“OH, Susie, do tell everyone to believe in Jesus whilst they are in health; entreat them not to leave it to a deathbed!”
These words were uttered by a lovely girl, scarcely sixteen years old. I can picture her now, as she sat propped up with pillows, and can remember how her anxious sad face touched me to the heart, as she kept saying, “I am afraid to die; how I wish I could believe! Do tell me what it is to believe.”
Satan tried to make her believe that, as she had refused to seek the Saviour when she was in no immediate danger, the Lord would not have mercy on her now. Up to this time poor Katie, in spite of her delicate health, would not give her precious soul one serious thought, although the Lord had blessed her with Christian parents, and several of her brothers and sisters were converted. She imagined that if she gave her heart to Christ, and thought about good things, she would never live to be a woman. She thought that all serious young girls were cut off early, and Katie did not want to die.
One physician after another was consulted, but still she grew thinner, and more fragile, and her cough seemed to try her more than ever. At last she herself suggested a change of air, and was soon on her way to the seaside, under the care of an elder sister. Just before she left home, I felt led to write poor Katie a letter, entreating her not to let Satan delude her with vain hopes of recovery, for I felt assured that her time was very short, and begging her not to put off seeking the Saviour. I heard that she was exceedingly angry with my letter, and said, “What a stupid thing Susie is! I will show her that I am not going to die.”
The change by the seaside seemed to do wonders for her, and she came home full of spirits and hope; but this did not last long, she rapidly became worse, and as death in all its reality came before her, she said, in great terror, “I am afraid to die.” I received a letter by the next post, asking me to come as quickly as possible, as dear Katie was so very anxious to find the Saviour. The dear ones around had told her how willing Jesus was to save her, but Katie asked, with Nicodemus of old, “How can it be?”
When I arrived, I found her in the state described at the beginning of this little narrative.
“It is very simple, dear,” I said; “I will read you the very words of the Lord Jesus.” (John 3:14, 1514And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:14‑15)). This, with many more precious passages of God’s word, were set before her, but the dear girl could not “set to her seal that God was true,” and so she remained in agony of soul, fearing every minute might be her last, and knowing that she was not saved. Earnest prayer was made on her behalf by several friends who visited her, and tried to make the way of salvation plain. Ah, how welcome such visits were now to poor Katie! A few weeks before, her heart was at enmity with God’s people, and she would have treated them with contempt, but now that an endless eternity stared her in the face all was altered.
Dear unsaved reader, let me entreat you to weigh this question seriously, “How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?” Do not leave thinking of it until you come to a deathbed; the pain of body will be quite enough to bear without the terror of meeting God in your sins.
Katie lingered, as the doctor had said she might, a little more than three weeks. I cannot describe what an agony of soul she was in all this time, nor how earnestly she would listen whilst we told her of the Saviour’s love; but she could not trust in Jesus. Just twenty-four hours before she died, God in His great mercy gave her peace. It was on a Lord’s day morning that she said to one who sat beside her, “What shall I do? I am afraid I never shall believe. Oh, what would I not give to know that I was saved!”
“What!” said her friend, “can you not rest your soul upon one of God’s promises? Do take this passage, ‘Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’”
Katie immediately said, “Lord Jesus, have mercy upon me, a sinner,” repeating the words three times, as loud as she possibly could. After this she lay very quietly for a considerable time, and when she next spoke, the said, “I can see it all now, I can rest in Jesus.”
The disease was making rapid progress; her friends saw a great change. I was again sent for, and arrived about two hours before she fell asleep. I need not tell you how delighted I was to hear Katie say, “I can trust in Jesus now, Susie!” She did not appear to have much joy, but was calmly happy, resting in the Lord, and so, in a few hours, she passed away to be with Him. S.P.