IRVING P— had been listening to the gospel address about the poor woman, who had been healed of her terrible disease, by touching the hem of the Lord’s garment. (Mark 5:3333But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. (Mark 5:33).) As he listened to the story of God’s wondrous love in sending His beloved Son into this world, to seek, and to save poor sinners, he was led to see that he needed just such a Saviour, for he knew he had sinned against God, and had done “evil in His sight.”
After the address, he was spoken to about his soul, and in response, expressed a desire to be saved that night. As the work of the Lord Jesus was unfolded to him, he accepted Christ by simple faith, who had loved him, and died for him on the cross, that by the shedding of His most precious blood, all his sins might be washed away.
As he was leaving the Gospel Hall for home, a Christian asked him, “How is it with you tonight, Irving?” He said, “I am saved.” “How do you know it?” was then asked. He answered, “I have His word for it, ‘He that believeth on the Son bath everlasting life.’” John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36).
Now, my dear young reader, you will see in that chapter, that after the woman had touched the hem of the Lord’s garment, she felt in her body that she was healed of her plague.
Now, if she had gone home right after touching the Lord’s coat, she would not have had abiding peace, because she might fear that the disease might come upon her again. She had no word to rest her faith upon, only the feeling. The Lord did not intend her to leave His presence with just a feeling, so He turned Himself about, and looked upon her, which led her, with fear and trembling, to fall down before Him, and tell Him all the truth. Then Jesus said unto her, “Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole, go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.” Thus after Jesus had spoken she had not only the feeling, but His word to rest upon. So it was with dear P—, he not only had the joy that night of being saved from wrath to come, through the precious blood of Jesus, but he also had Jesus’ word, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.”
No doubt, my young reader, you have heard of Jesus, like the poor diseased woman, from your beloved parents, in the Sunday-school class, and at the gospel meetings, but have you come to Him as one that needs Him? You do need Him much, for you are a lost sinner.
The falsehoods you have told, the disobedience to your parents, and the many covered up sins you have committed are all before God.
What a solemn, thing it is, my dear young friend, thus to stand guilty before God; and also, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Should the Lord come while you are reading this paper, all would be over, the day of grace closed and your soul unsaved.
Oh! then come to Christ just now, this very moment, as a guilty sinner, for He hath said; “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out;” and “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.”
Make it a personal matter, like that woman did. “For God so loved the world, (you) that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever (you) believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” May salvation come to you, today, for, the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost, and may you be able to say by believing that precious word, “I am saved, I have His word for it.”
Sn.
ML 01/21/1900