Following a bombing mission during World War 2, a terribly wounded rear gunner was brought into a British military hospital to die.
Turning to the man in the next bed he inquired,
“Do you know anything about religion?”
“Sorry, chum, I don't," was the reply; "but a lady comes here every Thursday giving out tracts, she will tell you.”
“But I might be dead by then," replied the young airman.
“Come to think of it," said the other, "when I was a boy, our Sunday School teacher taught me this Bible verse: "Jesus said, Suffer the children to come unto Me." (Luke 18:1616But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. (Luke 18:16)).
“Do you think I could come in on that?" exclaimed the wounded man hopefully.
“You could try," said the other encouragingly; "it's in the Bible.”
Following a long silence the dying man pulled the sheet up over his face and began to pray aloud, closing with these words,
“Suffer... the children... to come.”
The sheet did not come down. With these words of the Son of God on his lips, he died.
Afterward a Christian Wing Commander, having recounted the incident at an officers' mess, was asked by one of the company, "Tell me, padre, do you think that that young fellow had a chance?”
“No," replied the officer, "not a chance, but a certainty. He came by faith to Jesus Christ who declared, 'Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.'" John 6:3737All 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).