He had not been an immoral man, this sick man whom I was visiting. Indeed he was quite the opposite: a kind husband, an indulgent father, and outwardly quite religious. He went regularly to the parish church with his family, but he never really had to do with God. The fact that he attended church had lulled his conscience, and he had been quite satisfied with his spiritual state.
Now he knew he was very ill and mere religious form no longer satisfied him. He knew that he must soon meet God, and he was not ready. To enter into the presence of God—unprepared! How dreadful! What folly to have spent seventy years in this scene, and to have left eternity out of his calculation!
On this visit I found some relatives had come to see him. I was shown in, and found the sick man evidently alarmed, believing that death was near. And well he might be concerned since he knew not whether the eternity before him would be spent in heaven or hell.
As simply as possible I brought before the poor lost soul the gospel of God's salvation. Earnestly I begged him to believe God's judgment on him as a ruined sinner, for "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23). He refused to see himself in such a hopeless plight, and constantly referred to his charity and morals.
“But you have sinned," said I. "Therefore you are a sinner. God's Word declares that Christ did the work that saves sinners. Therefore the living God also says in Titus 3:55Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5), 'Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.'”
“Do you not see it?" exclaimed his brother. He too had been listening most attentively to all I had been saying. "It is so simple; nothing could be plainer. Christ came to save sinners, and has finished the work, and therefore you have only to believe and confess Him and be saved.”
While I had been putting the gospel before the dying man, the brother had believed it and was saved.
Reader, will you not do the same? It is very simple. The Word of God says Christ did all the work. Will you believe it? Receive Him as your own Savior and peace that passes understanding shall be yours forever. It is so simple!
As far as I know, the dying man was never saved. If not, what an eternity awaits him! Seventy years he had lived where the gospel was preached, and then he died—perhaps unsaved! If so, he was forever shut out from God's presence in outer darkness.
Reader, will that be your portion for eternity?