IT WAS the night of our annual Sunday school treat when prizes were handed out. And it was on such an evening as this that I was brought to know the Lord Jesus as my Saviour.
There were several strangers who came to speak to us that night, and some of the boys who had been converted in a neighboring school came to give their testimony. One of them was Bob the baker, who used to call at our house every morning with bread and rolls, and I wondered what he would say. Well, Bob told us how he was saved by believing in Jesus, and that John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) was his anchorage.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
I did not understand what “anchorage” meant, but as I knew Bob pretty well, I asked him when he came out to explain. He stood there in the moonlight with his Bible in his hand and told me, “It was there in that grand verse, I cast my anchor and found rest.” He explained to me that God loved me and gave His Son for me; and that if I as one of the “whosoevers,” believe in Him, that is, trusted myself to Him as my only Saviour, I would not perish; but have everlasting life.
I remember I went along the road with my brothers and sisters, saying over and over to myself.
I will believe, I do believe,
That Jesus died for me;
That on the cross He shed His blood,
From sin to set me free.
I have no doubt that it was on that road in the moonlight, that I passed from death to life. But I did not tell any of the others about it until the next day, when I suppose they saw I was so happy, and they asked me why.
“Oh,” I said, “I am saved just like Bob the baker, for I have trusted myself to Jesus, and He says I shall not perish.”
Years have come and gone, and many changes have come into my life, but my anchorage in John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) is as firm and sure as ever, and so is my salvation. You need not fear to rest your soul upon it, dear young friends, for it will not deceive you.
I was anxious to be saved many a time before that night, but somehow I always looked within my own heart for rest and peace. Now, that was very foolish, for you know a ship’s anchor is always cast out, to fix its hold on something outside of itself altogether. That was what Bob the baker had done, and what he showed me the way to do that night.
If you would have rest amid the storms of life, peace amid its troubles, and a home in heaven beyond it all, cast your anchor on John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) and claim the Lord Jesus as your own personal Saviour.
ML-08/30/1964