A POOR old man lay dying, in a country village, of a lingering disease. Conscious that death was approaching, he was anxious to know how he could obtain that forgiveness which he felt his need of. Someone visited his bedside from time to time, and taught him that he must pray as long as he lived, and hope in God’s mercy through Christ, but that he must not expect to know he was forgiven till the day of judgment. This was man’s way of putting the Gospel before the man, but it was not the way to give the poor man peace. A servant of the Lord, hearing of his case, went to see him, when something like the following Conversation took place between them:
“How do you expect to be saved?”
“Well, sir, I keep on praying, and I hope God will have mercy on me.”
“Because you pray?”
“Well, yes, sir, I cannot expect to be saved unless I do pray.”
“Then prayer is to save you?”
“Why, as to that, I suppose it is Christ as must save me, but I must pray for forgiveness.”
“That is, you must have a hand in it. But now, if I were to hold a dollar in my hand, and ask you to accept it, would you beg and pray of me to give it to you, or would you take it?”
“Why, TAKE it, of course,” said the poor old man, smiling at the apparent absurdity of such a question.
“‘Be it known unto you, therefore . . . that through this man (Christ Jesus) is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins, and by Him all that BELIEVE are justified from all things.’ God Himself offers you forgiveness. He holds it out to you, bidding you believe HIM, when He declares that ‘the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth from all sin.’ Instead of taking what He offers, and believing His blessed word, you keep on asking Him to give you that which He has been offering’ to you since you were a child. He bids you look to Christ—you look to prayer. He declares to you forgiveness through the blood of Christ—you tell Him in return you don’t believe. Him, for if you did you clearly would not ask Him to give that which He is offering to you Thus you make God a liar, and hope to be saved for doing so!”
The poor old man’s eyes were opened: he was astonished at himself, his conscience was exercised; real conviction of sin against God followed, he believed, and was saved.
Dear young reader, may you be led to Jesus in God’s own appointed way, and that is by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, then you can pray to God as your Father, through the Lord Jesus your Saviour.
ML 02/01/1903