A Personal Salvation

Salvation through faith in Christ and His finished work of redemption on the cross of Calvary is truly a miraculous event. Many can remember the time and place and circumstances surrounding their conversion, and may have remarkable stories to tell of how the Lord spoke to them "personally."

One such story is about a young girl named Edith who was saved as the result of hearing what she thought was her very own name from the Bible. She was sitting in a gospel meeting one evening where the speaker had chosen his topic from Luke 15:2 which, referring to the Lord Jesus, states, "This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them." Edith's attention was immediately captured, for, instead of the word "eateth," she thought she heard "This man receiveth sinners, and 'Edith' with them." This made it very personal to her, and as the speaker unfolded the truth of the gospel, she was made to feel very keenly the fact that the Lord loved her enough to die for her and that very evening she was saved through confession of her sin to Christ and personal faith that He alone was able to cleanse her from every sin by His shed blood (1 John 1:7).

Another story is told of a man known around town as "Ol' Man Kline." Passing by a meeting hall where the gospel was to be preached, he heard the congregation singing and caught one line of a hymn in particular which he thought was "Jesus died for Ol' Man Kline." Actually what they were singing was "Jesus died for all mankind." But, this was enough to arouse his curiosity and cause him to enter that place where he heard the message of the gospel. The Spirit of God convicted him of his sin and he trusted the Lord Jesus as His personal Saviour.

Salvation need not be a "unique" experience as these two which have been related, but we should take it personally when we read in Scripture that all are sinners (Romans 3:23) and that Christ came to save sinners (Luke 5:32; 1 Timothy 1:15).

Whether young in years as Edith, or further along the road of life as "Ol' Man Kline," you must see yourself as a sinner and in repentance turn to the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. Won't you trust Him as your own personal Saviour today? Hear the last invitation given in God's Word: "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And WHOSOEVER [put your name in here] will, let him take the water of life freely" (Rev. 22:17).

—M.S.J.
www.mwtb.org