A YOUNG student boy had broken the rules at school and flunked his final exam. His father was terribly disappointed and upset and when he spoke to his son about it, the boy got angry and abused his father with harsh words. Then, stalking out of the house, he vowed he would never come back. However, he soon felt sorry for the way he had acted, and returning to his father he asked his forgiveness. His father’s kind words and loving embrace at once assured him that he was forgiven and no more was said about the matter.
The years passed and that same boy grew up and became a colonel in the army. At the battle of Gettysburg he was seriously wounded. His father, who was an evangelist, came to see him in the hospital, and hang learned from the surgeon that there was no hope for his recovery, he sat down by his son’s bedside.
“O Father,” said the young man, as he threw his arms around his neck, “how glad I am to see you! Tell me about Mother and Sister.” Then when his father broke the news to him that he could not live long, he exclaimed: “Father, I’m afraid to die. I’m not prepared. Tell me how I can be ready. I know you can, for I’ve heard you tell others. Make it so plain that I can get hold of it!”
“Well, you feel guilty, don’t you?” said his father.
“Yes, I have been wicked. You know how it is in the army, and that’s why I’m afraid to die.”
“You want to be forgiven, don’t you?”
“Yes, can I be? And can I know it before I die?”
“Yes, certainly.” said his father. “Well now, Father; make it so plain that I can get hold of it!”
“Do you remember that time when you were at school and I had reason to rebuke you, how angry you got with me?”
“Yes, I was thinking it all over. As I thought about your coming, I felt so bad about it that I wanted to see you once more and ask you to forgive me. I am so sorry that I talked to you like that.”
“What did I say to you?”
“You said, ‘I forgive you with all my heart,’ and kissed me. I have never forgotten it.”
“Did you believe me?”
“Certainly. I never doubted your word.”
“Did you feel happy again?”
“Yes; and I loved you better than ever after that.”
“Well, this is just the thing for you to do now. Tell the Lord Jesus that you are a sinner, but that you are sorry for your sins and for the way you treated Him. Ask Him to forgive you, just as simply as you did me. He is ready to forgive, and you must take His word for it, just as you took mine.” Does not His Word say: “For Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon Thee.” Psa. 86:55For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. (Psalm 86:5).
The young man turned his head upon his pillow exhausted, and the father sank back in his chair and wept. Soon after he felt a shaky hand on his head and heard his son’s voice, saying: “Father, I don’t want you to weep any more. I am happy. Jesus has forgiven me. I know it; I take His word for it, as I did yours.”
A little later, the doctor came in to see his patient and to take his pulse.
“Why, Colonel,” he exclaimed, “you look better! What has happened?”
“Well, Doctor, Father told me how to be a Christian. I told the Lord Jesus I was sorry, and He has forgiven me. I am going to get well and Doctor, I want you to be a Christian too.”
He did get well again, and lived to be a happy devoted Christian.
And now, dear reader, have you ever turned to Jesus and told Him you were a sinner, and that you are sorry for your past life, and repented of your sins? He has died to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself, so that if you come to Him and ask His forgiveness, He can say, “Thy sins are forgiven” (Luke 7:4848And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. (Luke 7:48)), and you can take His word for it!
“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.”
ML-03/08/1970