SOME years ago a large vessel called the "Central America" ran aground, with the result that a hole was torn in her side and she began to leak. A signal of distress was immediately hoisted and another ship came alongside of her.
“What is amiss?” asked the Captain through the trumpet.
"We are in bad repair and are going down; lie by till morning," was the answer. But the Captain on board the rescue ship said, "Let me take your passengers on board now."
"Lie by till morning," was the message which came back.
For the third time, the Captain of the rescue ship raised the trumpet to his lips, and with an earnest appeal he called, "You had better let me take your passengers on board now."
"Lie by till morning," was the reply which again sounded across the water.
About an hour and a half after, the lights of the vessel were missing; for, suddenly, without any warning, she had heeled over, and with scarcely a sound, she and all on board had plunged into the depths of the ocean.
O! the folly of waiting too long, when help was so close! Yet there are thousands of people to-day who are waiting in all their sins and despising the pleadings of a Savior who, in infinite grace, has drawn very near to them.
The words of some who waited too long are recorded in Scripture, "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved," Jer. 8:20.
"Behold, NOW is the accepted time."