ONE Lord’s day afternoon recently I went in company with a Christian Indian to see a sick man, a professing Christian native, whom consumption had evidently marked as a victim.
We found him sitting up on his bed, his once strong frame every little while shaken with the wearying cough.
I enquired as to how he felt, and he fully explained the various symptoms, adding, with evident pleasure, that he had enjoyed a good meal that day which had been prepared by his wife in his favorite style, and he felt better.
I then said to him, “You have told me about the body, now how is it with your soul?”
He replied, as nearly as I can remember, “Yes, I can tell you that. I am looking only to Jesus, and my hope is in Him.”
I asked him whether, in looking only to the Lord Jesus, he had present assurance of eternal life, and the joy of that blessed hope, but he said little more than that he was trusting in Jesus, leaving himself in God’s hands as to the result, and hoping for the best.
“You people,” he went on to say, “speak of being sure of eternal life. Let me ask if anyone who has died since our Lord was down here, has come back to tell us that those who professed this assurance were not mistaken?”
“We do not need to wait for that to happen,” I said, “we have God’s own word for it that those who believe on the Lord Jesus have everlasting life, and we have His word in order that we may know it. Do we need more?”
He appeared satisfied, and I took the Bible from my pocket to read to him; he noticed it and said, “I will interrupt you a moment; that is what I wish for; I long to hear more from the great Book; I have it with me, but my sight begins to fail when I read, and often there is no one who can read to me.”
It was with deep pleasure that I read the precious word to this thirsty soul, and tried to show him more clearly God’s way of salvation, and what peace and joy it is to know, even now, the certain and enduring safety of being sheltered by the blood.
He replied, evidently thankful to hear the word, and then my companion spoke to him, very clearly and simply, and before leaving we knelt and committed him to the Lord, who fully satisfies every thirsty one who comes to Him. Sever dropped in as we talked, and so more than one heard the glad tidings of God’s grace. May the word be blessed to them.
Dear young friends, the Lord w cu d have each one of you who are saved know it and know, deep down in your hearts, the joy of being safe, perfectly safe. And you who are unsaved, don’t wait a moment longer. No work or thoughts of your own will do to lean on. Nothing but that precious blood, which alone has met God’s every claim, will shield you from the judgment which must come.
The Lord Jesus who died for you still stands able and willing to save you. Run then, dear children, into His arms, and know what it is to be safe.
ML 01/12/1902