A few years ago the following incident occurred, forcibly illustrating the solemn truth of the words of the Lord Jesus, “What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36,3736For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Mark 8:36‑37).)
Mr. V. lived in London, and enjoyed a moderate income. He was a man of education, and exercised a certain amount of influence over the circle in which he moved. Brought up only with the outward forms of religion, he imbibed, when between forty and fifty years of age, a strong tendency to atheistic principles. He read many infidel books, and at last openly declared that he doubted the existence of God, and that he believed the Bible to be wholly untrue. Besides this, he denied the immortality of the soul, and frequently asserted that, “when a man died, there was an end of him altogether!”
Just at the time when these terrible opinions appeared to be firmly rooted in his mind, he received most unexpected news. His great-uncle, who had emigrated to New South Wales some years before Mr. V’s birth, but who had no communication with relatives in England after quitting the “old country,” and who was long thought dead, had purchased land, which, after the lapse of time, had grown very valuable. The property was situated in what had become the best part of one of the largest towns in New South Wales, handsome streets and squares having been built upon it. The owner had never married, and had died at a great age without a will.
Search was made for the “next-of-kin,” and Mr. V, the free-thinker, was discovered to be the rightful heir to the immense property, estimated at being worth more than a million of money.
On the receipt of this intelligence. Mr. V. determined to go at once to Australia, and take possession in person of his newly-acquired estates; and consequently preparations were made for the long voyage, Mrs. V. intending to accompany her husband.
The Asiatic cholera was at this time raging in the metropolis, and, before the appointed day for leaving London had al rived. Mark 5 was seized with that dreadful malady. In a few hours, symptoms of so alarming a nature set in, that the doctor dared not delay to tell the unhappy sufferer that death was very near.
The scene which then took place in that bed-room can never be effaced from the memory of those who witnessed it. It was as if a thick veil had been suddenly torn from the mental vision of the wretched skeptic, revealing to him the awful future—judgment, hell, and never ending torment! Where were now his often-repeated assertions that there was “no God?” Where were his infidel reasonings—his profane arguments? Gone, like a puff of smoke before the wind, in the presence of the dread reality—DEATH.
His cries of agony could be heard all over the house, and even by those who walked past it. He frequently exclaimed, “There is a God! I know there is, and I am afraid to meet Him! The pains of hell are upon me, and I shall soon be there!” In less than twenty-four hours after he was taken ill he was a corpse.
Oh! may this mournful history be a warning to any who are not saved by the precious blood of Christ—to those who are listening in any degree to Satan’s lies about the truth of God’s word! Serpent-like, he first tempted Eve to doubt what God had said, and is now, as a “roaring lion, walking about, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:88Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1 Peter 5:8).)
As a pleasing contrast to this dark picture, let me mention the case of a dear old Christian, whom I saw more than once in the infirmary of a London workhouse.
When rising to take leave of a poor, sick woman, to whom I had been reading, I observed an aged woman, lying on the next bed, looking very earnestly at me. “Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ, of whom I have been speaking?’ said I. Her worn countenance lighted up immediately, and drawing a small hymn-book from under her pillow, she opened it, and said, “Please read that,” pointing to the verse—
“The Saviour’s precious blood
Hath made my title sure;
He pass’d thro’ death’s dark, raging flood,
To make my rest secure.”
“Yes,” she said, with her feeble, trembling voice, “that’s it! He has made my rest secure! and all through His precious blood! I’m just lying here waiting—waiting to go up to Him in the glory!”
Dear old Mrs. Wightman! there she lay, without an earthly friend, but intensely happy in the love of God.
Oh! my readers, ponder these two cases. It is “the fool” who “hath said in his heart, NO GOD.” Such is the language of folly, of madness, whether in the heart, unexpressed, or on the lips, or openly avowed. To-morrow may be too late to make a decision, if not already made. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2).)—Selected.
ML 07/16/1899