Bill was driving down the dark streets of town one summer night, a very unhappy man. He had begun to drink because he and his wife quarreled - then they fought because he drank. At last he had been so abusive that she could bear no more and had turned him out of their home.
Friendless, homeless and hopeless, he planned tonight to drive to the bay and end it all in the deep water.
Deep in his own troubled thoughts, he missed the right turn to the bay and had to turn around. As he drove back he passed a small building still lighted though it was near midnight. On an impulse he parked the car and went inside. Up in the rafters a man was working. Maybe Bill thought he knew something that could help him, for he called up to him, “I need help! I wonder if I could talk with you.”
The man in the rafters quickly climbed down. He was a trim, dark man with a warm friendly smile that advertised to everyone he met that the love of God was in his heart. He was the servant of Christ who preached in this building and had been working at this late hour repairing the ceiling.
Sitting down with Bill, he opened his Bible to 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). Bill told him of his desperation and that he felt life was no longer worth living. He planned in his heart to end it all tonight.
The preacher had no need to tell Bill he was a sinner - Bill knew he had brought all this sorrow on himself. The preacher did not need to tell Bill he needed Someone more powerful than himself to save him - Bill had been fighting his addiction for too long; he knew he was licked.
Quietly the preacher read to Bill the precious old words: 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.
Could he make Bill understand it? God loved Bill. In spite of all his misery and sin, God loved him. He handed the Bible over to Bill and pointed to the verse. “Here, you read it for yourself. Only, where it says ‘world,’ and ‘whosoever,’ put your own name in.”
The book felt strange in Bill’s hands, but the friendly warmth of the man beside him gave him confidence. Bill began to read hesitantly: “For God - so - loved - B-B-Bill, that He gave His only begotten Son, that B-Bill believing on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life!”
Could it be? It seemed too wonderful. Love for a man like him! Did God really love Bill? His wife couldn’t put up with him any longer - could God still love him?
It was past midnight now, but the preacher was in no hurry. The destiny of a soul hung in the balance. Finally towards one o’clock Bill understood the message. Down on his knees Bill received Christ into his heart.
Bill left his new-found friend in the early hours of the morning, forgiven and happy. He wasted little time in going to his wife with his good news. Words were scarcely needed, for she could see the change in him. Soon she too wanted “what Bill got that night,” and came to the Saviour. She too found peace and happiness in the Lord Jesus, and they became a family united in Christ Jesus. Their great joy is to tell others of what He has done for them. v