Dr. Langdale of New York tells us of a devoted Christian business-man who was struck by an automobile and was rushed to a hospital. He was informed he had only about two hours to live. His faith was implicit in the goodness of God hereafter. He called his family to him and thus addressed them: “Good night, dear wife. Through sunshine and shadow we have walked together. You have been my inspiration in everything I have undertaken. Many times I have seen the Spirit of God shining in your face. I love you far more than the day you became my bride. Good night, dear, I’ll see you in the morning; good night.”
“Good night, Mary. You are our first-born. What a joy you have been to your father. What a Christian you are, Mary; you will never forget how your father loved you. Good night, Mary, good night.”
“Good night, Will. Your coming into our home has been an unmixed blessing. You love the God of your father. You will continue to grow in every Christian grace and virtue. You have your father’s love and blessing. Good night, Will, good night.”
Charlie was the next. Charlie had fallen under evil influences and grievously disappointed his father and mother. The dying man skipped him and spoke to the youngest child, a beautiful young girl.
“Good night, Gracie. Gracie, you have long been a song of gladness, a ray of light. When not long ago you surrendered your life to Christ your father’s cup of happiness was full to overflowing. Good night, little girl, good night.”
“Good-bye, Charlie.” He then called Charlie to his side. “Charlie, what a fine, promising boy you were. Your father and mother believed you would develop into a noble man. We gave you all the opportunities we gave to the other children. If there has been any difference you yourself must admit that the difference was all in your favor. You have disappointed us. You have followed the broad and downward road. You have not heeded the warnings of God’s holy word. You have not hearkened to the call of the Saviour. But I have always loved you and love you still, Charlie. God only knows how much I love you. Good-bye, Charlie, good-bye, good-bye.”
Charlie seized his father’s hand and between sobs he cried out, “Father, why have you said good night to the others and good-bye to me?”
“For the simple reason that I shall meet the other members of the family ‘in the morning,’ but by all the promises that assure us of a reunion, by those same statements of God’s word I can have no hope of seeing you ‘over there.’ Good-bye, Charlie, good-bye.”
Charlie fell on his knees by his dying father’s bed and cried out in agony of his soul, praying God to forgive his sins.
“Do you mean it, Charlie; are you in earnest?”
“God knows I am,” said the heart-broken young man.
“Then God will hear you and save you, Charlie, and it is good night and not good-bye. Good night, Charlie, good night, my boy.” And he was gone.
Charlie is now a preacher of the Gospel.
The foregoing account of the bright home-going of this dear man was sent to me by a friend, and in passing the incident on, it is with earnest prayer that it might reach the hands of many “Charlies” who are making their way down the broad road to destruction.
“Behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2)
Oh do not let the word depart,
And close thine eyes against the light!
Poor sinner harden not thine heart;
Thou wouldst be saved, why not tonight?
Now, if you as a helpless sinner before God, have believed with all your heart, have accepted the Lord Jesus as having suffered on the cross for all your sins and been raised again for your justification, then Christ in Heaven is the One in whom you now stand (Ephesians 1:20, 2:6; Romans 5:22By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:2)). You have eternal life now (1 John 5:1313And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place. (John 5:13)). You are carried on the Good Shepherd’s shoulders, and He will never let you down until He has you safely home (Luke 15:66And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. (Luke 15:6)).
You have become a fellow member of His body, the true church, joined to the Lord by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13). And now on our way Home, He delights to have all His own gathered unto Himself, “without the camp” (Hebrews 13:1313Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. (Hebrews 13:13)) — in His name alone — (Matthew 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20)) — until He comes to take us all Home to be with Him and like Him, ever in the glory to His eternal praise!
He and I in that bright glory
One deep joy shall share;
Mine, to be forever with Him
His, that I am there.