IT WAS Sunday evening. The preaching of the gospel had already begun, when a soldier entered into the hall, selected a seat and listened attentively. A Christian lady who sat behind him, handed him a hymn book, pointing out the verse:
Just as I am—without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to thee:
O Lamb of God, I come.
The invitation pressed on his heart. The Holy Spirit, for a time back, had been working in his soul. His heart was full to overflowing. He said nothing, but warm tears filled his eyes and fell slowly on the hand that directed him to the assurance that just as he was, and right there, he might come to Jesus.
Without doubt, that soldier would have fearlessly met the enemies of his country, and would have sacrificed his life for his fatherland; but to break out in tears before a woman and others around him, was too much for him. He was ashamed, rose up quickly and left the hall.
How the enemy uses everything to rob us of the blessing that the Lord so graciously offers us; and O, how often he succeeds! But although the soldier had not courage to confess the blessed Name of Him, to whom he had been brought so near, the Lord did not let him go. He followed him into the barracks. O, how good, that He does not get wearied, seeking after the lost till He has found him, and with joy brought him into the Father’s house.
The soldier decided to go to bed. Lost in deep thought, he searched his pocket for his watch key. But as he was putting the key into his watch, his hand slipped, allowing the key to fall to the ground. Just as he was stooping to look for it, some of his comrades entered the room.
“What have you lost?” said one of them. The Lord opened the lips of the soldier.
“Don’t ask me what I have lost”, he replied; “rather ask me what I have found. I have found Christ!”
The others stood as though fixed to the ground. Perhaps they would willingly have mocked; but the courageous, open confession of their comrade, and the look of joy beaming from his face, closed their mouths.
Just this had happened to our soldier—knowing Christ, a blessed peace filled his heart, and be knew now that he was saved. More than that, indeed: he knew that he belonged to the Lord and that Jesus was his Saviour. “Out of the fullness of the heart the mouth speaketh”.
Philip, in old time, gave expression to the fulness of his heart in a similar way. “We have found Him of whom Moses and the prophets have written”, he said to Nathaniel, and when that one in doubt asked, “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?” he replied in the Lord’s words, “Come and see.” His faithfulness did not go unrewarded; for the soul which he led to Jesus, was brought into the presence of the Lord with the cry: “Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God.”
And who knows what fruit the decided confession of our friend may have produced for God’s glory!
My reader! Have you also found Christ? And if you have found Him, is it your longing desire to lead others to Him? If you have “tasted that the Lord is gracious,” if you have really tasted for yourself, then your friendly and pressing invitation, “Come and see,” will as certainly find one or another soul for Christ. And what a gain is even a single immortal soul!
ML 09/29/1912