THE British Empire has of late been greatly moved owing to three sudden disasters to the Navy. The second of these misfortunes occurred in the Solent, when the American liner "St. Paul" rammed the second-class cruiser "Gladiator" off the Isle of 'Wight, resulting in the loss of twenty-seven lives. One of the crew, who had managed to reach land safely, recollected that he had left his money (₤30) on the vessel. He swam back, got it, but returning became exhausted, sank, and was drowned.
How sad! Almost saved, but not quite. He sacrificed, his life for a little money.
Does he not represent thousands who are doing the same to-day? Look around and see them eagerly absorbed with various objects, wrapped up in the passing concerns of life, utterly regardless of eternal issues, forgetting the soul's pressing interests. With some it is getting money. They say, whatever else we do, we must get rich. With others—a vast multitude indeed—it is pleasure, pleasure, PLEASURE. The devil is a skilled caterer; he has had 6,000 Years' experience in soul-deception, and well knows how to suit the desires of each heart.
Here is a young lady that thinks far more of the latest novel than of Christ and her soul's need. There is another fascinated with the latest fashions in millinery and dresses, while unmindful of the concerns of her imperishable soul. Many have been aroused to the importance of conversion, but they put it off to a future time, until, in hundreds of cases, it is too late. They lacked decision at the right moment, and so were lost. Yes, lost—lost to God and unending bliss. What an unutterable experience! May you never know it.
They heard the words of Jesus: "I am the door; by Me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved," but they never entered in. They may have been close up to the door, but failing to enter, perished. Oh! how much, both for time and eternity, hangs upon the decision of a moment.
Listen, there are eternal salvation and joy unspeakable inside the open door. All inside the Ark were saved, all outside were lost. Surely one of the important words for to-day is "decision." There must of necessity come a moment in our history, if we are to be saved, when decision is made, when the line is crossed, when the passage from death unto life is made, and the precious, undying soul committed to the everlasting keeping of the Lord Jesus Christ. Do you ask when that moment comes? I reply, when one gets to the end of one's own struggling and doings, and casting aside every other confidence, says from the depth of one's heart, "Jesus, I will trust Thee, trust Thee with my soul.”
This the great Apostle Paul did. Hear what he says: "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day." If you had ₤10,000 you would be most anxious to see it deposited in a place of absolute safety, and rightly so. Then, dear reader, how much more anxious you should be to know your soul is in safety, yea, in the keeping of Him who died to redeem it. Agrippa said to Paul, "A /most thou persuadest me to be a Christian," but history never states that the altogether moment ever came. Much better never to have been born than to die almost persuaded but not quite.
Methinks the bitterest ingredient in the cup of woe in perdition will be, "I might have been saved, but am not. I was almost a Christian, but not quite." "Remember Lot's wife." She stands out the everlasting witness of one who was almost saved, but not quite. She never reached the place of safety. Be like Moses. He knew the value of decision. When forty years of age, with a brilliant earthly prospect before him, he flung it all aside, determined to identify himself with the despised and downtrodden people of God, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. Beware, lest these solemn words be true of you— Almost saved—but—lost. E. M.