Rachael Howard loved the little village on the seacoast where she had gone for her vacation. Fond of hooks, her favorite pastime was to climb to the top of the rocks on a sunny day, and with the boom of the great waves below resounding in her ears, she read to her heart’s content.
However, on this particular day her book lay neglected by her side. In her hand she held a letter from her big strong handsome brother, Captain Ronald Howard. Rachael’s pretty blue eyes were troubled as she gazed out over the sea, and unconsciously her lips formed the word “saved.” “What can he mean?” she exclaimed. “Ronald, of all people: ‘saved'!” she read once more: “I shall always thank God for bringing me — quite without seeking it — to these gospel services, for I learned to know myself as a sinner, and Jesus Christ as my Redeemer and Saviour. He is mine, and I am His, and what I long to know now is just this: Is my dear little sister saved too?”
Rachael felt puzzled. In all her happy life no one had ever asked her such a strange question before. She went to the village church every Sunday, she read her Bible every day, and said her prayers night and morning; but was she “saved"? She did not know. Anyhow, she was glad Ronald was happy. She would not think about his letter any more.
But she found it was not so easy to put her brother’s question out of her thoughts: “Is my dear little sister saved too?”
The next afternoon she went down to a little village chapel and getting down on her knees she tried to pray about the matter, but did not receive any help.
Then she went on to her favorite spot on the cliffs, where she was joined by a cousin, John. He noticed that her usually bright happy face looked sad, and asked if anything were wrong. Very soon she told him her trouble and showed him Ronald’s letter.
Rachael was amazed at the joy in John’s face as he exclaimed, “Dear old Ronald. Thank God he has made his decision. He will make a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”
“Do you understand it?” she asked. “Are you saved too?”
“Yes, Rachael, by God’s mercy. You know how sick I was last year?
Well, during those long months a Christian friend made the way of redemption so plain to me. I learned how fully Christ paid the penalty for my sins, and offered me free salva—
“But, Jack,” insisted Rachael, “how can I be saved?”
“I do believe,” said Rachael slowly. “I have always believed since childhood.”
“Yes, but you must believe in your heart, and not merely in your head, and give yourself to the Saviour.”
But Rachael sighed. “Tell me, Jack, what can I do? There must be something. Salvation cannot surely be offered to me as easy as that? I feel as if it couldn’t be meant for me.” “It is for you, Rachael,” he said earnestly. “There are just three texts I will quote to show you how free the offer is. Listen: ‘Come unto Me, all ye that labor, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’" (Matt. 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28).)
Rachael sat upright. “I don’t feel heavy laden, or weary,” she said. “That is not for me.”
Rachael looked doubtful. “My soul doesn’t feel thirsty,” she murmured.
There was a little silence. Then Rachael gave a sigh of relief. “Yes, I am willing, I am willing,” she said wistfully.
On the wall of the little chapel hung the text: “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Tim. 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15).
A little later, as Rachael pondered that scripture, Rachael found herself on her knees before the Lord. Then she told Him; “Lord Jesus, I an great sinner! But Thou didst come into the world to save sinners. It was to save me, even me.” Such a flood of love and peace poured into her troubled heart. Life was altogether transformed for her. Then and there she accepted the full and free salvation He offered, and surrendered herself to the Saviour.
Outside John waited, praying that God Himself would teach and bless her. One glance at her face as she came out told the glad story, as it was radiant with thankfulness and joy. “Is it all right, Rachael?” he asked.
“Yes—all is right. Jesus Christ is my Saviour, my Redeemer. I know now that He gave His precious life for me, and I have given myself to Him.”
From that hour, Rachael has been a consistent follower of Christ, and her greatest joy is to tell others of God’s wonderful love, and to win souls for the Saviour.
ML-01/23/1966