I HAVE seldom heard of a more touching or triumphant “departure” than that of F. P. B., a boy about ten years old, the child of Christian parents, from whom he had learned to value “the Holy Scriptures” even from infancy; but it was not until September, 1881, after hearing the gospel at the Public Hall, that he made any profession of being saved―a profession which those around him had every reason to believe was genuine.
On a Wednesday morning in December last, he was going with a younger brother to school, when he slipped and fell, but was immediately on his feet again as if nothing serious had happened. The next day, however, he was in considerable pain, which the fond hands of his mother, and subsequently the more skillful aid of the doctor, failed to relieve, and which increased without abatement to the end; but not a murmur nor a word of complaint passed his lips. “Mother,” said he one day in the midst of his sufferings, “I want to go home.” She replied, “My darling, you are at home,” “Yes,” he rejoined, “but I mean I want to go home to Jesus.” What a genuine ring this desire has about it; it is one of the sure indications of a soul really converted; it wants to “be with Christ” Thus the demoniac, in Luke 8, long under Satan’s power, and presenting one of the most abject pictures of human misery ever seen, when rescued by the Son of God from the tyrant’s hands “prayed Him that he might be with Him.” Thus Saul of Tarsus, the blameless Pharisee, yet withal “the chief of sinners” and fiery persecutor of God’s saints, when madly bent on his murderous errand, was met by the victorious and glorified Saviour on the Damascus road, and there and then confessed Him as “Lord.” He too desired “to depart and be with Christ.”
A few hours after Fred was looking very happy, and on being asked what he saw, said, “I see Jesus; and He has on Him, King of kings and Lord of lords.” Glorious sight, my friend, was it not, for this young disciple with pain-racked body on the verge of eternity? But say, Have you seen Jesus? for it is inevitable that you must see Him either here or hereafter, as Saviour now, or Judge then. Today He speaks in accents of purest richest grace; in eternity they will be exchanged for the thunder, tones of unsparing wrath. Oh, turn you with the eye of faith straightway to that blessed Victim uplifted on yonder tree of Calvary, martyred by men, deserted by disciples, abandoned by God! And as you gaze upon Him, and listen to His agonizing cry, “My God, my God, why past thou forsaken me?” learn that nothing but that mighty sacrifice could meet the desperate need of your guilty soul, or the just claims of the throne of God. But remember you must meet Him. “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him;” from this there is no escape. Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, deceived the Syrian captain and eluded all detection until “he went in and stood before his master,” and now eye to eye with the man of God, his sin is brought out to daylight and fastened forever upon him. (2 Kings 5). What an awaking for you, if you die unsaved, to find yourself face to face with the Searcher of hearts, who has “set your secret sins in the light of His countenance,” all of which will then be reflected in the spotless purity of the “great white throne,” from thence to pass to the dark and flaming dungeons of the lake of fire.
But let us return to the bedside of our deal young friend. On being asked if he would like a hymn sung at his grave, he replied, “Yes ‘Christ the Lord will come again.’” “And so He will, dear boy, and you will be among ‘the dead in Christ who rise first;’ corruption exchanged fox incorruption, and we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with you and them to meet the Lord in the air.” (1 Thess. 4.) Blessed hope! wonderful meeting! “Surely I come quickly” are the parting words of Jesus.
Dear fellow-believer, in view of this cloudless prospect you may wipe away the tears of bereavement and sorrow for the loved ones gone before. “He that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” So says the child of God, and heeds not the scornful question of the scoffer, “Where is the promise of His coming?” nor the deceived cry of the empty professor, “My Lord delayeth His coming,” but awaits with upturned face, girded loin, and burning lamp the speedy-coming Bridegroom. “They that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut.” Alas, then, for the sham religionist whose voice will help to swell the wail of lost souls outside the closed door― “Lord, Lord, open to us.”
“What will you do without Him when He shuts to the door,
And you are left outside because you would not come before;
When it is no use knocking, no use to stand and wait,
For the word of doom tolls through your heart that, terrible ‘Too late’?”
Another wish of the dear boy’s was to see some of his school-fellows ere he departed. To one who came he said, “Robert, I want you to come to Jesus, do come to Jesus, will you?” and then bade him “Good-bye” quite cheerfully. May his parting desire be gratified, not only in his youthful companion but also in the unknown peruser of these lines, to whom “being dead he yet speaketh.” “Come to Jesus”―not to church, chapel, or meeting, baptism, sacraments, or reformation, but to Jesus, the crucified, glorified, and coming One. Come to Jesus for pardon, peace, eternal life, divine righteousness, and endless glory, and come now. Time is brief, the Judge is at the door. Oh, the madness of delay when thy soul trembles in the balance, and everlasting life and death are at stake! Hearken not, I beseech thee, to the foul breath of Satan as he whispers, “Not yet,” “Later on,” “Plenty of time,” for full well he knows that these are the wreckers’ fires which have allured thousands before you on to the rocks of eternal woe. “Now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation.” Decide then at once for Christ, and declare yourself forthwith on the Lord’s side.
“Now! now! now!
Tomorrow too late may be;
O sinner, with tears of contrition bow,
Confessing Christ died for me.”
The brightness of this dear young believer continued to the close, his very face shining with a luster that no earthly influence could have produced. “Don’t cry,” was his sympathetic word to his mother, “you know I shall be with Jesus;” and embracing his parents he said, as he drew them to him to kiss them, “I am so happy! oh, it is so nice!” and on being asked the reason, he made answer, “Because I know I am saved.” A while after another of his young friends called, and though unable to speak to him himself, he desired his mother to point him to Christ. His last words were, “I SEE JESUS,” and then was with Him. We shall meet him again “on the cloud” when the blessed Master comes, Reader, will you be there?
ALF. M.