IT was at the close of a hot summer day, on the outskirts of an inland town in Victoria, Australia, that my friend and I wended our way to the house of a Christian, where we were to hold a gospel meeting.
On account of the heat it was decided to have the meeting out-of-doors, beneath a wide-spreading pine tree. It was a novel scene. From the branches of the tree a lantern was suspended, which shed its light upon the preacher, and the few immediately in front of him, for whom chairs had been brought out. Behind them, in the gathering darkness, stood about twenty others, young and old, gathered to hear the blessed story of the cross; and still further back were a few who stood as though ashamed to come boldly forward, and yet desirous of hearing the message.
Very simply that night the preacher told again of God’s wondrous love in preparing a way of escape from coming judgment for the sinner; and very earnestly he reminded his hearers of their need, urging them to come now to Him who said, “I will abundantly pardon.” “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isa. 1:1818Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18)).
The service closed, and one and another were spoken to as they departed to their homes. The little company had almost dispersed when out of the darkness I heard someone say, “I am not decided.” Looking round I saw a woman, just past what is called the prime of life. She had been pointed out to us before the meeting began as one who had been under the power of the Divine Word, and had also passed through deep affliction, her husband having died quite suddenly a short time before.
Perhaps the knowledge of these facts added to the pathos and earnestness of the preacher, as he told out the story of God’s measureless love, and pressed the immediate acceptance of His eternally completed salvation. Grasping her hand at the close of the meeting he had asked, “And now about yourself, have you accepted Christ as your Saviour? Will you make a full surrender of yourself to Him, the blessed One who died for you?”
Turning from him she replied, “I am not decided.” What a marvelous reply—not decided! She had been a witness of and a sufferer from the uncertainty of life; God had brought death very close home to her. She had heard that night of One who, loving her perfectly, would care for her all through this sin-stricken scene, and receive her into eternal rest (Matt. 11:28-3028Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28‑30)). She believed all this too; she was no doubter; she had even, like Felix, trembled at the Word. But now when pressed she was not decided.
Alas, it is a common reply, so common that we little notice its appalling indifference to God’s love, and utter insensibility to the sinner’s condition and need.
If you, dear reader, are one of this class, “almost persuaded,” yet not decided, just for one moment look at the position, and may God give you to realize its solemnity.
God’s Word declares “all have sinned” (Rom. 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)). “There is none righteous, no, not one” (Rom. 3:1010As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (Romans 3:10)). “The soul that sinneth it shall die” (Ezek. 18:44Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die. (Ezekiel 18:4)). “After death the judgment” (Heb. 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)). Judgment here does not mean trial as to guilt or innocence, but the awful and eternal condemnation of the finally impenitent. This is the sinner’s position, and hence his deep need of this, God’s remedy.
Listen: “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)). “This is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:33And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (John 17:3)). Do you not see the solemnity of your position, under sentence of death, awaiting only the final execution of God’s sentence? To you, yes, to you, guilty and condemned, comes the word of sovereign mercy, and, in the name of His Son, God offers you a pardon full and free (read Acts 13:38, 3938Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38‑39)).
No work to do, no merit required. “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 3:2424Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (Romans 3:24)). Will you turn coldly away from such a glorious message, saying, I have not decided yet?
“Oh, turn ye, turn ye, for why will ye die,
When God in His mercy is coming so nigh?”
This hour may be your last; angels may well weep at your folly, and Satan laugh at your most mad indifference.
Some years ago we spoke to a young man, well known to us, about his need of salvation. He admitted his need, acknowledged the importance of salvation, and even owned he desired it. But to all persuasion he replied, “I cannot now decide.” Years passed. Going home late one night along a railroad track he was overtaken by a train, and, without a word of warning, or time for a single thought, was caught by the engine and hurled off the line. All who saw the accident expected he was gone into eternity, but God most wonderfully preserved him, and although severely injured he recovered, and regained his health and strength.
While on the hospital bed prayers went up from many hearts that now God having so signally spared and arrested him he would heed His Word and rest in His love. Some weeks after leaving the hospital we were together at a gospel meeting, and he seemed moved under the Word. On our way home we again pressed him to make a full and unconditional surrender of himself to Christ, alas, alas, only to hear again that chilling reply, “I cannot decide.” Oh the sadness of it!
Jesus died to save you. God waits to be gracious to you. We, then, as ambassadors for Christ, beech you. You mean to be saved at some more convenient time, but you put it off again and again. God has said, “Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.”
J. B.