AN ALDERMAN, a slave to drink, was sick. An evangelist who was conducting some gospel meetings in the town was asked to call and see him. He was admitted to the home on the condition that he would not speak about religion. The home gave evidence of ample wealth and luxury, but absolute poverty in spiritual things.
On his third visit the evangelist noticed the picture of a beautiful little child hanging in the sick man’s bed room. At once he thought this would be the key to this poor rich man’s heart.
“Did God ever bless your home with a little child?” he asked.
“Yes,” replied the man, “that was my little boy. He died years ago, and I have hated God ever since. It was cruel of God to take him.”
“You would have liked God to have spared him?” queried the evangelist.
“Indeed I would,” was the reply.
“And if God had spared him he might have followed his father’s example, and at last died a slave to drink,” continued the evangelist.
“I would not have had that for ten thousand worlds,” exclaimed the sick man.
“So God, ever wise and kind, has taken him to be with Himself.”
The poor man stretched out his hand and said, “Pray for me. I am dying a drunkard. Pray for me.”
The evangelist knelt beside his bed and prayed, and then he asked if he might read the Scriptures.
“Yes,” he said, “tell me how I can be saved.”
The wonderful story of God’s love in the gift of His only begotten Son, and how He bore our sins in His own body on the tree was simply told. The hard heart was melted and the stubborn will surrendered. The man asked the evangelist to visit him every day, to read and tell him more of the Word of God. How eagerly he listened as his friend unfolded to him God’s great plan of salvation.
One night all alone, by the grace of God, he received the Lord Jesus into his heart, and entered into the blessed assurance that “There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.” Rom. 8:11There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1).
Just as I am — without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come!
ML-01/30/1972