An argument was going on in the hotel bar. Several voices were raised; different opinions were expressed, and no two seemed quite to agree. The subject under discussion was Christianity—was it greater than other religions? One insisted that it was merely one religion among many, and its value was due to the greater number of people who had accepted it as their faith.
One man seemed deeply interested in all that was said, though taking no part in the discussion. After listening in silence for some time he rose and approached the debaters. His flushed face and glassy eyes, his very motions as he staggered forward, showed that he was under the influence of alcohol. Yet he seemed perfectly calm, and spoke seriously.
He said, “I probably know more about Jesus Christ than any of you, but I am willing to sell my claim to Him for five dollars.”
The strange offer startled them all but, realizing the man’s condition, no one took him seriously. One man said: “Do you really mean it? Would you sell out for five dollars?”
“Yes,” was the reply. “For five dollars cash - and that’s cheap, mighty cheap.”
“Are you ready to sell me, here and now, for five dollars, all your right and claims to Jesus Christ?”
“Yes, that’s exactly what I said.”
“Well then, 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, showing a five-dollar bill, “but you must sign a written agreement.”
“Draw up the document and I’ll sign.”
“For the sum of five dollars, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, I, John Jones, now and forever, sell my right and claim to Jesus Christ as my Saviour. 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. This agreement is for eternity.”
Taking the pen from the writer of the agreement, he seated himself at a table to sign his name.
As he read the document he raised his hand from the paper. After a third reading he laid the pen aside. Then with shaking hands he took up the agreement and read it aloud.
Next he laid down the paper, leaned back in his chair, folded his hands and sat with his eyes fixed on the document.
“Why don’t you sign?” asked an impatient spectator.
“Sign that? Sign that paper? Did you hear it? Sign such an agreement as that? No, sir, never never! Would you have a man - any man - do that? I might sign my death warrant, but not that agreement! This is for eternity. This would settle my doom without a possibility of hope - without escape. I will not sign!”
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 man was now cold sober and deeply serious as well, and they all listened in silence as he told his story.
“I had a Christian mother. She taught me in my childhood to pray to God, and she begged me to receive the Lord Jesus as my Saviour and be ready to meet her in heaven. Never, until a few minutes ago have I lost the hope of meeting my mother there. To sign that paper would mean that I break all the promises I made to her and render void forever all the prayers that have gone up for me.
“But I came near doing it! One more drink, and I would have sworn away my soul for eternity! Who says that one drink will do no harm? If liquor will lead a man to sign away his soul, then I am forever done with it. I dare not drink again! I will not sign that paper! My soul, my eternal future, are too precious to risk again.”
He left the group, thoroughly sobered, and hurried away - hurried to escape from the snare of the devil - hurried away to redeem his promise to his mother and to receive the salvation he had neglected so long.
The others quietly left, each to his own room, without comment, without a laugh or a joke. They were conscious of the near-tragedy they had witnessed, and the bartender wondered what had happened to his guests, for no one who had listened to the reading of that agreement drank again that night.
How easy it is to sell out to Satan! The pleasures of sin for a season are deceitful - they are the devil’s own snare to entice you into the way that seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 16:2525There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 16:25).)
Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (James 1:14,1514But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (James 1:14‑15).)
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