An able young lawyer sat at his desk scanning the pages of an important "brief." He was soon to appear before the court and defend the case of a wealthy client. While thus engaged he received a message that an aged aunt of his was thought to be dying, and she greatly desired to see him. Hastening to the station, he caught the train for the town where his aunt was. He arrived late, but in time to see his aged relative alive. The dying woman grasped his hand tightly and her lips moved, but no sound came. Bending close, he heard her whisper: "Henry, I beseech you, do not lose your soul!”
These were the last words she uttered. In a little while her soul was in eternity and Henry was left to pass a restless night. He could not forget the faint whisper of his aged aunt whose voice he would never hear again on earth. In the still hours of the night the words sounded again and again in his ears: "Henry, I beseech you, do not lose your soul!”
He reviewed his past life. There was nothing outwardly wrong: no glaring sin; no debauchery; no ungodly living. But he had lived for self. His business, his pleasures, his enjoyment of the world filled his days. There was no time for God, for his soul, nor for eternity. He was making money. His name was prominent in his profession and his future was bright. He was gaining the world; but without a doubt he was losing his soul.
There are thousands doing the same thing: they live for self; they die at ease; they wake up in hell. As God speaks the truth, they are damned forever. Why? Simply because, to them, eternity means nothing, the world means everything, and God is not in all their thoughts. They care not for Christ; they have no time, no desire for heavenly things. So they pass into eternity as they live in time—without God, and without a title to heaven.
The next day the young lawyer stood in court, his "brief" in his hand, and presented his client's case. But his thoughts were on another scene. He was thinking of that coming day when he would stand before the Judge of all the earth, with no one to plead his cause.
During an intermission he sought a quiet room. There, alone with God in these strange surroundings, he cast himself as a guilty sinner upon His mercy, pleading only the precious blood of Jesus. And there the ever faithful Savior of sinners received him and saved him for eternity. When he appeared again in the court a new luster sparkled in his eyes. The burden had rolled from his heart, and he stood before God accepted in Christ. He had peace.
"My friend, I beseech you, do not lose your soul!" "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Mark 8:3636For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Mark 8:36).