ON the August Bank-holiday, two young men went for an excursion to a well-known seaside resort. Being fond of the water, and good swimmers, they engaged a boat for the purpose of bathing. After a time pleasantly spent in the water, they got into the boat, and one commenced to dress. The other young man, however, was anxious to again plunge in, but his friend sought to dissuade him, remarking that he thought he had been in long enough. However, he was determined, and replied, “Harry, I will have one more dive, if I dive into Hell for it.” He took the fatal plunge, and never rose to the surface again. Oh! imagine the horror of his friend, as he stands at the side of the boat anxiously gazing into the water hoping to See his companion rise again! But in vain; for the last dive has been taken! All that rings in his ears are the awful words, “Into Hell!” “INTO HELL!” Mournfully he gets to shore companionless, still only hearing the voice of his late friend saying, “INTO HELL.”
Very shortly afterwards he came to a gospel meeting, where it pleased God to show him his need of a Saviour, and where, when he was saved, he told the incident himself.
Reader! this is a solemn warning to you. If still unsaved, you are on the same road as that poor young man. Often have you received earnest warning to tarn from your evil ways, often have you been exhorted to “flee from the wrath to come.” The Holy Spirit has often been striving with you, bringing home to you your sins and the consequences of your sins, and often, it may be, you have made up your mind to be a Christian “some day.” But inwardly you have said to yourself, “One dive more. One dive more into the pleasures of the world! One more dive into sin! Only one more dive!” Oh! beware, I beseech you, of thus trifling with the living God. Your plunge into sin may be eternally fatal.
Long has God been calling to you, and beseeching you to be reconciled. Long has He been telling you that “He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance,” and you have always resisted His loving pleadings, and solemn appeals, and you are still diving into the pleasures of sin.
As you read this paper I pray you pause and consider where it will all end, and no longer close your ears to the divine word of Him “who commandeth all men everywhere to repent.”
Repent while still there is mercy. Repent while still the precious “blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” Repent while still the Holy Spirit strives with you. Repent, I say, ere yet that time shall come when He shall say, “Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out My hand, and no man regarded ... ..I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh.”
I can tell you now of a full and free salvation through the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ upon the cross. I can tell you now of a complete pardon for every sin, offered through the atoning blood He shed — through simply trusting in that blood — and I can tell you of God’s entire satisfaction with the propitiatory work of Christ, in that He hath raised Him up from the dead, and seated Him at His own right hand in glory.
From that “excellent glory” speaks the voice of Him Who once died for sin — the voice of love and mercy—bidding you turn from your evil ways and live, and assuring you of a perfect welcome, if you only put your trust in Him.
Let not the call be in vain. Say not yet again, “One more dive,” but in the presence of such wondrous love lift your eyes and heart to heaven, saying, “Christ for me.” God grant it may be so!
P. H. B.