Fully Persuaded

Saul knew what he believed. From a young age, his family and community life revolved around their nation’s Scriptures. Early in his life others noted his abilities and they fast-tracked him to study under the greatest minds of the time. Everyone knew Saul was fully persuaded of what he believed to be true.

But then something happened. Saul began hearing of followers of some Jesus of Nazareth, he stood by as one courageously faced martyrdom, he persecuted many himself, but then he personally encountered Jesus Christ. In a moment, Saul became convinced of the real truth. For the rest of his life he proclaimed that truth across the known world, and suffered greatly for it.

Years after first coming to know Jesus Christ as the way, the truth, and the life, Saul, now better known as Paul the Apostle, encouraged a young pastor serving in Ephesus. In A.D. 61 Paul wrote to Timothy and boldly declared,

“For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”

2 Timothy 1:12

Almost exactly 100 years later, Justin Martyr and five friends stood before urban prefect Rusticus, in the very city where Paul had faced martyrdom.
Standing over the faithful men urban prefect Rusticus challenged Justin,

“Do you suppose, then, that you will ascend into heaven to receive some recompense?”

Justin responded,

“I do not suppose it, but I know and am fully persuaded of it.”

Rusticus gave his decree

“Let those who have refused to sacrifice to the gods and to yield to the command of the emperor be scourged, and led away to suffer the punishment of decapitation, according to the laws.”

Almost 1700 years later, and some 4300 miles away, Major Whittle received orders to leave home in Chicago and move south. He had professed Christ years before and even served in a local church. He even met his wife at church, they eventually married, and the next day he left to fight in the American Civil War. He and his wife, Abbie, would not be reunited for a year. As he departed his mother gave him a pocket New Testament which he tucked away and soon forgot.

In battle, Major Whittle received a sword wound to his arm which then had to be amputated. He was captured, and then secured in a prisoner of war camp. With little else to do, he looked for something to read and found the New Testament his mother had gifted to him. He read it through completely in a couple of days and then started over again.

As a young man lay dying in a nearby part of the same camp he cried out for someone to pray with him. He knew he faced death and was not ready to meet his Maker. The nurse thought about who she could bring, and her mind turned to the young major she saw always reading his Bible.

Major Whittle resisted the call, telling the nurse he was too wicked to pray for anyone. However, out of compassion, he reluctantly agreed.

Standing by the young boy’s bed he knew what he must do. Major Whittle later wrote,

“I dropped on my knees and held the boy’s hand in mine. In a few broken words I confessed my sins and asked Christ to forgive me. I believed right there that He did forgive me.”

Major Whittle, through the testimony of Scripture, the conviction of the Holy Spirit and the prayers of a Godly mother, was fully persuaded of the truth.

Whittle went on to record,

“I then prayed earnestly for the boy. He became quiet and pressed my hand as I prayed and pleaded God’s promises. When I arose from my knees, he was dead. A look of peace had come over his troubled face, and I cannot but believe that God who used him to bring me to the Savior, used me to lead him to trust Christ’s precious blood and find pardon. I hope to meet him in heaven.”

It seems the young man on his deathbed also become fully persuaded of the truth.

Years later, now a friend of D.L. Moody and other notable saints, Whittle had become a well-known hymn-writer. In one of his most famous hymns he writes words which echo those of Paul the Apostle, Justin Martyr, and countless others down the centuries:

“I know not why God’s wondrous grace To me He hath made known, Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love Redeemed me for His own. But “I know Whom I have believed And am persuaded that He is able To keep that which I’ve committed Unto Him against that day.”

For the last 2000 years men, women, and children across every continent have been fully persuaded that they were sinners in need of salvation and that Jesus Christ was the only Sacrifice acceptable, the only Substitute available, the only Saviour from sin.

It is my prayer that you too are fully persuaded that Christ is your Saviour, that your sins are forgiven, and that one day Heaven will be your home.

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