Bessie and Nancy were walking home from work together.
“Look, Bessie, what’s on that sign over there?”
Together they crossed the road, and Bessie read the sign aloud.
“What rubbish!” said Nancy. “Some of the tent preacher’s work, I suppose. Let’s move on.”
Bessie stood still and read it again. “Come on, Bessie. Hurry away or you’ll be converted.”
“I wish I could say I was converted, Nancy. I remember Joan saying that very text to me when she worked in the factory. Joan was converted, Nancy, and she was a lot happier than I am. And now she is dead, but I know she is in heaven.”
Both girls walked on in silence till they came to their usual parting place. Bessie’s heart was heavy and she simply said, “Good-night, Nancy.”
That night, Bessie couldn’t sleep. Over and over she could see the words of that solemn text, and she could hear Joan’s faithful voice repeating them to her. The burden of her sins grew heavier, and the awful future of judgment grew darker. At last she knelt by her bedside and poured out the story of her guilt and burden bore the Lord.
In a moment the words of another verse, which Joan had often quoted, came before her like a ray of sunshine. “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:1818Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18).
She trusted her soul to the Saviour of sinners and the burden of her sins was lifted forever.
ML 01/03/1954