The Glorious Prodigal by Gilbert Morris Read Free Book Online

and over again the evangelist would say, “The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sins.” He went on to talk about himself and how he had needed so desperately to be cleansed from sin. Then he raised his voice and said, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Every one of you sitting out there. If you are not under the blood of Jesus, you are under the condemnation of hell.”
    Stuart began feeling uncomfortable. He had heard preaching all of his life, but had never been moved by it. But there was something about this sermon he could not ignore. Hebegan to shift uncomfortably in his chair and was aware that something was happening deep down inside of him.
    Leah also felt the power of the sermon. When Smith spoke of the death of Jesus, it brought tears to her eyes, as it always did. She was aware that beside her Stuart was sitting ramrod straight. A glance at his face showed that he was tense, and all of the frivolity was gone. She prayed silently, Oh, God, let him hear your voice and let him get saved tonight.
    Finally, Gypsy Smith said, “It’s time for you to come to the cross. There’s no other place for you if you’re lost. Only Jesus can save you. I want you to come forward now. We’ll pray for you, and you’ll be on your way to heaven before you leave this tent.”
    Stuart stood there, his head bowed, looking unseeingly at the sawdust-covered floor. He was amazed at how many people of all ages were going down to the front of the tent, and an almost irresistible urge came to him to go forward as well. But he fought it off.
    “Would you like to go down, Stuart? I’ll go with you.”
    Stuart shook his head, shutting off the soft voice. “I can’t go now.”
    The service was soon over, and Leah’s heart broke at Stuart’s reluctance. She had felt that tonight was the one chance he might have had, and he had turned down God’s invitation.
    They said nothing until they reached the hotel where they both had taken rooms, and when he took her to the door, he said, “I’ve got to talk to you, Leah.”
    “You can’t come into my room, Stuart.”
    Desperately, he said, “All right. We’ll talk here. I’m a lost cause if you don’t help me, Leah. I should have gone forward tonight, but I just couldn’t. But if we were married, you could help me.”
    It was the old plea that had touched her heart before, and Leah found herself responding to it.
    He stood there pleading, and she felt her resistance breaking away. When he put his arms around her, she felt him trembling.
    He’s so close to the kingdom. I can help him. If we were married, I know I could show him the way. The certainty she felt in her heart strengthened her resolve, and at that moment she made up her mind.
    “All right, Stuart. I’ll marry you whenever you say.”
    “Tomorrow?”
    “Yes, but you must promise me one thing.”
    “Anything!”
    “You must seek after God. Jesus is the only hope of our having any kind of a marriage.”
    “I promise,” he said. He put his arms around her, and they clung together.
    Then she stepped back and said, “Tomorrow I’ll marry you.”
    ****
    The two of them were married the next day by the pastor of the small church. She had not understood how Stuart had managed to obtain the license, but he had been gone all day, and they had been married at four o’clock. He had taken her out to the finest restaurant in the city, and now they had come back to the honeymoon suite he had insisted on.
    Stuart had stepped outside for a moment, and Leah still couldn’t believe she was now actually Mrs. Stuart Winslow as she unpacked her small carpetbag. A few minutes later the door opened, closed, and Stuart stood before her. He had his violin case in his hand, and he flashed her a quick grin.
    “Mrs. Winslow, I have a special wedding present for you.”
    His cheerful expression relieved her. She sat down on the bed and waited.
    Stuart winked at her and said, “A wedding present for my