KATIE was the only daughter of a Solway fisherman, a blithe cheerful maiden of “sweet seventeen.” Her father and mother were decided Christians, and diligent workers in the Gospel, but to their great grief, their own Katie was still unsaved, and showed signs of hostility to the Gospel of Christ. This may be accounted for in her case, as in many others who have been brought up under its continual sound, in the fact that she was in deep soul trouble, conscious of her guilt before God, yet unwilling to yield, confessing herself a lost sinner and accepting Christ as her personal Saviour. During a season of blessing in the village, several of Katie’s companions were saved, and some of them even younger than herself had spoken to her about her soul. Waiting for the incoming of her father’s boat on the shore one morning, a newly converted fisher lassie told Katie how happy she was, since she had trusted Christ and been saved.
“Tell me what you felt when you were saved. I have tried to feel saved many a time, but it never came to me, as you and the others say it has come to you?”
“I believe that as well as you, Jeanie, but I’m not saved,” said the now thoroughly awakened Katie.
“Well, that’s strange,” remarked the young convert, astonished that there should be any difficulty in Katie seeing what appeared so simple to her. “But have you believed on Jesus, and believed that you have everlasting life, because He says it,” asked the earnest lassie. “Where does He. say that I have everlasting life? I never saw that in the Bible,” said Katie. “In John 6:4747Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. (John 6:47), Jesus says, ‘He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life’; I’ll let you see it in my Testament, and that’s how I know I am saved.”
This was something new to Katie. She had no doubt heard the same before, but now she saw her need, and how that word of Jesus met it. They talked together for a good while, and at length Katie said, “I see it now, Jeanie, it’s just believing what Jesus says, whether I feel or not. I see it now, and to think that it is all so simple. Oh, I wish my father’s boat would come in, that I may tell him I am saved. He will be so glad.” The boat did come in, and Katie told the good news to her father, causing great joy. Believing and having, go together.
ML 01/17/1909