POOR Mr. Smith was an infidel; that is, he did not believe in heaven or hell, in God or Satan, or even that he had a never-dying soul. At the time of our story he was thirty-five years old but it seemed he would not live much longer for a severe cold had settled on his lungs and he was quite ill.
A minister of the gospel heard about him and came to his house to visit him. But Mr. Smith refused to let him in. Another minister tried in the same way but he, too, failed. Mr. Smith had a neighbor who was a Christian and he longed to see him saved. So he prayed to God for wisdom to know what to do. He had a friend, named Mr. Abel, who was a Sunday School teacher and who loved to tell about Jesus and salvation from sin. The neighbor asked Mr. Abel to do his best to bring the gospel to the poor, sick infidel.
Now Mr. Smith was fond of a little girl named Alice, who often called to see him. Alice attended Mr. Abel’s Sunday school where they learned songs such as “Jesus Loves Me” and “There’s a Friend for Little Children.” One day when Alice went to visit Mr. Smith, she said, “I have learned a new song. Will you let me sing it for you?”
He gladly consented and so Alice began to sing.
“When life’s tempestous storms are o’er,
How calm he meets the friendly shore,
Who died on earth to sin!
Such peace on piety attends
That where the sinner’s pleasure ends
The saved man’s joys begin.
“No sorrows drown his lifted eyes,
No horror wrests the struggling sighs
As from the sinner’s breast.
His God, the God of peace and love,
Pours sweetest comfort from above,
Then takes his soul to rest.”
The sick man listened to Alice’s song and soon she bade him good-by.
The next day Mr. Abel sent a little gospel paper to Mr. Smith. This time he did not refuse it. After he read it he asked his wife to invite Mr. Abel to come and see him.
Mr. Abel was very glad to come and he visited the sick room time after time but sick as he was, Mr. Smith never talked about God or religion or death. Then on one visit, when Mr. Abel stood up to leave, the poor, sick man said, “Mr. Abel, how is it you never speak to me about my soul?”
“Why, Smith,” said his visitor, “do you have a soul?”
“Oh, Mr. Abel! Mr. Abel!” he groaned. “I am a poor, miserable man. The hymn that girl sang, and that gospel paper you sent me have crushed me. I have held out as long as I can; what must I do?”
Mr. Abel sat down again and answered his question. He told him three things: First, that he could do nothing. Second, that there was nothing to do.
Third, that Jesus has done everything.
Mr. Smith listened and as he did he realized the wonderful truth that Mr. Abel was telling. There was nothing for him to do except to put his trust in the Lord Jesus. Then peace and joy flooded his soul.
After this, God in His grace made Mr. Smith’s health better. He was able to go about again, and as long as he lived he told others about God’s grace and mercy. The Bible was his constant companion and Alice’s song was a favorite with him.
Time went on and again Mr. Smith was sick. This time he knew he was going to die but he was not afraid for he knew that his soul was bound for heaven. During that illness Mr. Abel often called to visit with him. On the last visit, hearing that Mr. Abel was going on his way to preach the gospel, Mr. Smith said to him, “Let me give you a text: ‘This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.’ And,” he added, “don’t leave out those words, ‘Of whom I am chief.’ " 1 Tim. 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15).
Reader, have you accepted Christ Jesus as your Saviour?
ML-06/10/1962