On a gospel tour with a fellow Christian, I was waiting for the train that would take me away from a spot where many happy memories would be left behind. As we walked up and down the platform, my friend said: "Do you see that man over there? He brings to my mind a very sad story.
"My father and that man's father were friends. My father was an earnest Christian, but the other was unconverted. Many years ago there was a time of great awakening in this place, a real revival. My father's friend came at that time under deep conviction of sin. For some time he attended regularly a prayer meeting which was held every Sunday morning at seven o'clock. He evidently desired to become a Christian, and seemed 'almost persuaded' to be one. But at the same time he wished to prosper in the world—to make his fortune, as men say—and then to end his days in peace and plenty.
"The unsaved man was afraid that if he decided for Christ it would seriously interfere with his money-making plans. For some time he turned this question over in his mind, and was quite undecided as to what he should do. The Spirit of God was striving mightily with him, urging him to decide at once for Christ and thus to be assured of eternal blessing. Christian friends, and my father among them, warned him of his danger, and the awful consequences of delay. But in spite of these warnings and the Spirit's strivings, Satan used his desire for worldly possessions to help him postpone his decision for the present, urging upon him the hope that in the end a merciful God would receive him.
"Into this trap he fell. He turned his back upon the prayer meeting and the people of God. He knew he could not go on with Christ and the world at the same time except in hypocrisy. He knew this would only be adding sin to sin, so he determined for the time being to have the world.
"What a dreadful choice! But then, he promised himself, he would take Christ at the last, even though it might not be until he lay on his deathbed. He was by no means a wicked person; in fact, to all appearance he was a very good man. He conducted his business in a straightforward manner, and he was a kind and considerate employer. But he had made his choice. He had left God out.
"From a worldly point of view he got on very well. Everything he did seemed to succeed. The wealth he so longed for became his. His earthly hopes were realized. But what about the heavenly and eternal things? Satan whispered to him: "rime enough to think of those things later. You are not a bad man! Your intentions are good! There is nothing really to fear, for God is merciful. You will be saved at the last.'
"But Satan is a liar, and the father of lies. How mistaken and deceived the poor man was! While apparently in the prime of life, he was suddenly stricken with a cerebral hemorrhage. His case was immediately pronounced hopeless. Eternity in all its reality was upon him, and he was ignorant of its imminence.
"In this condition he passed into eternity. Apparently there had been no opportunity for him at the last to secure that salvation which Satan had led him to believe would be his.”
How solemn a thing it is to trifle with God's grace! Friend, do not stifle the Spirit's voice, for the day may come for you when your eternal sentence may be: "Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out My hand, and no man regarded; "But ye have set at naught all My counsel, and would none of My reproof: "I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh." Prov. 1:24, 2524Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: (Proverbs 1:24‑25).