Coming to Christ – Dwight Lyman Moody

I have read of an artist who wanted to paint a picture of the prodigal son. He searched through the mad-houses, and the poor-houses, and the prisons, to find a man wretched enough to represent the prodigal, but he could not find one. One day he was walking down the streets and met a man whom He thought would do. He told the poor beggar he would pay him well if he came to his room and sat for his portrait. The man agreed, and the day was appointed for him to come. The day came, and a man put in his appearance at the artist’s room. “You made an appointment with me,” he said, when he was shown into the studio. The artist looked at him, and said, “I never saw you before.” “Yes,” he said, “I agreed to meet you to-day at ten o’clock.” “You must be mistaken; it must have been some other artist; I was to see a beggar here at this hour.” “Well,” said the man, “I am he.” “You? Yes.” “Why, what have you been doing? Well, I thought I would dress myself up a bit before I got painted.” “Then,” said the artist,” I do not want you; I wanted you as you were; now you are no use to me.” That is the way Christ wants every poor sinner, just as he is.

(D. L. Moody.)