George Whitefield was a well known preacher of the Gospel whom God used for blessing souls to a larger extent, perhaps, than any other. On this particular occasion it was the evangelist's diamond ring instead of his preaching that proved to be a blessing to souls.

It was George Whitefield's custom wherever he stayed to speak to the people in the house pointedly and definitely about their souls. He did this earnestly, affectionately, and yet in such a discreet way that it rarely caused offense and was the means of winning many who had listened to his public preaching unmoved.

This time he was staying for a few days at the house of a certain general who was a great admirer of the preacher's eloquence and zeal. He and his family were all so kind and amiable and so lavish in their hospitality that Whitefield, though he saw no evidence of their being Christians, (that is, converted, having the forgiveness of their sins through faith in Christ) felt his lips sealed among them. He confined his utterances to the genial courtesies of society and did not speak of that which lay uppermost upon his heart.

The days rolled by and the last night of his stay in the place arrived. He had said "Good night," and retired to his room. Something within him seemed to say, "How will you be clear of the blood of these people if you do not warn them?"

He said to himself, "They are so good and friendly, how can you speak to them about sin? Besides, you have preached the Gospel in their hearing. Surely that is enough."

There was a conflict in his mind, and he was unable to sleep that night. Had he been lacking in faithfulness? What should he do?

Early in the morning, before he left his kind friends, his eye fell on his diamond ring. He took it from his finger, and wrote with it on the glass of his bedroom window four words:

"One thing thou lackest."

Then he went down to say farewell and start on his journey.

When he had departed his host said, " I will just run up to Mr. Whitefield's room and look around."

As he opened the door and stepped into the room, the first thing that caught his eye was the writing on the window. Its meaning flashed into his mind. With all his natural kindness of heart, his amiability, his religiousness, his admiration of the great preacher, he was lacking in one vital thing, and was, in fact, not a Christian at all!

Tears rose to the eyes of the old soldier. He called his wife and showed her the words. She also began to weep.

"I thought he was unhappy," she said. "There seemed to be something on his mind. He was troubled about us because we were not saved. I was hoping he would speak to us."

The General said, "By God's grace, then, we will seek the 'one thing' that we lack."

He called the whole family together—three daughters and one son. He pointed to the Bible text from Mark 10:21 on the windowpane. They all knelt down, confessed their sins to God one by one and found what the Bible calls "joy and peace in believing" (Romans 15:13).

Are there not many, very many who resemble this General and his family before their conversion? Nice, moral people, maybe even religiously inclined, but lacking the one thing that would make them Christians.

What is this one thing? It is not belief in the truth of the Scripture or the great historical facts of Christianity. This the General most certainly had. What was it then that he lacked and that so many are without today?

It was that personal faith IN the Lord Jesus Christ without which there is no salvation. Notice that I emphasize the word "in." Believing ABOUT Christ is not sufficient. One needs to have personal confidence in Him, to trust Him as Saviour, in order to be saved. (See John 3:16; 5:24; Ephesians 2:8,9; Acts 13:38,39; 16:30,31).

Christ knew our need and the serious consequences our sins had brought upon us (Ephesians 2:1). In order to deliver us He shed His blood upon the cross, giving Himself a ransom for us. Having thus died for sinners He was buried and rose again the third day (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). In virtue of this finished work, God receives and forgives any guilty sinner who puts his trust in Jesus.

God grant that you, my reader, may not be content with being a Christian in name only, but that you may truly be able to say, like the blind man to whom the Lord Jesus gave sight,

"One thing I know, that whereas I was blind, now I see" (John 9:25).

—From a Tract