A SHORT time ago a Christian gentleman was called to attend the deathbed of a relative. The dying man was one who had ever evinced kindliness and affectionate regard towards him, though utterly indifferent as to all thoughts of Christianity; he was, alas! like Gallio, who “cared for none of these things,” and a neglecter of God’s great salvation. But now that death was at hand, and that he knew he must soon receive that summons which it would be impossible to disregard―the summons which would usher him, all unprepared as he was, into the presence of was changed, for he felt he was not ready to die. So he hailed his friend’s arrival with great joy, and eagerly inquired of him what he must do to be saved.
Faithfully did that friend unfold to him God’s wondrous, blessed plan of salvation. There was no need to press upon him, his own helpless and lost condition, for he had already judged himself a sinner before the Lord, and owned God’s righteous judgment on his sin―in a word, he knew himself to be lost, and God’s time for blessing had come; but many things obscured his vision and hindered him seeing the glorious flood of light ready to stream into his soul. He knew he was a sinner and must have a Saviour, and he knew, too, that God was able and willing to save; but there was a link missing, for he could not say that He had saved him. And as he heard again and again of God’s wondrous love, he could only see his own unworthiness, and felt he must be too vile. In vain his friend assured him that God had said, “The blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanseth us from all sin;” in vain he read to him text after text.
For days he knew no rest, refusing to believe that God intended it for such as he, until, his friend happening to say, “In hope of eternal life which God, that cannot lie, promised” (Titus 1:22In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; (Titus 1:2)). He started up in bed, saying, “Oh tell me, tell me, is that in the Bible?” He was assured that it was, but insisted on having it found. The Bible was soon brought, and the blessed words pointed out. Then he lay back, muttering to himself, “God, that cannot lie, promised” he now appeared quite satisfied, and again and again referred to it with quite an air of triumph.
Very soon afterward the Lord called him away, but he never again doubted God’s simple message. He believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and was saved.
Dear reader, have you taken God at His word? If not, do so now. Remember, God cannot lie, and He has said, “The soul that sinneth it shall die” (Ezek. 18:2020The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. (Ezekiel 18:20)). Have you sinned let me ask you; if so, there’s no help for it, you must die. This dying man had sinned; but One had died in his stead, and God accepted that death for him, and will, too, for you, if you trust Him, for He has said so, and “cannot lie” (John 3:14-1814And 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. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:14‑18)).
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