“YOUR maid confessed Christ just now,” said a well-known preacher to me one morning. He had marked her interest as night after night she had attended his meetings, and had sought an opportunity for a personal word. I knew of other influences struggling for the mastery with her, and rejoiced with trembling. It was as I feared; the mission came to an end, he went away, and, alas! her impressions vanished, the world pulled hard, especially the companionship of a sister about her own age. In vain we tried to win her, and pleaded with her to let Christ be first: she was almost persuaded, but—. Who shall say what her future may be? Even if she should be saved after all, think of the years she has lost, taken out of eternity, when she might have been sowing the seed that would have produced a golden harvest.
“Will you speak to A—? She has had a dream, and is anxious about her soul.” Soon the opportunity came. She had dreamed of the day of judgment, that she had been there, and unsaved. She wept as I pointed her to Jesus; we prayed, and I hoped she would decide. She seemed so near, almost persuaded, but—. In her case a lover stood in the way. He did not want her to be a Christian. What shall the end be? I know not. When I last heard of her she was more careless than ever. Oh, how dangerous a thing it is to be deaf to warning! How dangerous to stifle soul anxiety!
“Have you ever thought of giving yourself to Christ?” I asked a young man, and he told me he had thought much of it, especially since he had been at a special service some weeks previously. Once again I sought to tell out in his ear the simple yet lovely story of Jesus and His love, and besought him earnestly to yield himself to the Lord who had done so much for him. I need not recount all our conversation. In the end he said, “I have not heard it like this before, I must think it over.” He, too, seemed so near, almost persuaded, but—. Years are passing away, I cannot tell if he will ever yield. God grant he may!
Is it thus with you, my reader? If so, beware of being almost saved, for that is perilously near being altogether lost. What is it hinders you? — a sister? a lover? a friend? Bear with me while I tell you the solemn truth; they may keep you from Jesus, they may unwittingly compass your soul destruction, but they cannot save you. Today you may be saved, today the Saviour waits to bless you; but if once the barrier of time is passed over I can give you no hope. Delay not, then, but lend ear and heart to the words, “COME Now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord; for though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isa. 1:1818Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18)).
L. R.