Full text of Good Night or Good-Bye
Dr. Langdale of New York tells of a Christian businessman who was hit by a car and rushed to the hospital. He was told he had only two hours to live. Calling his family together, he spoke to each in turn.
“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 firstborn. 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.”
He turned to his oldest son. “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 next in line. He had gotten into bad company and bitterly disappointed his father and mother. The dying man skipped him and spoke to the youngest child, a beautiful young girl.
“Gracie, you have long been a song of gladness, a ray of light. When not long ago you surrendered your life to Christ, my 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 difference was all in your own 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 listened to the call of the Savior. 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 will 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 heartbroken 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.
“Behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).
“I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him” (Revelation 3:20).
“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” (Hebrews 2:3).
“What must I do to be saved? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:30-31).