MR. HUNT was walking home one day, when a young man caught up with him, and they walked on together. Mr. Hunt loved to tell others of the Lord Jesus and His great salvation, and before they had gene far, he spoke to Bill about his Saviour. As they parted, he gave the young man a gospel booklet, hoping he would read it.
Two months went by, but Mr. Hunt often thought of Bill, and wished he could see him. Mr. Hunt often called on homes in that vicinity and gave out gospel tracts to the occupants. One day he came to a little wayside cottage, and pushing the gate open, went up to the door and knocked.
“Nothing wanted,” said the woman as she almost closed the door.
Mr. Hunt smiled. “Happy people!” he said.
“How do you know we’re happy?” she asked, interested in spite of herself.
“By your answer — ‘Nothing wanted.’ " smiled Mr. Hunt. “Surely that is a happy state of affairs!”
“But I want plenty of things,” she said.
“That changes the whole matter,” said Mr. Hunt. “I can show you how you can obtain all things, both for time and eternity.”
“I’ll call the lady of the house,” she said, and calling Mrs. Barter, they both came to the door to listen.
“First, you want life to have and enjoy things. And if you want to enjoy things for eternity you must have everlasting life. Listen,” and he read, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life,” Then from the Bible he went on to show them how the believer possesses all things in Christ without Him, though they had all the world could give, they have nothing.
They did not answer, but he could see that they were impressed by the necessity of accepting the Saviour. He handed them a little gospel booklet, but before he could speak, Mrs. Barter exclaimed, "That is the book poor Bill read after he was hurt, and it was such a blessing to him before he died. Bill was my son.”
“How long ago did he die?” asked Mr. Hunt.
“Two weeks. He had a bad accident falling from a hay stack. They brought him home to die.”
“When did he get that little book?” said Mr. Hunt.
“Two days before the accident. He got it from someone on the road, he said. He used to read it again and again.
“Well, I think I gave Bill that book,” said Mr. Hunt. And he related the incident and described Bill.
“That’s him!” exclaimed Bill’s mother. “Oh, sir, I am glad and thankful to make your acquaintance. He told us what you said to him, and that, and the little book were a real blessing. What a mercy you met him then. He was ill for several weeks.”
“Your boy is with the Lord, and you can go there too, when the time comes, if you find his Saviour,” said Mr. Hunt.
He left, leaving the little book and a Bible, which they both promised to read. They asked him to come again soon, and when he did, they told him they had trusted Christ as their Saviour, and were now praying for the conversion of their husbands.
Dear boy or girl, if you were to die tonight, where would your soul be? Bill received the Lord Jesus as his Saviour, but he did not know that he would soon be in eternity. If the Lord Jesus came tonight, and you were still unsaved, you would be left behind.
God’s salvation is free, and you may have everlasting life by simply trusting His finished work on Calvary.
ML-06/05/1960