I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
Psalm 40:1-3
During his meetings in cities across America and Europe, D. L. Moody would often go to jails and preach to the prisoners. He told the story of a man who believed he was too wicked for Jesus to save. Moody spent a great deal of time explaining the gospel was for everyone, but the man was reluctant to make a decision. Moody left after praying for him. He later told the end of the story.
The next morning, I thought I must see him before I went back to Chicago. No sooner had my eye lighted on his face, than I saw that remorse and despair had fled away, and his countenance was beaming with celestial light; the tears of joy had come into his eyes, and the tears of despair were gone. The sun of Righteousness had broken out across his path; his soul was leaping within him for joy; he had received Christ as Zaccheus did—joyfully. “Tell me about it,” I said. “Well, I do not know what time it was; “he replied. “I think it was about midnight. I had been in distress a long time, when all at once my great burden fell off, and now, I believe I am the happiest man in New York.”
Many of us were saved at a young age before experiencing all of the pain and suffering of living in the world. Others were only converted after tasting the bitterness of rebellion against God. But no matter how we were saved, our lives were radically transformed when God reached down to us. The new heart we received at salvation should produce a new song of joy and gratitude.
