MY dear fellow, it would never do for me to think of those things. It would make me miserable, and I should not be able to get through the business of the day.”
So said a young man to me a few weeks ago, as I urged upon him the importance of giving heed betimes to his soul's salvation.
“But you do not expect to live forever? and the matter must be considered some day,” I replied.
“True," said he,” but I'll tell you my thoughts about it. I hope, before I die, I shall have a long illness, and then I intend to think of the subjects, and make my peace with God.”
“But should you be called away without a moment's warning," I answered," think what your state would then be.”
“I know it," he rejoined," but I must chance it, as thousands do.”
And so our conversation ended.
Perhaps, my reader, you are one of the thousands of whom this young man spoke, who are going to "chance it." If so, pause and listen! Is it so slight a matter in your eyes that you are going to chance whether you go to heaven or hell?
If so, you are playing dice with the devil.
The pleasures of the world and your precious soul are the stakes. You may enjoy the former, and vet be saved on a death-bed; but, humanly speaking, there are a thousand chances against you. Are you going to risk it?
The Bible tells of but one man who found salvation in his dying hour, and that was a crucified thief. This one case only is given that none may presume too much on God's long-suffering grace.
If you had invested your fortune in merchandise, to be shipped to some distant port across the seas, would you not insure it, so that you might not be ruined if the ship went down? And is not your eternal salvation of more value than many fortunes? “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:3636For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Mark 8:36)). Can you answer that question?
You will have to meet God ere long. If you stand before His bar unsaved, you will be bound hand and foot, and cast into outer darkness, where " there shall be weeping, and gnashing of teeth "(Matt. 22:1313Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 22:13)). MAT 22:1313Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 22:13)
“I cannot meet God," said a dying lady to a preacher.
“Madam," replied the preacher,” but you must.”
“Hide me, oh, hide me from God! " she said, clutching the coverings of the bed, and drawing them over her face, as if to screen herself from Him.
And you, unsaved reader, must meet God, too. Is eternity, with its unending happiness or woe, such a trifle that you can afford to treat it with indifference? Can you contemplate unmoved the terrible position of those who die without Christ? And you are without Christ now, and their portion would be yours, were you now to die.
Will you not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and be saved? Take the place before God of a lost sinner; it belongs to you; and then claim the lost' sinner's Saviour. Jesus is His name; oh, trust Him, turn to Him, now! He receiveth sinners, yea, the very chief. Let nothing hold you back. He has died for sinners like you. Your sins are great, but the value of His blood is greater.
Will you listen to this appeal, or shrug your shoulders, and callously looking the consequences of your rejection of Christ in the face, say, "I must chance it"?