John Spencer was born and brought up in the lap of luxury. His parents were professing Christians but had never shown their son God's way of salvation and he had never received Christ as his Savior and Lord.
After his mother's death John gave up all pretense of interest in Christianity. He professed to be a skeptic and a socialist. For years he never entered a church building and if he saw anyone preaching in the open air he would cross the street lest his conscience be troubled by what he might hear.
Eventually he got into financial difficulties through speculation, and disgrace lay ahead of him. This his proud spirit could not stand, and his skepticism afforded him no comfort.
In his desperation he determined to commit suicide. But God had His eye upon him, and desired him for His own.
While John was considering how to accomplish his purpose, he took a walk. As he passed a theater he was invited by a Christian worker to come to the gospel service that was being held in it. At first he refused, but eventually consented.
The preacher, a devoted servant of God, was immediately struck by the appearance of the man, and felt as if the message he had that night must be for him. At the close of the service he sought to converse with any who were anxious about their souls. On reaching the seat where Spencer sat, he saw that he was deeply troubled and was trying to conceal his emotions. As the preacher was about to speak to him, John rose and left the hall. The evangelist followed him, grasping his hands, and said: "My dear man, how do matters stand between your soul and God?”
Spencer's heart was too full. He could not utter a word. Shaking his head, and with tears running down his cheeks, he pulled his hand out of the preacher's and rushed downstairs. He took the middle of the road and ran until he reached a park. There he wandered about all night. All thoughts of self-destruction were gone. The night was spent reviewing his past life of sin and folly, and wondering if God would save such a wretch as he.
The next night he went to the meetings again, and there he learned God's way of salvation. The blessed fact was shown him in God's Word that, in spite of his many sins, God loved him and longed to save him. He learned that He so loved him as to give His dear Son to die for him on Calvary. He saw the work of atonement was completed; that God's justice was satisfied, and all who believe on the Lord Jesus are saved and have eternal life.