Our picture of the beautiful Empress of Britain reminds me of a true story about two sailors who were on leave, traveling in the railway train. As they talked together they frequently took the name of God in vain in a very thoughtless way. At last a Christian man who was sitting nearby turned to them in a kindly way and said, “Please, my friend, do not insult my Father any longer.”
“Insult your father!” said the astonished sailor. “I don’t know him, and have never spoken of him. Perhaps you know him, John.”
“No,” repligd his comrade.
“All the sadder for you!” said the unknown man. “If you knew my Father you would love Him.”
He then went on to tell the two young men of God’s love and mercy through His Son Jesus Christ. He told of how the Lord Jesus Christ had died upon the cross for sinners, and that now He is risen and seated at the right hand of His Father in heaven, from whence He offers pardon and salvation to all who will receive it.
One of the sailors then spoke of how his mother had died only six months before, and told of how she had spoken to him about the Lord before being called “Home.”
“Do you believe that God will still save me, a poor sinner?” he said.
With what joy the Christian was able to tell the two young men that “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1: 7. Simply and lovingly he showed them that all they needed to do was to come, just as they were to Him, and they would be saved for time and eternity. I am happy to say that they both said they would accept the Lord Jesus as their Saviour that day.
God’s grace is greater than all our sin, even than the awful sin of taking the name of the Lord in vain. Alas, it has become a very common thing in our day, but let us not forget what the Word of God says about it:
ML 10/10/1954