JOHN FLAVEL was a preacher in Dartmouth, England. One day he preached from the text, “If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema, Maranatha [accursed at His coming].” 1 Cor. 16:2222If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. (1 Corinthians 16:22).
Mr. Flavel’s sermon was most solemn. When he finished speaking he started to pray to God asking a blessing on those who were listening. He paused a moment and thought for a moment. Then he said, “How shall I bless this whole assembly, when every person in it who loves not the Lord Jesus will be accursed at His coming [Anathema Maranatha]?”
The solemnity of those words deeply affected the audience. One of those present was a young fellow named Luke Shut, about fifteen years old.
Shortly after this Luke left his home to go to America, where he took up farming. But the solemn thoughts produced by Mr. Flavel’s sermon were soon forgotten and he lived a life to please only himself. He went on in carelessness and sinful pleasure for eighty-five years!
He was now one hundred years old and God had so gifted him that even at that advanced age his mind was keen and he had such physical strength that he could still work his farm.
One day he was out in the field when his thoughts turned back to the days of his youth. His memory fixed on Flavel’s sermon and although eight-five years had passed he recalled much of what had been said. He remembered the earnestness of the preacher, the truth of what he had spoken, how it affected all who heard it. All came freshly to mind and then at last, after all those years, he realized that he did not love the Lord Jesus. Suddenly he feared the dreadful curse. He was a one hundred-year-old sinner and he would die accursed.
But Mr. Flavel had not neglected to tell of the free salvation that God offered. Now Luke Shut took his place as a lost and guilty sinner, cried to God for forgiveness, and he was saved. God in yet more goodness added sixteen years to Mr. Shut’s life and dung those years people could see that he really was a true child of God. At the age of 116, he passed away to be with the Saviour.
How old are you? How many years has God been speaking to you about the awful end of the path for lost sinners?
How wonderful the mercy of God to save Luke Shut at such an age! And yet it is a solemn thing, dear young friends, when the Saviour knocks on the heart’s door to say, “No, not now; I’ll wait till I’m older to be saved. I must have a good time first.” The Holy Spirit says, “To-day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” Heb. 3:7, 87Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, 8Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: (Hebrews 3:7‑8). Again, “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).
God doesn’t promise you a tomorrow. Death has taken many away while they were still young, and YOU may be the next. Most of those who found the Lord sought Him while they were young and their hearts were tender. Very few turn to the Lord in their old age, for the heart becomes hardened against Him through sin and indifference. But “those that seek Me early shall find Me.” Prov. 8:1717I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. (Proverbs 8:17).
ML-06/09/1963