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A missionary who had
occasion to pass through a village on the coast of Africa, preached to the
people. Among his hearers was a poor African, who had never before heard
of a Saviour, and did not even know that he needed one. This poor man
listened attentively, and by hearing that sermon he became convinced of
his own sinfulness in the sight of God, but he did not understand the way
of salvation.
After the missionary had
gone away, the man became very anxious about his soul. He felt his sins to
be a heavy burden, and he did not know those beautiful words of Jesus,
''Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heaven laden, and I will give
you rest." Having learned a little English from the sailors who traded on
that coast, he inquired of them, "What must he do to be saved ?" But they
only laughed at his anxiety, and one of them scoffingly told him to go to
England, and there he would learn about "the Christian's God who had paid
the debt."
These words sunk deep into
his soul, ''The Christian's God who had paid the debt." This, he thought,
is what I want, for I am in debt, and I have nothing to pay. I will go to
England and try to find "the Christian's God who has paid the debt." He
had no money, but he asked a sea-captain to allow him to work his passage
on board his ship during the home voyage. The captain agreed to this
proposal, and the poor African left country and friends, in order to seek
"the Christian's God who had paid the debt."
Immediately on his arrival
in London, he asked every one whom he met, to tell him about ''the
Christian's God who had paid the debt." But the persons whom he asked
thought the poor man mad, and no one pointed him to "the Lamb of God, who
taketh away the sin of the world." On Sabbath, seeing crowds of people
going to a place of worship, he followed them and listened eagerly to the
service. The preacher did not proclaim Christ crucified—and the poor man
went away very sad because he could not find "the Christian's God who had
paid the debt."
A few days after this, he
met a godly minister and told him why he had come to England. The good
clergyman felt deeply interested in the poor African, and told him to come
to his church the following Sabbath, and there he would hear of "the
Christian's God who had paid the debt." On Sabbath morning the minister
opened the Bible, and read for his text these words, ''The blood of Jesus
Christ, God's Son, cleanseth us from all sin." He then spoke of the great
debt which every one of us owes to God, our own utter inability to pay
this debt, and explained the way in which Jesus Christ has paid this great
debt by His own precious blood. The poor African heard, wondered,
believed, and went away rejoicing. He had found the pearl of great price,
and he felt that it was worth far more than all the pains which he had
taken to obtain it. There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or
brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, who shall
not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come
life everlasting.
The kingdom of heaven is
sometimes represented in Scripture as a treasure, which we must give up
all that we have in order to obtain, and in other passages we are told
that it is a free gift which we are commanded to receive without money and
without price.
This story illustrates both
of these truths. The poor African left country and friends in order to
find ''the Christian's God who had paid the debt." Had he not been willing
to do so, he might never have been led to Jesus; but it was not the
sacrifice which he made which saved him. The long journey which he had
taken could not save him. His deep anxiety could not save him. It was
receiving Jesus Christ into his heart as a free gift that saved his soul.
"None but Jesus, none but
Jesus,
Can do helpless sinners good."
The poor man felt assured
that Jesus Christ, the Christian's God, had paid the debt for him, and he
committed his soul entirely to Jesus, and in Him he found peace and joy.
All who would be saved, do
as he did. They must give up whatever would keep their hearts away from
Christ, though it should be dearer to them than a right hand or a right
eye; and intrust their souls entirely to Jesus, the Christian's God, who
with His own precious blood has paid the debt. |
