A preacher was addressing a number of railroad men, and telling them they should all believe in the Savior who said: "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life," the only way to happiness here, and heaven hereafter. He told them how suddenly accidents happened, especially in their line of work, and urged the expediency of being saved, and then if an accident should take place, and they were killed, he said they would "be in heaven in a jiffy," for the moment they were absent from the body, they would be present with the Lord.
Among the hearers were two men who were Christians, J. T. and J. S. At the close of the meeting they met, and the former inquired: "What did you think of the preaching?”
"I did not like his idea of going to heaven in a jiffy," replied the other.
"Just what I did like," said the first. "It was an odd expression, but one, which will not be forgotten, and praise God, it is blessedly true—instant death here to the Christian, would be instant glory yonder.”
Little did J. T. think that in a few short hours at most he would know the reality of the things spoken of—but so it proved. Very soon after they separated, he with his train was journeying toward the south. All went well until B. station was reached, when, as usual, they were shunted on to a siding to let the express, then due, pass. On it came and in a few 'moments had whizzed by and was out of sight. But from some cause or other, J. T. had failed in getting clear of its way in time, for between the rails over which the train had passed, he lay a crushed and lifeless corpse. A number gathered around and carried the body to a place of safety—the happy spirit had risen to God who gave it, and redeemed it by the blood of the Lamb.
On another taking up the work he had left he found beside the way bills, train journals, etc., a little hymn book, which, on being taken up, opened at a page where with a pencil a line was drawn around one verse, reading thus:
Fixed on this ground must I remain,
Though heart may fail and flesh decay,
This anchor shall my soul sustain,
When earth and heaven shall pass away,
Mercy's full worth I then shall prove.
Loved with an everlasting love.
And underneath the pencil line the words were written, "J. T.'s testimony.”
Reader, you may not have to encounter the perils of the railroad, still thousands die suddenly who are not called to meet this form of danger.
Dangers stand thick through all the ground To push us to the tomb, And fierce diseases wait around, No matter where we roam.
Seeing this is so, how important it is to be prepared! Are you? If not, I earnestly beseech you, delay no longer.
Do you honestly ask, "What must I do to be saved?”
Read again and again till you believe in your heart the following verse: "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16).