Who Can Tell?

"Who can tell if God will … turn away from His fierce anger, that we perish not?" (Jonah 3:9)

A certain man was tempted to commit suicide. He reasoned that because of his sin, his fate in Hell was certain. He thought that continuing his life would only increase his sin and add to the misery from which he saw no escape.

With these thoughts in mind, he went to a bridge, planning to jump to his death in the river below. But just as he was about to do it, he seemed to hear a voice saying to him, "Who can tell?" It was just as if the words had been spoken out loud. By these words his plan was interrupted and his thoughts were changed. Now he wondered, "Who can tell if I may find mercy?" "Who can tell whether God will forgive me?"

By such thoughts as these, it pleased God to graciously enable him, through all his doubts and fears, to throw himself by faith on Jesus Christ, humbly desiring and expecting mercy. He was not disappointed, and became a prominent Christian who, from his own experience of the riches of God's grace, was greatly used in the conversion and comfort of others.

"All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out" (John 6:37).

—From Religious and Moral Anecdotes