TWO Christian boys, in New York City, were on their way home from the Central Park. It was early in the afternoon, and they were sauntering along, laughing and chatting together. As they were passing a small house the door opened, and a man looked out.
“Boys,” he said, “please do not make a noise, for there is a poor woman in this house dying.”
The boys were quiet at once, and were going away, when one said to the other,
“I wonder if she is ready to die. Let’s go back and see.”
Back they went, but when they were about to ring the bell, their courage failed and they started to go away. The thought struck one of them, however, that they might find easier access by the back door. So they walked round to the rear of the house and there, through a broken window, they saw the dying woman on her cot. One of the boys put his mouth to the window and called out:
“Sick woman! Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” Then ran away.
Now it happened that the dying woman was sorely perplexed with fears and misgivings as to what awaited her in the next life. She was not unfamiliar with the terms of the Gospel; she knew that the Lord alone could save her; yet she could not say for certain that she herself was really saved. The words that came ringing in through the broken window came to her as a message from God. They reached her just when she needed them. All her doubts were scattered and death was robbed of its terrors. She saw that salvation was indeed hers through believing on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Do you, in your heart, trust in, or believe on the Lord Jesus Christ? Is He the only hope of your soul? Is His precious Blood your only plea? Is His atoning Work the only ground of your confidence? Then let the words spoken by that Christian boy to the dying woman, give you peace and assurance. They are words from God’s own Book, and are meant for you, too.
It was this simple text, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved,” that enabled Mr. A. to speak with assurance as to his salvation. He had two visitors. One was a believer; the other was not.
“Mr. A.,” said the Christian visitor, “you have often expressed yourself to me confidently with regard to the future. But do you not sometimes, now, have doubts in reference to it?”
Quietly the man replied:
“No, I do not. I don’t see why I should have. I believe the Bible is the Word of God, and that it cannot fail. It says, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.’ I do believe on Him; I trust Him as my Saviour. Can there be any doubt about it, then?” Soon afterwards the visitors took their leave.
“What do you think of Mr. A.?” asked the Christian.
“I never saw anything like it,” replied the other, “he is just as clear in spiritual matters as he always was in business.”
That is exactly as it may be with you, if you will but believe on Christ. Could dreams, or feelings, or happy experiences, or an audible voice give you the same assurance as this promise from God Himself?
Read the verse over again thoughtfully. Ask God to make it quite clear to you.
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” You will find it in Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31). Do not miss the salvation of which it speaks.
So from the Saviour on the cross
A healing virtue flows;
Who looks to Him in simple faith
Is saved from endless woes.
For God gave up His son to death,
So generous was His love,
That every soul believing Him,
Eternal life might have.
ML 10/02/1927