Bible Commentaries

Walter Scott

The Testimony of Walter Biggar Scott

In the city of Glasgow sixty-five years ago, God Himself met me in my sins and saved me. My conversion was a joy to Heaven, to angels, and to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Yes, over me sixty-five years ago, Heaven rejoiced, and why? Because another gem was set in the Savior's crown.

The elder son of Luke 15 presented to his father an unblemished line of conduct: "Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment" (v. 29). The younger son presented to his father the plea of a sinful life: "Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and in thy sight" (v. 21). The elder son was too good for God. The younger son was not too bad for God. I was a sinner like my younger brother of Luke 15 - not so bad as many, else I would have kept the dark record of sin and shame to myself, and told it out to God alone. But I was bad enough. My recommendation to God was not my goodness, for I had none, but my badness, for I had plenty of that.

The death of my Sunday school teacher, whom I loved and reverenced, was the means used of God to arouse me to concern about my never-dying soul. His sudden death was told to several of us while waiting outside to enter the school. In an instant the truth that I was a child of wrath (Eph. 2:3) gripped my soul. Had it been my death I would have gone to Hell. He had gone to Heaven. I tried hard to shake off the agonizing feeling: had it been my death I would have gone to Hell.

For nine months I lived on the border of despair. Dr. Arnot, a celebrated author and preacher, having heard of my misery, called, and slowly repeated, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled" (Matt. 5:6). That yielded no comfort. I needed a Saviour. My soul yearned for a woman of Samaria with a like burning message, "Come, see a Man which told me all things that ever I did" (John 4:29). I wept almost incessantly during those months of soul distress.

A Christian friend strongly advised me to cherish those convictions of sin, urging me to pray that the sense of sin might be more deeply felt. But cherishing convictions of sin only prolonged my misery. A sinner needs a Saviour. Better to have been directed to the living, loving Saviour at God's right hand. Had I died cherishing conviction of sin I would have gone to Hell.

If my voice could reach to the ends of the earth, I would cry aloud to every seeking, troubled sinner: "Look out from yourself to Christ. Turn from your own doings to the finished work of another." One big jump of faith out of self into Christ.

One ever memorable day, a day which knows no setting sun, the light of Heaven broke in upon my spirit. A flash, and it was done. I was saved. John 3:16 numbered me as one of the countless millions who eagerly drank in the truth of God's eternal hatred of sin and His passionate love for sinners. Great was the joy; deep the peace of that hour. Justified from all things and from all charges. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. 5:1).

What has been my position and lot for these sixty-five years? A cloudless sky, over which no shadow has ever rested. Peace with God through the precious Blood of Christ-peace as enduring as the years of God and solid as the throne of the eternal. That peace was made two thousand years ago by Christ on the Cross, and now and evermore I have it.

Then every believer on the Lord Jesus Christ has his conscience permanently purged from sin and dead works. The heart, too, has been captivated by the story of His undying love. A flash of His glory, even from the seat of glory itself, and I became His forevermore. The hands are full of happiest service. Time, talents, riches, honors, intellect, life, heart, and soul - all and more, forming one great glory laid down upon the altar. Covered and wrapped up and put out of sight by a greater glory, even Jesus Christ, the sight of whose face will be glory for me. - Walter Biggar Scott.