“How far is it to hell?” The profane question was asked of a policeman by one of three excursionists who, in a half-drunken condition, were sauntering along the board walk at a popular bathing beach.
The officer was shocked by the ungodliness of the youth, (whose companions evidently were ashamed of his conduct, for they apologized on his behalf). Looking the careless man full in the face, he said, “Hell is at the end of a Christ-less life, and you may be nearer it than you think. ‘Prepare to meet thy God.’”
This was more than they had expected, so, without a word, they turned and went away.
That night a lifeless form was picked up on the sea-shore; it was that of the scoffing excursionist. Hell was nearer than he had counted on, and he had reached it sooner than he had thought. Reader, do not forget that “Hell is at the end of a Christ-less life, and you may be nearer it than you think.”
If you die unconverted in your sins, you will be in that hell as surely as God has said it.
“Prepare to meet thy God.”
Years had come and gone since that sad incident, and like others of its kind it had ceased to be a warning to the godless multitude, who, for a time, seemed to be awed by the remembrance of it. The Christian policeman, still in the force, was accosted by a middle-aged traveler one afternoon on the street of that same beach.
“I don’t suppose you remember me,” he said, holding out his hand to the officer and grasping his warmly, “but I remember you, and specially some words you said many years ago in circumstances which you may still remember. Do you remember saying to three young men on yonder board walk, when confronted by one of them with the impious question—`How far is it to hell’?—
`Hell is at the end of a Christ-less life.’
You will remember, no doubt, the sad fate of that young man. I am one of the two who was with him that day, and I have often wished that I could see you again. The words you spoke that day never left me until I came as a sinner to Jesus Christ and received Him as my Savior. I praise His name that He took me as I was, a godless, guilty sinner, and saved me by His grace.”
The Christian policeman was made glad through this testimony to God’s saving grace, and the friendship between these two fellow-believers in the Lord Jesus, begun that day, continued through many years of Christian service.
I would repeat the policeman’s testimony.
It is as true now as then, and it may be as needful to you, dear reader, although you are no drunken scoffer, as it was to those young men long ago. “Hell is at the end of a Christ-less life, and you may be nearer it than you think.”