Arthur and his mother lived alone, his father had been dead many years, and the rest of the family had grown up, and started homes of their own. Of course they were devoted to each other, and Arthur was all that his mother could wish him to be, except in one respect. He loved his mother, but had not yet begun to love his mother’s Saviour; he was obedient to her, but had not yet obeyed the Gospel.
One Sunday night, he was about 14 at the time, he went with his mother to a Gospel meeting. I was the preacher that night, and remember it well Several times in it I quoted the words:—
“It’s only a step to Jesus;
Why not take it now?”
These words fastened themselves upon young Arthur’s mind, and when he turned in to bed that night he could not get rid of them. They would not let him sleep. And that night he thought over the whole question. Should he take that step? Jesus called him, and had a right to his young life; he knew that he ought to, for he was a sinful boy and needed the Saour; he knew he ought to, for otherwise his life would be wasted, and if he did not come at all, his soul would be lost.
The night wore on, and Arthur heard the clock down stairs strike ten, eleven, and twelve. It was then that his decision was made; he made it on his knees beside the bed, and then when it was made, he ran into his mother’s bedroom. “Why, Arthur,” she said, “What is the matter?” “I’ve come to tell you, mother, that I’ve taken the step,” he said. “It was only a step to Jesus, and I’ve taken it,”
That made his mother happy and it made Arthur happy, too, and there was joy in heaven; and I rejoiced, when heard about it. I expect the only one who was sorry was the devil; for he does not want any one to be saved. The Lord Himself told us, when the Word of God is preached, “then cometh the devil, and taketh the Word out of their hearts, lest they should believe, and be saved.” Luke 8:1111Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. (Luke 8:11).
“It’s only a step to Jesus.”
Boys and girls, can any of you who have not taken it, give any reason why you should not do so NOW?
ML 03/30/1941