A friend of mine lived and labored for the Lord for several years on the Canadian prairies. During this time, while holding gospel meetings on the Western plains, he learned the story of a young lady with whom he became acquainted. One evening when this unsaved girl was present, the evangelist pleaded with all unbelievers to receive Christ as Savior. He presented God's offer of eternal life as a free gift, at the same time warning his hearers of the dreadful doom which awaited all who continued despising or neglecting God's Son.
The young lady was aroused to her lost condition, and was then led to ask the all-important question: "What must I do to be saved?"
Satan, the arch-enemy of souls, was busy, as usual, seeking to do his utmost to keep the unsaved from closing with God's offered mercy. He whispered that she should delay the acceptance of salvation until a more "convenient season." There was "no hurry"; she was strong and healthy, and if she then surrendered to Christ she would have to "give up" so much. The repentant girl was quite convinced that she ought to remove the bolt of unbelief from her heart and let the Savior in. Yet she halted between two opinions: should she accept at that time God's "unspeakable gift," or put it off until another occasion?
A conflict was being waged between light and darkness, between her best Friend and her worst enemy. God, however, would not compel her to accept His love gift. He would not force her to be reconciled to Him. Though the Lord Jesus is represented as knocking at the door of the sinner's heart, He will not force it open. "Ye will not come unto Me, that ye might have life," was spoken to some who rejected His claims, and He did not coerce them.
Is the reader refusing the Lord Jesus entrance into his heart?
"Behold a Stranger at the door;
He gently knocks—has knocked before."
Draw back the bar of unbelief, and let the Savior in.
The Canadian girl resisted the Holy Spirit and stifled conviction. In doing this she became the victim of the Satanic delusion that she could continue procrastinating until she reached the end of life, and that then, by presenting herself to God, she could obtain salvation. To one who warned her of her folly she said, "If I have but five minutes before I die, I can make matters all right for eternity."
How dreadful that anyone should believe such a thing! Yet this is what many think. They may not use the exact words, yet deep down in their hearts they believe that they can put off receiving the Savior until they are near death. Then, they think, by crying for mercy they will obtain it!
What a delusion and a snare! Sinner friend, we earnestly beseech you not to yield to such a delusion. You may never have a sickbed or a deathbed. You may be called into eternity in your sins, and if you die unsaved, there is no second chance in hell. "Because there is wrath, beware lest He take thee away with His stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee." Job 36:1818Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. (Job 36:18).
Buoyed up with the hope that there was "plenty of time," the Canadian girl sought to banish from her mind thoughts of God and eternity. In the midst of her worldliness and folly she became very ill. The physician was summoned, and he made it plain that death was possibly near at hand.
Think of it: dying, and unsaved! How dreadful! When the sick girl was told that the disease was likely to prove fatal, she became greatly alarmed. The awful fact was then brought home to her heart she was passing unprepared into God's presence. As death drew near, the poor girl struggled in an attempt to speak.
What does she say? Does she plead for mercy? Does she ask to be prayed for? Ah, no. What then, are her dying words? Remember them, oh Christ rejector.
"I am lost, I am lost!" was her pitiful cry. Then she added, "Oh, it is awfully dark." As these sadly suggestive words escaped her lips, her spirit passed into the eternity beyond.
Procrastinator, take warning by this solemn incident. You "hope," "expect," and "intend" to be saved sometime. Why not now? Without a moment's warning you may be cut down in your sins and awake in the abyss of despair. Now, while the gospel door is open, while the day of grace is prolonged, while the Lord Jesus invites and entreats, while the Holy Spirit strives, accept Christ as your Savior and Lord. Believe on Him who loved you and gave Himself for you. Believe on Him who bore sin's penalty, and died to save you from the "everlasting burnings"; He will receive you and you will become a child of God, an heir of God and a joint-heir with Christ Jesus.