A young woman was suddenly taken desperately ill, and when doctor saw her, she was told that she had not many weeks to live. How frightened she was to learn that she must soon appear before God, for she did not know Jesus as her Savior. She had been, as she said, a good churchwoman. Thus she had passed for a Christian, because she was regular in her attendance at church, took the sacrament often, gave liberally for religious and charitable purposes, and was well acquainted with what is generally known as the plan of salvation. "But," she said, "I have never thought it necessary to know a living Savior, nor to know from Himself that my sins are forgiven."
When a Christian lady went to see her, the dying woman explained to her this sad condition. Then she added, in hopeless anguish: "It is too late to seek Him now. I have had the form of godliness without the power of it. Now I am lost—lost forever."
In vain the Christian friend told her "God is love," and set before her the all-sufficiency of Christ to save her as she was, quoting 2 Peter 3: 9.
Sadly, the invalid wailed: "Too late. The gospel is not for me; it is for others. For me it is too late."
Her illness was running its course, and death, so dreaded, drew nearer and nearer. Her friend visited her often, and day and night ceased not to pray that the Lord would give her faith to believe.
When she was very near the end, she said: "Sometimes I think I could almost believe that 'God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life.'
"For me it has sounded in vain through a long lifetime. And now I can justify Him in saying, 'You have never cared for Me. You have been satisfied with Christianity without Christ. Only now, because you are dying, you come at the last moment in cowardice to My feet. Depart from Me! I never knew you.' "
Her friend, in great distress, cried silently to God to open her eyes to see Jesus as He is. Then she pointed out to her how sinful it was to speak against the character of love and mercy as seen in the Lord Jesus Christ.
"I have not said anything against His character," the sick woman replied, earnestly. "I have told you I could wholly justify Him in condemning me."
"You did not intend it, I am sure," replied her friend, "yet you have refused to take Him at His word. He has said, 'Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest'; and, 'Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out.'
"Now you say that, because you are weary and heavy laden, and are a dying creature, He says to you, as you stand trembling on the brink of eternity, 'I cast you away from your last hope... My promise is of no avail towards you.' I entreat you, never say that of Him again, for He is just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."
The light of God's word shone into her soul, and she saw the wickedness of her unbelief, exclaiming: "I never understood before what an injustice I am doing Him! What shall I do? My last sin is my greatest!"
In deep contrition she clasped her hands, and prayed, "O Lord Jesus Christ, I am so grieved; I am so ashamed! I have distrusted Thy goodness, Thy marvelous enduring love, Thy truth, Thy faithfulness. My unbelief in Thee is my greatest sin of all. Lord, I now believe; help Thou mine unbelief."
Faint and weakened with conflicting emotions and the exertion she had made, she turned to her friend, saying: "Perhaps now I had better thank Him for having kept His promise, for having forgiven all my sins. I will not doubt Him anymore. You say the words out loud, and I will follow them in my heart."
How gladly and thankfully her friend did as she requested! Thus together their praises ascended to Him who "turneth the shadow of death into the morning."
As they parted, perhaps for the last time, this newborn soul repeated this old verse:
"The soul that to Jesus has fled for repose,
He will not, He cannot, give up to his foes;
That soul, the' all hell should endeavor to shake,
He'll never, no never, NO NEVER forsake."