WE stood on the seashore the other day, watching the return of the Walton lifeboat. Many an anxious one was there inquiring if any were saved. To our dismay only one was brought to shore, and he had perished on the wreck.
There comes a moment in every man’s life when God speaks for the last time. Such a moment had arrived for this poor sailor. He had, to all appearance, gone down into the hold of the ship to pray; for his lifeless body was found kneeling.
One of the lifeboat crew remarked that he had gone to pray his last prayer; and there can be little doubt that he had prayed his last prayer in this world.
What a moment! And has this, my reader, no voice for you? You are born for endless years, and today may decide your destiny. God is speaking, and this is what He says to you, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2)). Oh, that you would wake up to your soul’s eternal welfare! I beseech you, be in earnest, while the door of repentance is open to you.
Who can imagine all that it must have been to this poor fellow, whether saved or unsaved?
Was he a Christian? Then his little opportunity for confessing Christ was over; his day of self-denying service for his Lord was at an end. Who can describe such a look back, at such a moment? What mingled regrets and rejoicings!
But then, what a look forward! A few more heavings of the foundering vessel, and he would find himself in the presence of the One who had loved him and given Himself for him, beyond the wrecking storms of life’s little voyage.
Yes, if a Christian, he had certainly prayed his last prayer.
But if not, what a look back! Sins without number, unforgiven, rising like hosts of overwhelming foes around him; opportunities beyond count, recklessly wasted; grace slighted, salvation neglected, Christ rejected. While if he cast his eye forward, a day of righteous reckoning, a lost eternity! In such case, however, it would be hard to say that he had prayed his last prayer, except his last on earth. Did not the man in hell cry, “Have mercy on me”? He did. Not that it was of any avail. It was too late to pray to God, and utterly useless to pray to Abraham. Still he prayed.
Oh, dear reader, could I give you a taste of the unfathomable love of Christ expressed in dying for sinners on the cross I would do so! But words cannot express its immensity: it is infinite. Time will never measure its duration: it is an everlasting love. One thing is certain: you will either believe it now, or mourn over your unbelief forever. Your companions are, in such case, solemnly described in Rev. 21:88But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8), “The fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” “Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” (Mark 9:4848Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. (Mark 9:48)).
Be entreated by the word of God. Listen to its solemn declarations. “He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:18, 1918He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (John 3:18‑19)).
R. O. (adapted.)