A GODLY father and mother had gathered their family together around the table to read from the large old Bible, as was their evening custom. The family worship being, over, the children were dismissed with “Good-night” blessings, and the younger ones were snugly tucked in their beds.
In a short time, the clouds of night had darkened the sky, and sweet sleep had closed the eyelids of little Harry. Dreams sometimes disturb repose, and God was thus speaking in warning to Harry’s soul.
He knew well the verses, “The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Tliess. 4:16-17.
He dreamed about His coming to call His own to be forever with Himself. He thought he heard the voice of the arch angel, and the trump of God. He thought he saw the Lord Himself descending from heaven and His glory filled the sky. From the midst of a white-robed shining throng, came the sound of His voice strong and clear; saying,
At the same time, from the earth there arose another company all clothed in white raiment also. The faces of some of these were known to Harry and he recognized them as they ascended to the cloud. Among the last of these were his loved parents. As his mother was rising to meet Christ, she gave one last, loving, never-to-be-forgotten look at her little boy. Terror seemed to fill his whole soul, and with one desperate effort he sprang towards her, seeking to catch the skirts of her white robe. But he missed her, and distance soon separated the mother from her boy. She was gone. Then the glory seemed to fade from the sky and in its place, heavy clouds were gathering. Harry now lay shivering with fear. He thought he had missed his last chance of salvation and dread despair filled his mind.
He knew he was a sinner. He knew that if unwashed from his sins he could never be in heaven with Christ. He had thought of receiving Christ as his Saviour and Master. Now he felt it was too late. Christ had come and he was left behind.
Rising up at length, he ran to his mother’s bed and found it empty and undisturbed. This confirmed his fear that she had gone. Falling down on to his knees on the floor he prayed, prayed that he might have one more opportunity of taking Christ as his Saviour.
At last, some hope rose in his mind as he thought that perhaps his father, and mother had not yet retired to their room. So down the stairs he crept and then to the outside of the kitchen door, where he stood and listened earnestly.
O! if only he could hear their voices. But no sound broke the silence but the solemn “tick-tack” of the old clock. What should he do? If they were there he should not like to go in for his face was tear-stained, and what could he say was the reason for his coming down from his bed.
The enemy of his soul, who desired to keep him his captive still, seemed to whisper to him, “Ask for a drink of water.”
With the thought of this excuse, courage came, and slowly lifting the latch he opened the door.
I he glad discovery was made immediately, that what he had seen was only a dream, for father and mother were both there quietly pondering over the Word of God.
Christ is coining. That of which Harry dreamed will soon be an accomplished fact. Christ will have taken all His own away to be with Him forever.
If He were to come today would you be found ready to go with Him? O! come to Him now. He will save you at once.
All who do not know Him as their Saviour, will be left behind, and He will say to them,
Messages of God’s Love 7/31/1932