I WOULD like my young readers to know about my conversion. I had just left school, and was about sixteen years old, when I went for some months with my parents to a small seaside resort. I did not want to go, for the place was very quiet, and having left school, I wished to live a new life full of enjoyment. Indeed it was with great bitterness of heart and rebellion that I went, much to the grief of my parents. I had known for sometime that if the Lord should come, I was not ready to meet Him; but I wanted enjoyment in this world, and felt if I became a Christian, that would all be at an end. Day by day I was weary of cliffs, sea and sands; and often hid in some secluded spot to weep in my utter misery.
Now it fell out that one Sunday, when passing through a field with a friend, we came near to a preacher, addressing a number of people. My companion wished to go near, but I was too proud to do so, and promised to wait for her at the end of the field. However, while hurrying on to get out of hearing as fast as possible, I was arrested by these words. which rang out clearly and distinctly through the air,
I felt that those words were for me. and they made me feel more wretched than before. I thought, “Jordan” means death and God is asking me what I shall do when called to die. I felt that I was face to face with Him, and that I must answer the question. I went to my room and tried to think, but I could only hear the solemn words, “How wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?”
Thus it continued until about the middle of the night, when falling on my knees, I cried,
“Lord, Thou canst, and wilt save me.”
Immediately I felt my load gone, and I knew that I had passed from death unto life. In the morning, what a change! everything seemed new. My first wish was to win one soul for the Lord, and most graciously was my prayer answered. I had wondered to whom I should speak or write, when a distant cousin of my own age was brought before me, so I at once wrote to her, asking if she could say with me, that God had pardoned all her sins? She answered,
“No one ever asked me that question before. I ask all of you to pray for me.”
Barely a week had passed when another letter came, containing the following joyful news:
“Dear Cousin, I can now say with you that Jesus has pardoned all my sins. I have now peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” (Romans 5:11Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1)) and she told me how that she had long been burdened with a sense of guilt when the first letter reached her.
Years have passed since that time. The young girl is now a grown woman. Yes, I can say that through all the years that have elapsed since the time of which I write,
Dear children, what would you do if called to die? Where would you go?
ML 03/02/1924