WHILE having a few days’ holiday in one of the Channel. Islands some months back, I was asked to visit a young man who was dying. He was only about twenty-six years of age, but had met with a serious accident, had undergone three very painful operations, all of which had been unsuccessful, and now, despite all the doctor’s efforts, he lay upon his bed, with his life just ebbing away. He had a young wife and two little children whom he was leavings quite unprovided for, and so poor were they that, being unable to buy linen to bandage the severe wound from which he was suffering, his mother, who was nursing him, and his wife, had actually torn up some of their own garments to supply his want.
Reader, you probably think that I have depicted a very sorrowful scene, and you think rightly, but you have not yet heard the other side of the story. I understand that when a painter wishes to throw a particular object into prominence he paints a very dark background in order that the theme of his picture may shine out in bold relief. In the same way I have given you the dark side of this short history in order that I may bring the object of this young man’s heart and affection into bright contrast with the surrounding gloom.
I went to the cottage as requested, and asked to see Dick R―, for such was his name, and ‘was shown into the room where he lay. He greeted me with a smile, and almost immediately I sat down by his side, he began to tell me about the One who was uppermost in his thoughts. That One was none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. He said, “When I was well and strong I was stiff-necked and rebellious, and would not listen to God’s warnings, but now in His grace and love He has laid me low, and has taught me in my sickness to turn to the Lord Jesus.” I had only a very short talk on that first day; every time I mentioned the name of Jesus his face beamed with pleasure. On leaving, I gave him a few books that I had in my pocket, promising to go again.
The next day Dick R― said he had read the books, and had enjoyed them very much, but he would not let them take the place which God’s Word had in His heart. He seemed to drink in the truth in great drafts, and his cry was, “What a blessed thing to know Jesus! I want to know more and more of Him. At first I thought that if I asked God to cure me I must get well, but now I see He must be glorified. He is able to raise me up if it is His will; if not, I shall be well with Him up there in glory. I can leave my wife and little children in His keeping; He died to save my soul, surely I can trust them to Him. I should like to tell all my friends about Him, but He knows best.”
Although, dear fellow, he could not publicly testify to His Saviour’s worth, it was through his instrumentality that both his wife and mother were converted. We had some hymns together, and prayer, kneeling on the stone floor of that humble little cottage, and I felt then, as I had never felt before so distinctly, the reality of God’s love and power. Christianity was no myth or dogma to that dear man’s heart, his Saviour was just everything to him. When we had to say good-bye, he said with a smile, “We shall meet one another again some day; if not down here, it will be when we are around Himself.” Shortly after I returned home I received a letter from a friend who knew dear Dick R—, telling me that he had gone to be with the Lord whom he so longed to see. I will give you a few lines from the letter: ― “All was peace. He was wishing to be gone and be with Christ. Two Christian neighbors were called in to see him about 12 P.M. They prayed together, then he wished them to sing one of his favorite hymns, he doing all he could to help them, and soon after passed away.”
Dear reader, my one desire in writing this short account is that you may see that “Christ is all and in all,” and that you may be drawn by cords of love to the Saviour in whom dear Dick R―trusted, and in whom through infinite grace I trust. He is worthy of our all. He gave Himself for us. God’s just judgment against sin was poured out upon His blessed head. He has risen victorious over death and the grave, and is now seated at God’s right hand, so that the believer can say: “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Reader, is He the object of your heart? I say it with reverence, “He is worth having.” If this be so, you can join in the following hymn: ―
“Jesus, the Holy One,
Thou art for me;
Long ere the world began,
Thou wert for me.
Long, before Adam’s fall
Bound me in sin’s dark thrall,
Maker and Lord of all,
Thou wert for me.
God of ETERNITY,
Thou art for me;
Fountain of Majesty,
Thou art for me.
Thou Who hast boundless power,
Living for evermore;
Thou whom Heaven’s hosts adore,
Thou art for me.
Jesus, Devoted One,
Thou wert for me.
Sin-Bearer, Smitten One,
Thou wert for me.
Shedding Thy precious blood,
Sinking in death’s dark flood,
Bearing the wrath of God,
Thou wert for me.
Jesus, Triumphant One,
Thou art for me.
Mighty One, Risen One,
Thou art for me.
Spoiled are the powers of hell,
Vanquished the terrible.
Thou hast done all things well,
Thou art for me.
Jesus, Exalted One,
Thou art for me.
Now on Thy Father’s throne,
Thou art for me.
Soon in those mansions bright,
Where faith is lost in sight,
This shall be my delight,
Thou art for me.”