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T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
November, 1936
to believe that evening, he left the church with the deter mination to accept the Saviour before the next service. The following evening the transformation of the song leader was apparent not alone in his manner, but also in his choice of music and songs, their theme echoing the loveliness of Christ and the joy of salvation. His solo that evening stirred the hearers and softened many hearts. What a wonderful work God had done in that young man! He was growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Prior to his transformation he had a “form of religion,” was living a clean, upright life, but he had no knowledge of the Saviour and had never experienced a personal contact with the Lord Jesus. How many, how many need His cleansing, His forgiveness, His life, His power! O bedience T hat B ore R ich F ruit In another city where a three-day campaign was held, a Mrs. Ogden, accomplished in piano and an attentive young listener, was changed by the gospel. Avoiding me during the first meetings, she gave me no opportunity for acquaintance. But the Word was given forth in simplicity and faith, and much prayer was offered that God would deal with individual lives as He saw their needs. On the third night of the meetings, the closing night, the choir loft was full, and the little church was crowded with worshipers. At the close of the message, I gave an invitation for hearts to bow to the Lord Jesus Christ, and the pastor announced the hymn, “Almost Persuaded.” Softly and earnestly the first verse was sung. At its close, a young woman left the choir and went to the piano. I announced the second verse. Leaving her place at the piano to the newcomer, Mrs. Ogden immediately came to the altar and there found the Lord as her Saviour. She later acknowledged that she had heard the call of the Lord while sitting at the piano, and had motioned for one of the choir members to take her place while she left her place in order to accept the Lord Jesus. That public act of obedience to the Spirit’s call moved many of her friends, some of whom, following her example, accepted Christ. “I H ave A lways B luffed ” Let us now go into a large city and see the conversion of another pianist. The incident occurred in a beautiful stone church where the congregation knew wealth. A Mrs. Adams was pianist. As a favorite among the young people, and a leader in church activities, she was not only dependable and capable, but was also willing to assist in any capacity except the teaching of the Word. Meeting her on the opening day of the meetings, I said, “Mrs. Adams, I am always interested in the spiritual wel fare of those with whom I have the privilege of laboring, and so I feel free to ask you whether you belong to the Lord Jesus, and whether He has blotted out your sins. Are you a saved young woman?” “Of course I am,” she replied. “I wouldn’t be playing the piano in this church if I didn’t believe in religion. I am for every good thing that will help the people.” “Thank you very much,” I answered. Because she had [ Continued, on page 448]
“No,” I replied, “I felt quite sure that you were not saved.” “Well,” she said, “when I went home from the service, I said to my husband, ‘The new evangelist asked me tonight whether I was washed in the blood of the Lamb, and I told him, Yes. He did not deny my statement, but he certainly had a queer look on his face, as though he did not believe it.’ I tell you, Dr. Wilson, I realized then that if you, on such a short acquaintance with me, felt that I was not a Christian, there must be something wrong with me. All week long I have tried to find the trouble, and only today have I discovered that, while I did have quite a bit of religion, I had not met the Lord Jesus Christ, personally. Tonight I have come to Him, and now I can play for the honor and glory of my Lord and Saviour.” Probably for many years this young woman had known the Lord’s word, “Ye must be born again” (John 3:7), and had been acquainted with His promise, “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37) ; but it was not until she saw herself lost without Christ, and placed active faith in Him, that she knew the joy of personal salvation. Experiences like the one of Mrs. Johnson should teach us that we should not accept activity in religious work as an indication that individuals are always children of God, but should make inquiry as to whether those who sit in “heavenly places” in the church are saved or lost. A C hild of the M anse —U nsaved The next instance concerns Mr. Homer Sherman. He was a tall, well-built young man of about twenty-six years, and was introduced to me as the song leader who would have charge of the music at all of my services in a certain city. I set myself to ascertain his spiritual status. At the close of the first Sunday evening service, my wife said, “Walter, do you think the song leader is saved?” I replied, “I cannot say. The singing did not evidence much heart feeling. There was plenty of perspiration, but little inspiration. There was a great deal of appeal to the people, but not very much piety toward God. We must prav for that young man.” It was not necessary to wait long in order to learn his true position, for at the close of the Wednesday night service, he came to me himself and said, “Dr. Wilson, I am sure that I have missed Jesus Christ. You know, my father is pastor of t h e ------------ church, and I have had religious training under him, but really, I am afraid I have never had personal faith in Christ for myself. I feel that I should come to the altar more than any one else in the church.” I was thankful that he had submitted to the conviction of the Spirit and had confessed his need. We sat apart from the crowd, and I had the joy of leading that young friend to portions of the Scripture revealing the Person and work of Christ Jesus, among which were the follow ing: “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Lk. 19:10); “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us” (Gal. 3 :1 3 ); “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 Jo h n ‘1:7). Unable to yield his heart
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