Happy Jack

The Poor Huckster

Once there was a poor man, a huckster, who used to go through country villages selling his goods. This poor creature, while going round on his journeys, heard some women singing a little chorus. It went like this…

“I’m a poor sinner, and nothing at all,

But Jesus Christ is my all in all.”

Jack said to himself, “That sure suits me.” So he started to hum the tune to himself, as he walked along. By God’s grace, in time, the words of the little chorus worked their way into the poor huckster’s heart.

After some time he was converted and began to attend church regularly. Finally, he made up his mind to publicly confess his faith in Christ and join the church. So he went to see the pastor. The pastor asked him, “What can you say for yourself?” “Not much,” Jack replied, “only this…

‘I’m a poor sinner, and nothing at all,

But Jesus Christ is my all in all.’”

“You must tell me more than that,” the pastor said. — “No, I can’t,” Jack answered, “for that is all I know. That’s my confession of faith.” “Well,” the pastor said, “I cannot refuse you church fellowship, but you will have to come before the elders and deacons. They will have to see you and judge you.”

At the appointed time the poor huckster met with the elders and deacons. They wanted to see if they could find some fault with him. Being asked to stand and state his experience, Jack simply said…

“I’m a poor sinner, and nothing at all,

But Jesus Christ is my all in all.”

One of the old men asked, “Is that all you have to say?” — “Yes, that’s all,” he answered. The pastor said, “You may ask him some questions, if you wish.” So another man spoke up. “Brother Jack, Do you have many doubts and fears?” “No,” Jack answered, “I can never doubt that I am a poor sinner and nothing at all, for I know that I am. And I can never doubt that Jesus Christ is my all in all, for he says he is. How can I doubt that?”

Then another man said, “But sometimes I lose my evidences and my graces, and then I get very sad.” — “Oh,” Jack said, “I can never lose anything, for, in the first place, I am a poor sinner and nothing at all. No one can rob me if I am nothing. And in the second place, Jesus Christ is my all in all. And who can rob him? He is in heaven. I never get richer or poorer, for I am always nothing, but I always have everything.”

“But, my  dear  brother,  Jack,”  another  man asked, “Don’t you sometimes doubt whether you are a child of God?” — “Well, “ he said, “I don’t quite understand your question. But I can tell you I never doubt but that I am a poor sinner and nothing at all and that Jesus Christ is my all in all.”

They were astonished at Jack’s simple, constant composure. They had a world of doubts and fears. When they asked him why he never doubted, he just said, “I cannot doubt but that I am a poor sinner, and nothing at all, for I know that, and feel it every day. And why should I doubt that Jesus Christ is my all in all? for he says he is.”

“Oh,” one of the men said, “I have my ups and downs.” “I don’t,” Jack replied. “I can never go up, for in myself I am a poor sinner, and nothing at all; and I cannot go down, for Jesus Christ is my all in all.”

The deacons and elders kept trying to shake the simple man from his simple faith. “Why,” said one brother, “I sometimes feel so full of grace, I feel so advanced in sanctification, that I begin to be very happy.” “I never do,” Jack replied. “I am a poor sinner, and nothing at all.” “Then, I go down again, and think I am not saved, because I am not as sanctified as I used to be,” the brother continued. “I never doubt my salvation,” Jack said, “because Jesus Christ is my all in all, and he never alters.”

They admitted Jack into the church, and he continued all the days of his life with this simple confession….

“I’m a poor sinner, and nothing at all,

But Jesus Christ is my all in all.”

That was all his experience, and you could not get him beyond it. For the rest of his days on earth, the poor huckster was called “Happy Jack,” because of his happiness in faith. Happy Jack’s simple story is beautifully instructive. It sets forth a picture of plain, simple, clear faith in Christ. It exemplifies adherence to Paul’s admonition in Colossians 2:6. — “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him.”