THAT clock is wrong is it not?” said a railway passenger to the ticket clerk, as he hurriedly asked for a ticket to S—, seeing that it was past the time for his train.
“Yes, it’s like me,” he replied.
“Well, if you are wrong, I can tell you the way to get right.” For the passenger was a Christian.
“How’s that?” said the clerk.
“Through faith in Christ and His finished work.”
“It may be.”
“It is. ‘For there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved’. (Acts 4:12). If you are wrong, and want to be right, you must trust in Him. For He said, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by Me’. (John 14:6). I have been right for years, through faith in Him, and why not you?”
Poor young man, he owned he was wrong, but was apparently totally careless about getting right. Like thousands more, a sense of sin upon the soul, but without the knowledge of Him who could put it away, whose blood alone can cleanse from all sin (1 John 1:7).
Handing him, and another who was listening, a paper containing some precious text of Scripture, he left him with these words to catch the train, “And why not you?”
God alone knows what impression they may have made upon his soul. Many a sinner has been arrested on the downward road to destruction by a text of Scripture, or some pointed remark from a Christian on the subject of salvation.
And now, dear reader, let me put the same question to you. It is one of overwhelming importance. “And why not you?” Do not shirk it, but face it. “Why not you?” Do not apply it to your neighbor, but to yourself. Are you right? You know full well what I mean. Are you right with God, or are you wrong? Be candid, like this young man. He was wrong and knew it. But be not careless, I entreat you, about getting right. There is but the one Name, the one way. Jesus, the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6.) Have you believed on Him. “He that believeth on the Son bath everlasting life” (John 3:36).
Soon, very soon, we shall all have ended our career in this life, and then comes a never-ending eternity, with no clock to mark the passing hours. Time will have ceased. “The things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Cor. 14:18). Where will you spend eternity? If you are still wrong, and were to die wrong (and you might die today), endless misery and woe will be your portion. (Rev. 20:15). If you believe on the Son of God, you are right; right now, and right for ever: Everlasting life is yours; and the kingdom and glory of God your everlasting portion (1 Thess. 2:12).
Remember, “And why not you?”
ML 09/04/1904