DURING the summer of the year 1887, I became acquainted with a man whose employment led him constantly into public houses, and, as a result, he became addicted to strong drink; he rarely spoke without swearing, in fact, it had become quite a habit, with him, and although he had a rough exterior, he was really a kind hearted man. “No one’s enemy but his own” — a photograph of tens of thousands. Is it a photograph of thee, reader?
As the summer waned I saw that a gradual change was coming over him; he began to look worn and tired. When October arrived, with its chilly air, I perceived the change was more marked, and I felt sure that death had selected him as one of its victims. Meeting him one day, I inquired after his health. He said he did not think that he should ever get well again. I spoke to him about his soul; he listened patiently, and then said, “Excuse me, I must go home, I feel so bad.”
I called upon him the following Lord’s day, and found him much weaker, read part of the 3rd chapter of Romans, dwelt especially upon verses 19 and 23, telling him that, as all the world had become guilty before God, for “All had sinned,” that he was included in the “all,” and then prayed that God would open the eyes of his mind, and show him his true condition.
Pressure of business prevented me from seeing him again until the following Saturday, when I received a note from a neighbor, stating that the poor fellow was worse, and wished to see me. I found him very ill. He said, “I’m glad you have come; I have been waiting to see you every day. I was afraid I had offended you.”
I assured him that he had not. He appeared truly penitent, owned what a wicked man he had been, and hoped God would have mercy upon him. I read John 3:14-18,14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18He 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. (John 3:14‑18) and prayed God that as He had shewn him what a great sinner he had been, He would now be pleased to show him what a great Saviour Jesus was.
The following evening I found him much worse. The hectic flush, the hacking cough, the short but difficult breathing, and the profuse perspiration, all told me that his end was near. I inquired as to his soul’s welfare. He replied,
“I’m not afraid to die now; my blessed Lord has died for me, praise His name, and tho’ I’m not suffering pain, I wish He would come and fetch me.”
We joined together in thanking and praising God for His rich grace to him — a poor, guilty, hell deserving sinner — in saving him in the last hours of his life. I left, to see him again no more on earth, as the next day he passed away. Yes, a convicted sinner on the Saturday, saved and rejoicing in the Lord on the Sunday, and absent from the body and present with the Lord, who had died for him, on the Monday. What a blessed change for him!
Reader, are you able to say from the bottom of your heart, as before God, “I’m not afraid to die?” Yes, you may be able to say that, but can you also say, “My blessed Lord has died for me?” If so, all is well; if not, then remember, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Are you prepared to meet that appointment? As sure as you are reading these words, so sure will the time arrive when you will have to leave this world forever, but, where will you spend eternity? It will be either with the Lord in glory, or with Satan the Deceiver and all those he has deceived, in the lake of fire (Rev. 20:10-1510And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 11And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:10‑15)). God’s, love is towards you. He “so loved the world,” and that includes you, “that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever,” and that includes you, “believeth in 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)).
Believe the Word of God, and next, in the work of Christ. Read. John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24); Set your foot on that, there is a solid foundation for your faith to rest upon; rest not on your good works, or on your feelings, but on the Word of God, which abideth forever. W. C.