R― G― was a fine, handsome fellow over six feet in height, and in his twenty-first year. No one would have thought to see him that he was the victim of a disease which was soon to end his days. During the summer he had gone on with his work as usual, although sometimes feeling out-of-sorts, when he would remark that there was surely something wrong with him.
At the same time God was working in his soul, causing him to think it was not well with him there. He attended several evangelistic meetings in the neighborhood, and stayed behind to have a personal talk with the preacher. But something was in the way, and R—did not decide for Christ then. But God did not give him up, and He has His own ways of working.
R—grew seriously ill, and after being laid up at home for a week, it was advised that he should go to the infirmary, which he did on a Monday afternoon, being conveyed in an ambulance a distance of twenty miles, his mother and the doctor accompanying him. On arrival, it was found necessary to perform an operation at once. This was only for temporary relief, and another of a more serious nature was intended to be performed in a few days’ time. In the meantime his mother returned home, assured that there was no immediate danger and every chance of her son doing well, her intention being to come back on Saturday.
How was it with R—? Only God knew how short his time here was, and how soon he would be in eternity.
Reader, do you know how long your time may be, or how near to eternity? What is the question of greatest importance regarding your soul? Is it not “What must I do to be saved”? Does not your soul’s eternal welfare depend on the settling of that great question? Let me warn you not to put it off. If God has been speaking to your conscience, making you feel there is something wanting, get down before Him about it, be in earnest, and God will show you what you need.
But be prepared to take the low place, and God will let the light shine in and reveal to you your lost, ruined condition. It will make nothing of you, as it did of Saul of Tarsus when light from heaven shone on him and Jesus’ voice spoke to him. Where was the proud, self-sufficient Saul then? He was on his face on the ground and trembling; he was brought down to nothingness; but the light revealed Jesus to him. When the scales fell from his eyes Saul (who was afterward called Paul) had a new outlook, he had henceforth a new object to live for, another Man before him, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Dear reader, does it not look to you as if it would be worthwhile to be brought down to nothing to get God’s Man before you, and to find everything in Him?
But to return to R—in the hospital. You will see how the grace and goodness of God comes out in his case, but it does not mean that you can put off this solemn matter till your last moments. You miss all the joy of living for Christ in doing so. You cannot settle the matter too soon.
At R—’s request a friend called to see him on the Tuesday, and she was told he was doing as well as could be expected. His father came on Wednesday, when he was still the same. Another friend called that same afternoon, and, having an interest in his soul and hardly knowing how it stood with him, asked him did he not think that God was speaking to him since He had laid him aside in this way?
He answered, “Yes, I think that is so. He has thought far more about me than ever I have done about Him.” Only a few more words were said to him about the preciousness of knowing the Lord near in time of trouble, and of how He could make His presence and His sympathy felt. His interest was thoroughly awakened, and he asked, “When is J—coming to see me? I should like to have a talk with him about these things.”
His friend J—, having learned by this time the seriousness of his case, saw there was no time to lose, and called on his first opportunity on Thursday afternoon. R— was suffering a good deal of pain then, and finding it hard to bear. He was not able to speak much, but the all-important matter was come to at once. He seemed very eager to hear about God’s salvation, and asked that it might be made very distinct and plain. He was still clinging a good deal to his own self-righteousness.
J—had only about ten minutes with him, but, by the help of God, put before him in a simple way how Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost, and that He came, not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Isaiah 53:66All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6) was read to him— “All we like sheep have gone astray,” J—telling him that, no matter what sort of a life we had lived, we had all taken our own way. “But the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all,” that is, God has laid all our sins on Jesus.
R—replied, “I don’t understand right,” and in this state his friend J—had to leave him, anxious, but hopeful about him, seeing in him a real seeker, and knowing that God was working in his soul to produce these desires after Himself.
That evening R—was very ill, and on one of his friends calling to see him, he said, “I am going to die, I can never go on like this. Send word to my mother to come, send a wire, it will be too late to write.” It was thought now that it would be as well to do so, although it was not expected that his end would come so soon as it did. His friend stayed for some time with him. She had brought a few simple gospel books with her, and he wanted to have some read to him. He seemed to be drinking it all in like a thirsty man, and when finished said, “Read it again.” He asked had she been praying for him, and when told that she had, said, “That’s good; I have been trying to pray for myself, but am not able.” This friend left him with a parting word that Jesus had done all and left nothing for him to do but to trust Him.
At ten o’clock he was a little easier, and not suffering so much. During the night he became worse, and at three in the morning his friends in town were sent for. His friend J—and another went. J—said, “What are you resting on, R—?” He at once replied, “On Jesus Christ and His merits.” He was very low about this time, but was anxious to have something read to him. A little was read from a small leaflet, then several scriptures such as John 3:14-1614And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:14‑16). It was explained to him how Christ had to be made sin for us, and that “whosoever” included him. Then 1 Timothy 2:3-6,3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. (1 Timothy 2:3‑6) his attention being called to the word “all,” which left none out and included him, and also to the word “mediator.”
On asking him what he understood by a mediator, he said, “A man that comes between, and that is Christ.” Several times he said, “Oh, it’s glorious!” Other scriptures were read, but the one he said helped him most was 1 Timothy 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15)— “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” He dozed off for a little, and then on looking up he said, “Read that one again.” After being quiet for some time he was asked what he was thinking about. He said, “I was just trying to sing,
‘Just as I am without one plea.’”
J—left him about six o’clock, and a little later another friend came. She at once saw how changed his expression was; there was a satisfied, restful look on his face now. He said he had no pain, but was as weak as water. Not much was said, as R― seemed tired. Sometimes he would look to his friends and smile pleasantly, as much as to say it was all well with him. There was not much to be done but to watch now. One time, on his seeming to be roused up a little, Psalms 17:1515As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. (Psalm 17:15) was read to him— “As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness.” It being repeated to him, he took up the words himself and said them over, seeming to enjoy them to the full. Ah! R—was very soon to be with the One it spoke of. He got more inclined for talking again, and said, “I am glad I have got that business settled anyway.”
“A mind at perfect peace with God, is that what you have?” he was asked. “Yes,” he said, “and you have that too, haven’t you? Then there’s two of us.”
He was getting very anxious to see his mother now, and before she came was beginning to wander a bit; but he knew her at once, and almost his first words were, “Mother, I am a saved man, not a sinner.” That was about all he was able to say sensibly, as he became unconscious, and soon passed away.
Now, dear reader, just one word in closing. Does not this simple narrative speak to you of the uncertainty of life and the nearness of eternal realities?
The only way to get right for eternity is by coming to Jesus now.
“Life at best is very brief,
Like the falling of a leaf,
Like the binding of a sheaf,
Be in time.”
C. T.