Harry Morris was a splendid young man, well-liked, clever, upright and prosperous. He had a godly, Christian mother, but he himself was utterly godless. He even sneered at religion and those who adhered to it.
Harry was very popular with his fellow workmen and had become the leader of a group among them known as the "Free Thinkers." He was also an able orator; and at one of their meetings had made a highly spiced speech which had been received with uproarious approval.
In his discourse he had not failed to give a few side sneers at churches, the clergy, and religion in general; but, on his way out of the building the young man had come face to face with Mr. Elliot, an earnest Christian whom he had known from boyhood. Though he himself was a despiser of Christian profession, Harry recognized and respected the sincerity of his old friend's faith. He could see by Mr. Elliot's pained expression that he had heard his scoffing speech, and he tried to slip past him; but Mr. Elliot laid a detaining hand on his arm and said quietly: "God has given you an eloquent tongue., Morris,. and the power of rousing passions and guiding the thoughts of other men. May He forgive you the sinful use you are making of it. Perhaps someday you may be in terrible danger, caught in a trap. Then you will feel His hand and acknowledge His power—but it may be too late.”
These words struck a chill upon Harry's heart, and his elation and pride in his accomplishments fled for a time. However, humility was foreign to his nature, and about six months later our fine young man went gaily to work more pleased with himself than usual.
This was what Harry considered his masterpiece: a large iron safe intended to be built into the wall of a bank—a safe of immense strength and invulnerable to thieves. The locks had been partly designed by Harry himself; and unless one knew the full secret of the combination of locks, it could not be opened even with a key.
The bank manager had inspected the safe and, expressed complete satisfaction with it. On the previous day, the manager of the factory had also highly complimented Harry on his achievement, and finally put one of the two keys to the safe in his own pocket leaving Harry with the other one. He remarked as he did so that now no one could rob the bank but either himself or Harry. Indeed no one else had been allowed to see the working of the locks; but when all was completed that morning, the other workmen crowded in to see the masterpiece.
While the men were jostling around, Harry got into the safe to see if the hinges were working smoothly. As he listened for any possible grating of the metal, he pulled the door slightly toward him. Whether the immense weight of the door itself caused it to close, or whether someone unknowingly pushed against it, it is not known; but before Harry could prevent it, the door, shutting with a spring, slammed shut.
Instantly Harry knew that he was "caught in his own trap"! No one could now open the door except the factory manager who had the other key. Would the men think of sending for him?
The horror of his position gradually burst upon the imprisoned man. The air inside the safe was becoming close and heavy, and with this realization came the awful thought that he might suffocate before Mr. Wilson, the manager, was found. For some moments Harry was frantic. He beat on the door; he shouted; he fell back, gasping for air. Adding to his terror, Mr. Elliot's words came back to him: "Some day you may be caught in a trap! Then you will feel His hand and acknowledge His power; but it may be too late!”
There alone in the dark he stood face to face with God—and the hereafter. God had indeed laid His hand on him and made him know there is a God that judgeth in the earth.
The atmosphere in the safe was becoming stifling. A little longer delay and help would be too late! But listen! What precious words of comfort rushed suddenly into his mind, calming his terror and soothing his fears!
But how could he address a God at whom he had jeered? He knew now there assuredly was a God—a heaven—a hell! And he knew he deserved no pity; but, like those of old, he could only cry to Him.
For the first time in years he knelt as a penitent soul before the God of all grace. Leaning his aching head against the cold iron, he begged Him, if it were not His will for him to live longer, to forgive all the black catalog of his sins for Christ's sake. He then thought of his dear mother and her grief at his untimely death. Taking a notebook and a pencil from his pocket, he wrote as well as he could: "God bless you, Mother. I have asked God to forgive me.”
The throbbing in his head soon became unendurable pain, and Harry fell forward unconscious.
The next he knew was what seemed to be a hum of voices afar off—then a futile struggle to get his breath—a blinding light—a sinking down; and again unconsciousness. When he next opened his eyes he was in his own room, and his mother was holding his hand. "Oh, thank God, my boy! God has saved your soul in your fearful trouble.”
Harry was too weak to speak, but his heart followed his mother's voice as she gave thanks to God and prayed that the life He had given back might be used for Him. Under her tender care he soon began to gain strength, and in the quiet hours in his room he gratefully dedicated to God the life He had saved.
One evening a group of his friends from the factory gathered around his bed. Reverently he told them the whole story of his conversion in the safe. "And now," he concluded, "my whole future life is God's. I hope to spend it seeking to undo the harm to others that I have done.”
As the men listened, a quiet hush stole over them and one young fellow said: "Morris, you have come out of the very jaws of hell! But we can see that there is a God who hears and answers prayer. I, for one, will trust Him too, and believe His Book from this time on. I do hope you men will do the same.”
Trust! Believe! Will you not do this too, dear reader? These are days of sudden and awful deaths—"traps" everywhere abound—on the highways, at home, abroad. Eternity awaits you.
Are you ready to meet God? How will you face Him?