The man in the hospital bed turned his head toward the door as I entered. Seeing a stranger there, he let out a volley of curses and oaths. I backed out hastily.
Later in the day I tried again to visit him, and found him apologetic. He had not known who I was, he said, or he would not have used such language. I reminded him that it was not I to whom he owed the apology. Rather, he should apologize to God his Maker, whom he had so offended and whom he would soon have to meet. This sobered him a bit, and when I asked him if he had any hope for the future, he answered simply and honestly: “I have none at all!”
Did heaven hear when he made that confession? Only when a sinner realizes he is lost can he appreciate and receive God’s plan of salvation as it is explained in the Bible.
It was not easy to talk with him long, nor could he concentrate sufficiently to read a copy of the Gospel of John which I gave him. On my next visit, then, I decided to quote or read a few verses from God’s Word, hoping that God would bless the words. Before leaving him that evening I repeated slowly and carefully the well-known words of John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16): 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.
On the third day I visited him early, and he greeted me with a smile. “Well, Mr. Smith, do you understand the love of God more clearly today?” I asked.
With an effort, but very deliberately, the sick man answered: “Yes, decidedly so!” And then he added, “It was those words you gave me: ‘SHOULD-NOT-PERISH.’ Now I have something to hold onto.”
From that moment his faith in the Saviour never faltered. God’s Word had said that whosoever believes on the Lord Jesus should not perish, but have everlasting life. He believed that Jesus died for him. Now God’s Word assured him that he was saved. He certainly had “something to hold onto,” and when he entered the presence of the Lord a few days later, he knew that the cable of his faith was firmly attached to an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast (Hebrews 6:1919Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; (Hebrews 6:19)). v
I give unto them eternal life;
and they shall never perish,
neither shall any man pluck them
out of My hand.