“RIGHTEOUS DICK,” so called among his comrades, was one of a gang of navvies engaged on an arduous scheme of work in a certain district in England. Many are the lives laid down, and numerous the hardships faced by these brave toilers, working oft-times many feet below the surface of the earth.
But God has His servants everywhere, and those there are who delight to carry to these poor men the precious name of Jesus and the good news of His salvation. So it happened one day that Dick found himself listening to the old, old story, listening as the missionary told of the lost eternity which awaits those who reject Jesus, but of the glorious future in the Father’s house for those who own their sins to Him and trust only in His finished work at Calvary.
But Dick could not see all this―he liked his own way best; so, addressing himself to those present, he said: “I believe in heaven, and I believe in hell, but I’ve never done any one any harm, and I’ve as much right to heaven as anyone else.”
“Ah,” said the missionary, “then you’re one of those self-righteous sort that think they are good enough for God; remember, Dick, God says, ‘There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none that doeth good, no, not one’ (Rom. 3:10-1210As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (Romans 3:10‑12)). If any one of you men,” he went on, “were drowning at sea, or if a piece of this rock were to fall upon you, there is not one among you but would call out, ‘Lord, save me.’“
There was a pause, then turning to Dick, one of the number questioned: “There, righteous Dick, how do you like that?” But Dick was silent.
Reader, pause one moment. Have you ever cried, “Lord, save me”? You may be apparently in safety as you read these lines, but you cannot be sure, your life is not your own―another moment and you may be gone-where? Where will you spend eternity? Do not, like Dick, think you are good enough for God, but rather believe what He has to say about you: “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)). Own yourself a poor lost sinner, and look to Jesus, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. In Matthew 14 we read of one who cried, “Lord, save me,” and we also read that “immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand and caught him.” And He will hear your cry and save you too, for He says, “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
But to continue our story; it was only three weeks after the day when Dick stood listening to the message of salvation, when a piece of that rock did fall upon one of the gang of workers, and that one was Dick. Badly hurt, and in much pain, he was carried away to the hospital, and as he went one of his comrades whispered in his ear, “Would you like the missionary now, Dick?”
“No,” he said, “I don’t want the missionary, I want that Christ he told us about.”
Ah, what a welcome message was that which reached God’s servant ere long―telling as it did of a soul in need of a Saviour. Quickly he hurried to the sufferer’s bedside, and there heard the words from Dick’s own lips: “I want that Christ you told us of.”
“But,” said the missionary, “you may get well again; what then, Dick?”
“Sir,” he answered, “I’ll have Him, living or dying.”
So once again the story of Jesus and His love was told; how He came to seek and to save that which was lost, and as Dick listened this time, he there and then accepted this Saviour as his own. And soon the missionary left him a saved man, rejoicing in the knowledge that all his sins were gone.
After many weeks he was again able to return to work, and there among his old companions he testified boldly of Christ, telling them all of the joy and peace which now were his. For many a day they scoffed and laughed, and sought in every way to draw him back to his old habits again, but all in vain. And as time went on, and Dick grew to know and love his Saviour better, his heart was so filled with joy and praise, and his face so bright and smiling, that his comrades no longer called him “Righteous Dick,” but re-christened him “Happy Dick.” So Happy Dick lives on, happy indeed in the service of his new-found Master, and used of Him in bringing others to His feet.
Reader, have you found the Saviour? He suffered much that you might do so. He stood alone amidst persecution, mockery, and violence; Jesus, the Son of God, endured the cross, despising the shame, and they persecuted Him without a cause (John 15:2525But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. (John 15:25)). And now He speaks in love from heaven― “If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink” (John 7:3737In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. (John 7:37)). Will you not come? You have a soul which shall be either saved or lost throughout eternity―which shall it be? May you be led to say, like Dick, “I’ll have Him, living or dying.”
“The Prince of Glory left His throne,
The sinner’s friend to be;
His holy brow with thorns was crown’d,
He died on Calvary:
He suffered thus for thee.
Why not receive Him?
Why not believe Him?
While He is calling today.
I will receive Him,
I will believe Him,
While He is calling, I’ll trust Him today.”