It seemed a strange question, especially to be asked by a boy of one of his chums. I wonder what you would think if someone was suddenly to ask you the question, “Are you saved?”
John was going home from school one morning with two other boys, and when they reached the place where they had to part, James turned to him and said abruptly,
“John, are you saved?”
“Yes, I am,” said John quickly, wondering what had made James ask such a question.
“Well, I’m not,” said James, “but I expect God will save me one day, when I grow up,” and so saying he ran home to dinner.
George had listened to the conversation between the other two boys, and as James ran off he remarked,
“Perhaps you may die before then.”
When John reached home he, had a very uncomfortable feeling, for the answer he had given to James’ question was not true. He had heard ever so many times about the Lord Jesus, and could have told James the way of salvation quite plainly, but he did not really know that all his sins were forgiven.
To know how to be saved is a very different thing to knowing for yourself that the Lord Jesus has borne the judgment that you deserve, and that all your sins are forgiven.
But God was speaking to John, and it was not very long after this conversation that he really did believe in his heart that the Lord Jesus died for him, and then he could answer truthfully when asked the question,
“Are you, saved?”
“Yes, I am.”
What would your answer be to James’ question,
Are You Saved?
If you cannot truthfully answer, “Yes,” then do not rest until you get the matter settled. It will not do to wait till you grow up, as James said he would do, for who can tell if you will live to grow up? God says,
Take the Lord Jesus as your own Saviour today, and you will be saved for time and eternity.
ML 11/21/1943