Old John, the peddler, was a remarkably bad character, so bad that neither God nor man could repair him; he must be made new, or be utterly useless—lost forever. He was known around town as drunken John. One night he went into a hall where the gospel was preached. He sat dreamily listening to the preacher till overcome with sleep. At the close of the meeting he was awakened by the singing. And then the speaker came and very kindly laid his hand on the old man’s shoulder.
“Please take your hand off my shoulder,” said John. “A gentleman like you should not put your hand on such a greasy coat.”
“Dear old friend, do you know that God loves you?”
“No, sir, you are mistaken. God doesn’t love the likes o’ me.”
“Do you believe the Bible is God’s Book?”
“Well, yes, people say so, but I do not know much about it.”
“Well, listen to what God says to you: ‘God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ Now you are in the world; don’t you see what love God has for you that He gave Jesus to die to save you?” He gave John more scriptures, and the truth went right home to his heart. Old John was saved.
His eyes were opened; he saw the arms of God’s love embracing even him, and the tears ran down his cheeks. His great load of sin was gone—Jesus loved him and died for his sins, and he was happy. He was saved, for “As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.”
John went away a new man. For God says “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.” Full of joy and peace, he went to his little cottage.
On entering, his wife and only son were in. He said, “Sally, I’m saved—I have been converted.”
She did not understand him, and so said, “Drunk, as usual.”
After a little she said, “It is time to go to bed.”
John answered, “O, but Sally, I’ve been converted, and before we go to bed we must pray.”
Prayer was something new in John’s home. So Sally and his son got down on their knees. John, not having any religious bringing up, was puzzled to know what to say. His heart was full of joy, and he thought of how he used to express himself before he was saved, so reaching out he took his old hat and swung it around his head three times, saying, with the warmth of his new joy, “Hurray for Jesus!—Hurray for Jesus!—Hurray for Jesus!”
That was John’s first prayer. It was from an overflowing heart, and went to the throne of God with acceptance.
The news soon spread that John was saved, and the women gathered around him in the street to buy from him, and see what John was like.
“Sure enough, there is a great change in him,” said one. “He is not drunk,” remarked another. “Not swearing as he used to,” said a third. There was old John, with his face shining with joy, selling his wares and preaching his little sermon: “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” It came right from his heart, and although some questioned whether it would last, it was evident that John was a new man.
His son said to him one day, “Dad, if you are going to stay converted, wouldn’t it be good to get a better house?”
Old John evidently thought it was a good idea, for shortly after he saw a fine little cottage to rent. He saw the landlord, and said, “I see you have a house to rent, sir.”
“Yes, I have; who wants it?”
“I want it, sir.”
“You want it; do you suppose that I would rent it to you?”
“You do not know who I am, sir.”
“O, yes, I know who you are; you are old drunken John, the peddler.”
“I thought you were mistaken, sir. Old John is dead. I am new John—“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ I have believed God, and have that everlasting life.” Putting his hand in his pocket, he brought out some money and said, “If you are afraid, sir, about the rent, I’ll pay in advance.”
This was enough for the landlord—John got the house. He proved the genuineness of his conversion for many years, and never got tired of telling the story of God’s great love told out in the gift of His beloved Son, the Saviour of sinners.
ML-01/21/1979