"I have my seat." I turned towards the speaker to see whether I had heard correctly. She again said in a clear, firm voice, "I have my seat.”
I was not surprised at what she said, but at the way she said it—so clearly, so emphatically,—as only a few minutes before she had said, "My life hangs by a thread.”
And truly it did. The poor body had suffered long from tuberculosis, but today she had entered upon the last week of its earthly pilgrimage. One week later she was with the Lord. Just one year ago she had believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, and He, ever true to His word, had saved her soul. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31).
I had been accustomed for some months to leave on her chair on the front porch some gospel tracts. Lately I had been calling on her at short intervals and reading the precious Word of God to her. On this day, however, I had intended to go to the seashore for a rest; but the weather was so damp and cold, though it was now April, that I had to give it up. Praise the blessed Lord that it was so—He wanted one of His dear ones comforted in her distress, and this little paper to be written to tell of her confidence in His love.
I found her on this occasion alone on the couch in the parlor. Her husband was at his work, her three little children playing outside, and her mother busy with household affairs in the kitchen. She was suffering great pain and unable to sleep. I soothed her as best I could, and in a few minutes she fell into a refreshing sleep, while I went for her husband and the doctor.
That evening when we were all assembled around her, I was talking about that great supper (Luke 14:15-2415And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. 16Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: 17And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. 18And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. 19And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. 20And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. 21So that servant came, and showed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. 22And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. 23And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 24For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper. (Luke 14:15‑24)) which God has spread and to which all are invited, and at which every seat shall be filled. I had remarked that if we neglect taking a seat there, God will raise up someone to carry the gospel of His grace to the distant lands. Then they that hear shall believe, and shall fill those seats which the enlightened people of this country now despise. It was then that she remarked, "I have my seat.”
Oh, dear reader, don't let Satan cheat you out of a seat there. The invitation is to you and God says, "yet there is room." Don't let that power which you are unable to describe keep you any longer from going to God and asking for a seat there, because Jesus has paid the price in His own precious blood. Do you think He will turn you away? Never; He could not do it because He has pledged His unchanging Word, and because He has promised to "save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him." Heb. 7:2525Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25).
Yes, there is room for you at this moment, but I cannot say there will be for longer. Accept now. Just go to God and tell Him you are a sinner and want to be saved for Jesus' sake. You can then take your seat at that great supper. May God grant it for Jesus' sake.
"For ye know the grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ, that, though
He was rich, yet for your sakes
He became poor, that ye through
His poverty might be rich.”