I was out for a good time, and thinking only of the excitement of the races. Men were shouting and cheering their favorite horses, when all at once I felt a tug at my coat sleeve. I turned and saw a young man. He stepped close and whispered one word, “Eternity,” at the same time slipping a little tract into my hand. What a strange thing to say! I decided I would forget all about it.
I tried to enjoy what was going on, but could hear again and again that solemn word, “Eternity.” Only a month before my best friend had died very suddenly, and I could not help thinking of him as being in eternity. I knew that if he had been still alive he would have been with me at the race track. But he was in eternity.
I hurried home and read the gospel tract that had been given to me, and there I found that God loved me and wished to forgive me. I opened my Bible, which had not been used for a long time, and that very night I came to the Lord Jesus as a poor, foolish, sinful young man and accepted Him as my Saviour.
Stop now and ask yourself this question, “Where will I spend eternity?”
Life at best is very brief,
Like the falling of a leaf,
Like the binding of a sheaf,
Be in time!
Fleeting days are telling fast
That the die will soon be cast,
And the fatal line be past,
Be in time!
Time is gliding swiftly by;
Death and judgment both draw nigh,
To the arms of Jesus fly.
Be in time!
Oh! I pray you count the cost,
Ere the fatal line be crossed,
And your Christless soul be lost.
Be in time!
Sinner, heed the warning voice;
Make the Lord your happy choice,
Then all heaven will rejoice.
Be in time!
Come from darkness into light,
From the way that seemeth right;
Come and start for heaven tonight.
Be in time!
ML-02/10/1980