James was a young mechanic of much intelligence, upright and well-behaved, a Sunday-school teacher. He was what the world called a respectable young man; but, alas! he knew nothing of the truth as it is in Jesus.
His wife was a true believer in the Lord Jesus, and she earnestly desired her husband’s salvation; on one occasion she tried by every means in her power to induce him to accompany her to some mission meetings, which were being held in their village, but her entreaties were of no avail. She asked the evangelists to come to the house, when he would be at home, so that they might get an opportunity of speaking to him, but James was determined not to come in contact with them. But, though he could get away from man, he could not escape from God. There was no fleeing from His presence, and the fact often appalled him that he must have to do with Christ now as a Savior, or by-and-by as a Judge. Still he tried to put off all such thoughts, and to occupy himself only with present things.
James kept persistently from the village meetings and laughed at his wife when she begged him only just for once to accompany her; in fact, he began to get angry, and threatened not to allow her to go, and abused her and her religion, as he termed it.
The last night of the meetings had come: the evangelists were to leave on the morrow. Scoffingly he said he would go and see what the magnet was that induced so many people to spend their time at such a place. So, taking up a hymn-book in his hand, he opened it and read one hymn after another until he came to these most touching words,
“O Christ, what burdens bowed Thy head!
Our load was laid on Thee;
Thou stoodest in the sinner’s stead,
To bear all ill for me.
A victim led, Thy blood was shed:
Now there’s no load for me.”
He read and re-read the hymn from beginning to end, and the truth dawned upon him that he was a guilty sinner. He tried to dismiss the thought from his mind, but no. As he trod that dusty road the solemn thought possessed his soul, the solemn words kept ringing in his ears, till he neither heard nor saw anything around him. He walked on, he knew not whither, until he found himself at home! Lifting the latch, he heard a voice, and paused at the threshold. It was the voice of his wife, pleading with the Lord for him. He entered softly, and, kneeling beside her cried aloud, “God, be merciful to me!” The Lord never turns a deaf ear to that cry when it comes from the depths of a truly contrite heart, and as James knelt there he heard the gracious words of love, “Thy sins are forgiven thee: go in peace,” spoken even for him. He had believed his own utterly lost condition and he accepted Christ as his Savior, and there was joy in the presence of the angels of God over one more sinner brought to repentance.
Reader, does your load of guilt rest upon you? Or can you say in faith, “The Lord hath laid on Him” —the blessed Son of God who came to do His will—that terrible burden?
And for us who know the Lord, let us continue to plead with Him for lost souls—that they may be saved for His honor and glory.