Too late! too late! I have lived for this world; you have to live for heaven.”
SUCH were the words of William B—, as he lay upon his dying bed.
He had lived a religious life, attended his church, and was known as a well-respected citizen of his town; but now he was about to pass out of time into eternity.
News came one morning to his sister that he was ill and wished to see her. Let us hear the story from her own lips: “I went and saw him, and found him sitting in an armchair, talking freely to one of his brothers of the things of this world. I spoke to him about his soul, but he would not listen; he turned the conversation into another direction. I felt very sad at heart, and after a few hours left. A few days later I received a letter, saying he was very ill. Again I went, and saw him for the last time. He was now in bed. His daughter and friends sat round his bed. I could see he was going.
“I again spoke to him about his soul, and to my horror those awful words rang from his lips, 'Too late! too late! I have lived for this world; you have to live for heaven.'
“Oh, father,' said his daughter, do not say that. You have been a good man. You have always gone to church. You are all right.' Ah!' said he, I know I am not all right. You have to live for heaven.'
“I spoke to him of the dying thief; how at the eleventh hour he got the forgiveness of his sins. I told him of the love of Jesus; how He bled and died for guilty sinners. But without effect. My time was gone, and I had to leave him; never to see him alive again.
“In a few days I received a wire to say he was gone, unconscious at the time of his death.
“Oh! how solemn. When I think of his mother's prayers, it makes my heart ache.”
Let us draw the curtain over this awful picture, and concern ourselves about your soul, while still for you this is salvation's day.
Let me bring before you three indisputable facts, and with them ask you three plain questions:
(1) YOU HAVE TO DIE—but when?
(2) YOU HAVE TO MEET GOD—but how?
(3) YOU HAVE TO SPEND ETERNITY—but where?
You admit that you don't know the day of your death, but at the same time, you do not think you will die just yet. Beware, lest God should say to thee, "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee." (Luke 12:2020But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? (Luke 12:20).)
Supposing He should, what about our next question? You have to meet God—but how?
Ah! those sins of yours, those secret ones will all have to come out there. You may have been like poor William—attended your church, done good, given your money to the cause, taught in the Sunday-school, possibly preached to others, and yet never faced things with God. I mean in plain English, you have never repented, and God says, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. (Luke 13:33I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. (Luke 13:3).)
But what about our next question? You have to spend eternity—but where? for you have either to spend an eternity in heaven or in hell.
I came across a man the other day who said there was no hell. That did not prove that there was none! A bad life is the strongest reason for wishing to deny its existence. Listen to the solemn words of Scripture: “In hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments." (Luke 16:2323And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (Luke 16:23).)
Oh! that God would give you to see, reader, what a wonderful Savior Jesus is, that you may never be heard to cry those awful words, "Too late! TOO LATE!”
“Turn and believe, this very hour,
Trust in the Savior’s grace and tower;
Then shall your joyous answer be:
Saved through a long eternity!”
E. W.