A colporteur with his pack of Bibles, books and tracts was returning home one evening along a city street in the Far East. Suddenly he was accosted by a tall, handsome, young Turk who announced:
"I will tell your fortune."
Taken by surprise, the book seller did not immediately reply, and the Turk explained: "I am a fortune teller; I can tell you what will happen to you in the future."
"But how am I to know that you tell the truth?" replied the colporteur.
"Oh, I have books; I tell by astrology."
"Well, I would like to ask you a question first, so as to test whether you can really tell the truth or not. If you can tell my fortune, you can certainly tell your own. Where will you be in a hundred years?"
The Turk was greatly annoyed as he replied; "Oh, I don't know that; but you let me look at your hand and I will tell your fortune for you."
"But", said the colporteur, "I also am somewhat of a fortune teller. I also use books, and if you will tell me one thing, I will tell your fortune for you."
"What do you want me to tell you?"
"Do you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, God's Son?"
"No, He was not God's Son."
"Now", replied the colporteur, taking a New Testament from his pack, "I will tell you your fortune. My Book tells me, " 'He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.'
"This is your fortune: right now you have the wrath of the living, true God ever abiding on you; and in a hundred years from now you will be in hell, in the lake of fire that burns with brimstone, unless you believe on the Son of God."
A long conversation followed, and finally the fortune teller asked: "May I have one of your books?", a request which was freely granted. His next questions were: "Where do you live? When may I come to see you?"
The following day the Turk and a friend came and had another long talk with the colporteur and left with a Bible.
What the result will be, God alone knows. But, reader, let me ask: Have you ever thought about your fortune, your eternal fortune? You need not remain in doubt as to that. Thank God, we have a Bible that leaves no room for uncertainty in these matters.
Where will you be in a hundred years? Yes, where will you be tomorrow?
What could be more positive, more concise, more precious, and yet more awful than these solemn words: "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36).