The wealthiest and most prominent citizen in a small town was a man who hitherto had shown no interest in God or Christ, or in the needs of his soul. But a faithful Christian pastor lived in that town and one day he felt a strange impulse to go and visit the rich man. Fearing his visit might create a scene, he shrank back from going, but the next day he again felt impelled to go. So he went, but as he approached the stately mansion his knees trembled.
However, God works at both ends of the line. Much to the Christian’s surprise, the old man received him kindly, and said, “I have been looking for a visit from you. I have been longing to know about the Lord whom I have rejected so long.” With joy the servant of Christ told him that God loved him, sinner as he was, that Christ died for him, and that if he opened his heart to receive Him as His Saviour he would know the forgiveness of his sins. The old man readily received the word and soon he was happy, trusting in Christ. When the call came for him to leave this world, he went peacefully home — “Absent from the body,... present with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:88We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8).
ML 08/01/1965