ONE evening I sat down beside a young man, whom I had seen several times at the meetings, and I was anxious to know how it was with him in regard to Christ and salvation. So I entered into conversation with this young man about his condition.
"I know all you say to be true, but I cannot say I have yet trusted the Saviour as mine," he said.
"Is it not time for you to trust Him?" I said, "for delays are dangerous. We know not what a day may bring forth" (Prov. 27:11Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. (Proverbs 27:1)).
He acknowledged his need of coming to a decision in the matter, but there it ended. I missed him at the meetings for the nights that followed. Then one night, about a week after our conversation, I was astounded to learn that the young man had died, and been buried that afternoon.
“He died suddenly," said my informant, "and he said to one who called on him at his home the night before he died,
‘I did not settle that great matter the night I was spoken to in the hall. And now I am dying, and I am not ready.' "
"Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely," there was no response.
"I fear," said the visitor, "he died as he lived, a procrastinator."
How sad and how solemn! To know the way, yet not to take it.
Beware, dear reader, that you do not stop short of your personal salvation by halting short of Christ received ( John 1:1212But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12)) as your own Saviour. In this alone, is your salvation. Christ received, as the personal Saviour, and owned as your Lord (Rom. 10:99That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9)) is what God says brings His salvation to the sinner. And there is no other way for it. Receive Him now as your own Saviour before it is too late,
Messages of God’s Love 8/4/1029