One morning in one of the wards of the General Hospital some visitors had finished singing to the patients and were going from bed to bed with cheerful greetings. I approached a young man who expressed his thanks for our service of song. I asked him, “Have you become acquainted with the One we have been singing about?”
“No,” he said, “I am sorry to say I have not.”
“Then, why not?” I asked. “You must realize the importance of becoming a Christian.”
“Yes, I do, but it is of no use in my case. It is not for me. It requires faith, and I have no faith. I know the Bible pretty well—I’ve read it all my life. At least ten people, among them several ministers, have tried to explain it to me and I cannot understand it.”
“I am going to make you a present this morning,” I said. “Will you accept it?” And taking my wallet out, I selected the best-looking bill and offered it to him.
“Oh, yes,” he said, “I will accept it if you want me to, but you only want to use it as an illustration, and then you will take it back again.”
“Oh, no,” I said. “I told you it was to be a present,” and he held out his hand and took the bill. “Now, have you got it?” I asked.
Again he said, “Yes, but after your illustration, you will take it back and I will be without it.”
“But, surely you do not doubt my word.”
Still holding the money in his hand he said, “No, I have no reason to doubt your word, and you said that you gave it to me.”
“Now, once more may I ask, Have you got it?”
“Yes, I have.”
“Now, how did you get it?”
“Why, you gave it to me.”
“And why did I give it to you?”
“I don’t know—you do not owe me anything.”
“And you accepted it?”
“Yes.”
“Now see,” I said, “Jesus offers you salvation in just the same way. It is a free gift. ‘ The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life’ (Romans 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)). Will you accept it?”
“Oh,” he said, “I see it now, and He doesn’t take it back! Why yes, I accept it, and I will keep this bill in remembrance of this. I’m saved!”
Salvation is the free gift of God. He does not owe us anything. It is a free gift. “As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” (John 1:1212But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12)).
“ By grace are ye saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God: not of works,
lest any man should boast.”