and it is because the Word of God is believed and received into the heart. Had you gone into Nineveh after the day of Jonah’s preaching, you would have found no laughter there. Solemn anguish of soul was written on every face. What a thorough humbling before God that was! That is what you need, my friend. When a man judges himself, and believes that which God says is the truth regarding him, he repents. And I can tell you that the moment the sinner repents, God will save him. God gave His Son to take the guilty sinner’s place. Listen to the Savior’s words, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:14-15. "Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish." That is God’s answer to all doubting and unbelief. The gospel we preach tells more than Jonah’s sermon did. It tells that Christ has come and done a work which enables God to bless everyone who comes to Him, having "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." Acts 20:21. When you believe what God says of you, you will have this repentance toward God, and when you simply trust Jesus, you have faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Listen to what the Word of God says to you: "Despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and long-suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" Romans 2:4. Oh, what an awful thing for a sinner to despise the goodness of God! Come to Christ now. Salvation is sure, if you come now. Do you think you are too great a sinner to share the benefits of what Christ has done? Listen: "Let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Revelation 22:17. Bow to God’s invitation to believe, to rejoice, and to be saved. "Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Corinthians 6:2. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 92: AND I REFUSED! ======================================================================== ”And I Refused!" Felix Mendelssohn, the great master of music, was born in Germany in 1801. As a young man his talents won him worldwide fame. One afternoon, being in Frieberg, he wandered, unnoticed and unknown, into its ancient cathedral where he had heard there was a rare, old pipe organ. Finding the old man in charge, he humbly asked permission to play it. But the old man stoutly refused. He said, "No! Strangers are not allowed to play my organ." The young musician, however, persisted, and spoke so long and lovingly of the organ, and pleaded so fervently, that the old man consented to let him play, but only for a few minutes. Seating himself at the instrument and sweeping his fingers across the keys, the musician began to play. Instantly the old organ responded to the master’s touch. It seemed to thrill with new life, as there burst from its pipes such a glorious rhapsody as it had never before produced. As if the great cathedral could not contain all the melody, the music rolled out through the open doors and windows into the streets, while the townsfolk stopped to listen and wonder. When the short performance ended, the old man, with tears streaming from his eyes, laid two trembling hands on the musician’s shoulders and demanded: "Wonderful, man! Who are you?" Hearing the name "Mendelssohn," he drew back in fear and astonishment. "Mendelssohn! And I refused to allow you to play my organ!" May this story remind us that a heavenly Stranger stands at the heart’s door waiting to be admitted... to fill that heart with such heavenly joy and song as it has never known before. His name is Jesus. Have you let Him in? "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10. "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink." John 7:37. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 93: AND JESUS SAID ======================================================================== "And Jesus Said" "I remember a case in Ireland," related J. N. Darby, "where a Testament had been torn up and the pages thrown to the winds. A poor man found one of the leaves on which he read: " ’And Jesus said:’ again, ’and Jesus answered and said:’ and so on. The man said to himself: "What! has the blessed Lord said so many things and I did not know them?" "Struck by these simple but solemn words, `Jesus said,’ he soon went off to a neighboring town and bought a Testament. He believed what Jesus said, was converted, and was happy in knowing the Savior as his very own Savior. "But you say, ’How did the poor man know it was true that Jesus said these things? Well, God guides the humble, simple soul. Jesus said it, and His word had power over his soul by grace. "As I have related to you one history, I will tell you another. I was in a cabin in Ireland where I was known and began speaking to the brother-in-law of the man of the house about Scripture. His niece, a young woman who was present said: "But they tell me, sir, that that is a bad book, and that the devil wrote it." She was very ignorant, and could not read. I said, "That is a shocking blasphemy. But I will not reason with you. I will read you a bit and you shall tell me yourself if the devil wrote it." I read to her what are called the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-48 : "And He opened His mouth and taught them, saying. Blessed are the poor in Spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. "Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. "Rejoice and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." "I then said, "Well what do you think? Did the devil write that?" "No, sir!" she answered, "the devil never wrote that; that came from none but the mouth of God." The word of God had laid hold of her. She lived and died most happy, dying three years after of a fever in a hospital. That is, the word of God proves its own truth and power to the soul." ======================================================================== CHAPTER 94: ANSWERED PRAYER ======================================================================== Answered Prayer Not in great things only do we prove that God answers prayer. One Christian told this little story: "When I was in the Navy my ship was once anchored in Table Bay. We landed each day to practice shooting on the mountainside, and on one of these times I lost my favorite knife. The ground was so rough, and the path I had taken so winding and uncertain, that to look for it appeared useless. I did look, but with no success at all. "Going back on board I happened to mention the loss, when one of the men tauntingly said, ’You had better ask your Father about it,’ and the other men around burst into laughter. "I felt that, simple though it was, I could pray about it, realizing that the answer would be a real testimony to these men. So I did pray that I might be directed to where the knife was. "Nearly a month went by and the last day for shooting arrived. On my way I unconsciously turned down a bypath. Along this trail in a most unlikely place I saw, lying at my feet, the lost knife. My prayer had been answered; I could show my shipmates the proof that God delights to hear the prayer of His children." Prayer is so simple. It is counting on God to meet a felt need, and the more we avail ourselves of this wonderful privilege, the more our confidence in God will be strengthened. Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me. (Psalms 50:15.) ======================================================================== CHAPTER 95: ANXIOUS QUESTIONS WITH WONDERFUL ANSWERS ======================================================================== Anxious Questions With Wonderful Answers Do you think I am properly converted? I am not as happy as I thought I would be when I came to Christ, and I sometimes wonder if I have made a mistake. Well, God in His great goodness gives us something better to rest upon than our happiness. What is that? His own Word in the Scriptures. Remember, He cannot lie. He means what He says and says what He means, and He has spoken for our assurance. Better still, He has written to us: "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. Do you believe on the Son of God? Oh, yes! I do! But my feelings change. One day I think I am all right because I am happy, but the next day I think that I am all wrong because my happy feelings are gone. Look at the verse carefully then. It is not: "This happiness I have given unto you that ye may know," but, "These things have I written... that ye may know." The Word of God has been given to us. It never changes. Happy feelings and joyful experiences come and go, and will continue to come and go while we are here on earth. But the written Word of God remains unaltered. It is put before us in black and white so that we may have absolute assurance. Then I am to trust in what God says in His written Word, and not depend on my feelings? Yes! The tide ebbs and flows unceasingly around the shores, but the land remains unmoved. So our condition varies from day to day but the truth of God is still the same. It will abide forever, firmer than the firmest piece of land. Then, can I know that I have eternal life regardless of whether the tide of my feelings is high or low? Of course! Everyone who believes on the name of the Son of God is entitled to know that. "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true; and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life." 1 John 5:20. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 96: ARE WE FREE? ======================================================================== Are We Free? The Roman philosopher, Epictetus, said, "No man is free who is not master of himself." If we are free, how can we explain the addicts of drink and drugs, the chain smokers, the slaves of passion and pleasure? The devil promises us liberty while he binds us with chains of sin. Peter, in speaking of godless advisers, says, "While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption." 2 Peter 2:19. Christ said, "Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin." All of us are serving either God or the devil. Although God commands obedience, He gave us freedom of choice. No one will be in heaven against his will. Jesus said, "Ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life." John 5:40. People often think that surrender to Christ means giving up all freedom, whereas actually Christ has promised that "ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32. And more: "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." John 8:36. Without the help of the Lord Jesus Christ we subdue evil in one spot, only to have it break out in another place. God’s solution to this universal human problem is Christ, the Savior. In Christ, "sin shall not have dominion over you." Romans 6:14. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 97: ARE WE GOING UP OR DOWN? ======================================================================== Are We Going up or Down? How strange to see the world making so much progress in science and industry and making none at all in righteousness and morality! Some men persuade themselves that the world is growing better, but when brought face to face with the actual facts, they are forced to admit that evil men and seducers are becoming worse and worse. (2 Timothy 3:13.) The records of jails, prisons, courts, and the plain proofs of increasing crime in spite of all man’s learning and education, fully confirm the truth of the Word of God. Sad to say, the world’s progress is not in or toward goodness. The wonderful advances and scientific discoveries of this day cannot bring a soul nearer to God or blot out a single sin. The world’s only progress is down, always down, in casting off the fear of God and in rejecting His precious Word. In these things men are making swift and sure progress. The world is converting the church to its own infidel views of worship of nature and scoffing at the Bible. God and His grace in Christ are being thrown aside by the fables of progressive theology, liberal views, and the teaching of the "modern school." Where do you find yourself today? Are you going on to eternity with the great multitude, through the wide gate and down the broad road? "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: for wide is the gate, gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Matthew 7:13-14. The Lord Jesus Christ warns us about the end of this broad, easy way in which the world is traveling. It’s the easiest road in the world to find. You need only to follow the crowd, take the easy way, and be "broad minded" and liberal in your views. The unerring word of the Son of God tells you where it will end: "destruction." The narrow path, entered through the strait gate, leads to life. Eternal life is the portion of those who follow it, for Jesus is the way. "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." John 14:6. In this path there is a life of joy, peace, love, hope, and daily blessing. In this path is found real progress―not the downward progress of the world, but progress in love, in faith, and in the knowledge of God and of His grace. It is not the progress that ends in destruction, but progress that ends in the blessed presence of the Son of God in glory. All this rests on God’s work of redemption finished on the cross. "In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." Ephesians 1:7. It is offered to you now, "without money and without price." ======================================================================== CHAPTER 98: ARE YOU ADOPTED? ======================================================================== Are You Adopted? Ted always felt the chill of those cold gray prison walls as he walked into the State Penitentiary, but still he returned as often as he could. In his heart was a deep desire to help those men who were bound, not with actual chains, but with sin from which only the Lord Himself could cleanse them and give them power to be free indeed. As the prisoners walked into the chapel that evening, Ted noticed that one man’s face was quite a contrast to the glum, noncommittal expressions of the others. Jim’s face was "alive" with a glow of joy in his eyes. Ted just felt that something special had happened. "Perhaps he is going to receive a parole or something," he thought to himself. After greeting each other, Jim said he’d like to tell him a bit about his past life. This is his story: "When I was only five years old my parents deserted us. We were put into foster homes to be cared for, and from then on I was moved from one place to another. "Sometimes a couple would come and visit one of these places, looking for a child to adopt, so that they could have a boy or girl to raise and love as their own child. "As I watched these people looking over the group, I always hoped that I’d be the one they would adopt. I wanted a home. I wanted so much to have a ’Mom’ and ’Dad.’ As the years passed, that hope grew into a burning desire to ’belong.’ I would ask the matron, ’Will anybody ever adopt me?’ "She would have to say, ’Well, I just don’t know, Jim. Maybe some day you will be chosen.’ But it never happened. "In all those homes no one ever told me about Jesus. The only thing I remember in the way of prayer was what one house mother taught me: `Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray Thee, Lord, my soul to keep. Amen.’ "I think the Lord answered that simple prayer in spite of everything! "As I grew older I got into trouble and was put into detention homes, then reform school, then jail, and finally I had to be put into the penitentiary. God saved me about two years ago while I was being held for trial in the county jail. A man came there with a Bible and spoke to us of the love of the Lord Jesus Christ, and I accepted Him as my Savior. "The other day as I was reading in my Bible in Romans 8:14-17, it suddenly dawned on me: I had been chosen! I was adopted into the family of God, and God is my Father. I am His child! No one else would have me as their child, but God adopted me and I belong to Him! " ’The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.’ " Ted and Jim had a happy time together there in that prison rejoicing in the blessed truth that all who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior are adopted into God’s family, are His children and are soon going to inherit glory forever! "According as He hath chosen us in Him... unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved: in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." Ephesians 1:4-7. Have you been adopted into God’s family? ======================================================================== CHAPTER 99: ARE YOU BORN OF THE SPIRIT? ======================================================================== Are You Born of the Spirit? We know nothing of life until we are born. So we know nothing of spiritual life until we are born again. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." John 3:6-7. ======================================================================== Source: https://sermonindex.net/books/writings-of-of-grace-echoes-volume-1/ ========================================================================