"How far is it to hell?"
The question was asked of a police officer by one of three vacationers, who in a half-drunk condition were sauntering along the board walk at a favorite seaside beach.
Shocked by the ungodliness of the youth, and looking him full in the face, the policeman replied: "Hell is at the end of a Christless life, and you may be nearer to it than you think. Prepare to meet thy God."
This was more than the profane trio expected, so without a word they turned and hurried away.
That night the dead body of a man was picked up on the shore; it was that of the scoffing excursionist.
Years later, the Christian policeman still on the force, was accosted by a commercial traveler on the street of that same resort.
"You will not remember me, but I remember you," said the gentleman as he grasped the officer's hand. "Do you remember years ago three young fellows on yonder esplanade, one of whom asked you the impious question, 'How far is it to hell?"— and you replied:
"'Hell is at the end of a Christless life'?"
"You will remember, no doubt, the sad fate of that young man. I am one of the two who accompanied him, and the words you spoke that day never left me, until I came as a sinner to Jesus 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. And I daily prove His sustaining and keeping power."