A preacher of the gospel sat one day in his room resting a little after a long journey. He had just begun to relax, however, when there came a knock at the door. At his "Come in," Mr. Greene, a well-known acquaintance but a determined infidel, entered.
There soon arose between them a lively conversation upon the things of God. Eternity formed the principal subject of their discourse. Suddenly Mr. Greene said: "You know, my friend, that I have often heard you preach, and that I have examined everything that I can find upon the subject. Still, all that I can say is, you are a Christian; I am an atheist, and neither believe in a God, nor a heaven, nor a hell."
"Very well," rejoined the preacher. "I also have heard your arguments, and have weighed carefully all you say. Now let me ask one thing of you: Will you do it?"
"Certainly, if it is in my power."
"Then promise me that on three consecutive nights, after you are in bed with the light extinguished, you will say:—`Eternity! Eternity! I must meet it! Where? God I will not accept; in heaven I do not believe; hell I deny. WHERE am I going?' "
Mr. Greene promised and left. That night he put out his light, got into bed, and repeated loudly: "Eternity! Eternity! I must meet it! Where? God I will not accept; in heaven I do not believe; hell I deny. Where am I going?"
The next night Mr. Greene felt—he didn't himself know why—that he must leave the light burning while he repeated the words. The third night it was worse. An extraordinary feeling came over him. Strange thoughts rushed into his mind. A choking sensation seemed to seize his throat. Taking courage at last, however, he began in a low voice: "Eternity! Eternity! I must meet it! Where?"... he faltered; he found it impossible to say, "God I will not accept." He sensed the presence of a holy, righteous God who in wondrous grace and love had caused a light to spring up in his darkened soul. After a long pause he stuttered out, "Where am I going?" His guilty conscience answered: "You are going into hell." He knew the scripture: "The wicked shall be turned into hell." Psalm 9:1717The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. (Psalm 9:17).
The solemn words resounded in his inmost soul. Restless and troubled, he passed a sleepless night and longed earnestly for the day. But the morning light did not bring peace. On the contrary, his anxiety increased every hour. Gladly would he have gone to his friend to seek relief, but his pride held him back.
The next night his soul-anxiety was so great that he could not be content in bed. He wandered aimlessly to and fro in his room, and as soon as day broke, he hastened off to his friend's house. Briefly he told what had occurred, and then asked anxiously: "What shall I do? Or rather, what can you do for me?"
"Nothing," said the preacher, looking steadfastly at the floor. "Nothing."
"What must I do, then?"
"Nothing," was the answer, "nothing at all."
"What! Do nothing, when I am so distressed?"
"No, nothing," said the preacher in a gentle but firm voice as he stood inflexible before his friend. In his heart he thanked God, but outwardly he showed no sign of concern. He wanted the poor man to perceive and understand his utter helplessness so that God might work in his soul. He knew that God is the best teacher.
Astonished and dismayed, Mr. Greene gazed at him for a moment, and then burst out: "Can you, in the presence of my terrible anxiety, stand quietly before me and say that you can do nothing for me? You, a Christian,—and I, an immortal soul on the road to hell! Can you say nothing else than 'I can do nothing for you?' "
"Yes," quietly answered the preacher, "I can do nothing for you; I am only a poor, weak, helpless creature like yourself. You can do nothing and I can do nothing. But"—he pointed upwards—"I can tell you of One who can do something, and that One is God. He can do everything—yea, He has done everything! He has sent His only Son into this world to die for such miserable, sinful creatures as you and me. He has judged Him on Calvary's cross in our stead, and now the joyful news for you and for every sinner is, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.' "