50 Years on the Way to Heaven
by Albert Ramsay

In the year 1913, I was born in the community of Knutsford, Prince Edward Island, Canada. When I was five years old, my mother died, and my father, unable to care for four small children, sent us to live with relatives. I have sweet memories of my grandmother. She used to read Bible stories and tell me of Bible characters. One story she related to me while quite young, was about the "Two Roads" found in Matthew 7. She must have known which one she was on; for she made a deep impression on my young mind, by explaining how the broad road led to darkness and destruction. Many years later the Spirit of God brought the picture of these Two Roads before me; which enabled me to understand that I was lost and needed the Saviour. This should be an encouragement to parents, and grandmothers to sow the good seed in the young hearts of the children.

When I was twelve, my oldest sister was fourteen, and the youngest was ten, my father bought a small farm, on what was called the County line road, in the community of Shamrock, and brought us together in a little home of our own; but sad to say: no mother. Our younger brother remained with relatives who took him as an infant which we all regretted; for he missed those years of being with us in that little home.

As a boy, there was a dark cloud of loneliness in my young life, which only an orphan understands. In my early teens I learned to play the violin, which brought me into company with those much older than myself, who influenced me into the ways of sin at a very early age. I proved the emptiness of the pleasures of sin, that some practice for a lifetime. One night I said to my sister coming home from the dance: "Eva, if this is all there is to live for I feel like taking my own life." Oh, what a poor unhappy wretch man is that lives only for this life and what he can get out of it.

When I was eighteen years old a man was holding what they called "Revival Meetings" which I attended along with others for two weeks. It seemed maybe this would be the answer to that emptiness in my soul. We were challenged each night to change our ways and dedicate our life to Christ. With the thought that my dear mother was in heaven, and someday I wanted to see her -- this change might help me to get there. The last night as the meeting was closing and special pleading for someone to take what they called "Our Stand" I, along with twelve others stood up to signify that we were going to dedicate our lives to Christ. Many patted me on the back that night and said: "Albert, we are proud of you for the stand you have taken." I replied, "I'm proud too." I left there that night with a determination that I was going to change my ways and live the converted life. It was a noble resolve, but I was soon to find in my case that it was only what the Lord Jesus spoke of in (Matthew 12:43). The unclean spirit going out and the house "swept and garnished" but still empty! No indwelling Holy Spirit, no knowledge of sins forgiven; in short -- no New Birth which alone can change a man. National health authorities insist that children be inoculated against certain infectious diseases, thus immunizing them against the real diseases when they are brought into contact with them. Thus the God of this world had done with me (II Cor. 4:4) in the spiritual realm. Giving me a false profession without the New Birth. We read of him in Revelation 12:9 -- "The devil -- that deceiveth the whole world." Oh, how many souls he has deceived in this way; some settle down to live a good moral life; others like myself take the attitude that there is nothing real and turn to the old ways like the "Sow that was washed, to wallowing in the mire." (II Peter 2:22)

As the weeks passed, I gradually drifted back to the old sins with a new zest; having missed them as a child would his toys. To show my contempt for religion, and to reinstate myself with the old crowd, I had to show them how tough I was. This same attitude was shown as well toward any that would approach me about religion, even to refusing a gospel paper offered me by Gordon Ramsay who was later to be the means of the gospel coming to our district. With a defiant and independant tone I said, "I am not interested in religion, I have to work for a living and don't have time to read."

In the month of November he visited our community again bringing with him a man by the name of Russel Harris; they engaged the local school house for a meeting on Friday nights during the winter. Our Friday night dance was just a half mile away and as his meeting would be over before dance time, many of us went to listen. The preaching was different; he gave chapter and verse for any statement he would make. Mostly every message he would quote from Ephesians 2 -- verse 8 & 9. "For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works lest any man should boast." -- emphasizing the last eight words. I had been taught that no one could be saved until the Judgment day, when our good deeds would be weighed against our bad ones and then we would know; but here is what the Bible says. This impressed me and gave me a respect for a man that could give chapter and verse for what he preached. At the dance we would make jokes about the preaching; but it was only a front; the message was getting home to some of us.

In the month of June a tent was shipped from Boston by the man who had offered me the tract, and with it came Mr. Harris's brother, Herb, and Albert Joyce, for a series of meetings that started June 13th across from the School. They had my ear from the first night. I knew what they were preaching was right, and I really wanted to be saved -- but not yet; later on when I would have a convenient time. The Thursday night of the second week was Lodge night, followed by a dance which I felt obligated to attend. My feet dragged heavily over the floor that night and I left early. The greatest question that can occupy the heart of man, was crying for an answer. The clear preaching of the word of God was doing its work in my soul. We were not asked to take our stand, or dedicate our life to Christ, but told that we were condemned already, and if we died in that condition we would be in hell. That we must be born again, or never enter heaven. That we must take our place before God as lost, and trust the finished work of Christ. That it was either "Turn or Burn."

The next day I met with Mr. Harris on the road as I was hauling logs to the mill, he stopped and said, "We missed you last night, Albert." "Yes, I had to go away." "You had to go away." As my eyes fell before his gaze, he continued. "Albert, do you want to go to hell?" "No, Mr. Harris, I don't want to go to hell." "Well Albert, that is where you are going! The devil has outwitted millions, and you will be no exception, and if you don't make one mighty effort to get God's salvation, you are going to be in hell as sure as you are sitting on that old farm wagon." I knew in my soul that he was speaking the truth. Now he said, "Will you promise me that you will come to the meeting tonight with your mind made up that you will not leave until you are saved?" As he passed me that little book, "Safety, Certainty, and Enjoyment," I promised I would. That did not save me; but it brought me face to face with this greatest of all questions that had to be settled now. Before leaving for the two mile walk to the Tent, I had counted the cost, and with the conversation fresh in my mind a few hours before, I went with my mind made up that before I left I was going to get saved. But how? I did not know. I thought if they would ask me to stand up, or come to the front, or something; but they said there was nothing to do; all was finished on the cross, and all we had to do was to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and we would be saved. The message was on the "Two Roads." The broad way that leads to hell, and the narrow way that leads to heaven; no middle path. I thought of what my grandmother had told me and a vivid picture was there in my mind from that early seed she had sown. Now, did I ever get off that broad way? I thought of the time I took "my stand." That was no good. Then the preacher was just closing the meeting with these words. "If the judgment and wrath of God will not move you, will the outstretched arms of a bleeding dying Saviour have any appeal? Let us pray." Oh, that awful moment! Here the meeting is over, and I am not saved!! And I can't get saved. I am lost, and will just have to go to hell. Then it just seemed as if God was saying to me. "I knew that nineteen hundred years ago, and that is why I gave my Son." "Oh," I thought, "I don't have to go to hell; Jesus died for me on the cross." I always believed He died; but never until that moment did I believe He died for me. Before the preacher had said Amen, I was saved through simple faith in that finished work.

Friend, that is fifty years the 22nd of June, 1984. If you have never come to Him as a lost sinner, and trusted His finished work, why not do so now? "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." (I Timothy 1:15)