“I NOW know I’m dying. If I knew I were not dying I should want the world and not Christ; but I’m dying, and will He have me?”
Such were the solemn words that fell from the lips of a young lady, as she sat and talked with the writer some time ago. She was about twenty-seven years of age, clever, had read much, had an intense hatred to all that spoke of eternity and Christ, and sheaved her hostility in many ways, even going out of her way to insult the Lord’s people. But now her life was nearly over. What is life!
Eternity stared her in the face. She had been the round of the doctors; but at last, reaching one who knew Christ, she heard from him the truth as to her state. Yes, she was dying—dying, too, without Christ, without hope. Her misery was intense.
Dear reader, have you ever looked eternity straight in the face, and asked your heart, “Am I ready to face it?” Life, with all its attractions, is soon to close, and then—eternity; and if still unsaved, that eternity means hell—yes, hell forever.
But to return to the subject of this paper. Weeks rolled on, bringing with them, for our young friend, increasing weakness and increasing unrest. The Scriptures, often despised, were now listened to with intense earnestness, and though they spoke on the one hand of the sinner’s ruin, enmity, helplessness, they told, on the other, in all their sweetness, of God’s wondrous provision for guilty man; of Jesus—His work, His cross, His death, His precious blood—which alone could meet all God’s holy requirements. But yet they brought no comfort, no rest, no peace to our now deeply troubled friend. Death, judgment, eternity drew near.
One evening, on my going into her bedroom, she said, “Oh, I had such a dream last night!” Her face was calm and peaceful as she told me the following:
“I thought I was standing on a pier; before me was a large globe-like vessel—a world. A plank stretched from where I stood to a small door in its side, and as I hesitated and looked I saw with horror it was a huge world of fire; and I shrank back, exclaiming ‘Hell!’ As I did so the plank fell into the water, and I distinctly heard a voice say, ‘Behold the Lamb of God.’ And then I awoke.” She lay back on her pillow, saying, “Yes, it’s ‘Behold the Lamb of God.’” God had spoken to her, and there she was simply clinging to Christ, and repeating those blessed words, “Behold the Lamb of God.”
Weeks passed on, the body growing weaker; but this truth remained. Time fled apace; but, oh! so slowly to her who was resting alone on Christ. Believing in Him, she longed to go to be with Him, and soon her desire was satisfied. During the few weeks that remained she wrote with her own hand letters of regret for the many rude words she had uttered in past days, and the ungracious actions she had shown to those that she knew were the Lord’s.
But oh! dear reader, have you found out your unsaved state, your state of enmity to God? Is thee any anxiety in your heart as to eternity? If not, oh! awake! awake! “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found”; while you can still be saved. Come in all your sin and weakness to Christ. He never yet sent one poor needy one away. He “will in no wise cast out.” He came from eternal glory to bleed and suffer and die for the ungodly, the lest, the helpless; naught else could meet your case. May God lead you, as you read this little paper, to put all your faith and trust in Christ, God’s Lamb.
J. C. P.