SOME years ago two men were executed for murder. Their friends made great efforts to obtain a free pardon. They neglected their own business in their earnestness—they went from house to house soliciting signatures to the petition they had prepared. They were not ashamed to argue, plead, and even weep. But all seemed in vain. No pardon was forthcoming.
The awful day arrived. The murderers were led forth—their arms pinioned. The steps of the scaffold were mounted. The wretched men stood on the trapdoor, the ropes were adjusted, when suddenly the bell of the jail was rung violently, and rapid pounding was heard on its massive gate.
The sheriff, supposing that the mob in the street was making a demonstration, paid no attention, and the next moment the murderers were launched into eternity.
But the ringing and the knocking continued. A policeman was sent to quiet the disturbance. Opening the door, in rushed a messenger from the Governor bringing a reprieve, but it came too late.
Only half a minute too late, but it might as well never have been sent at all.
How many thoughts must have crossed the minds of those concerned in carrying out the execution.
If only the Governor’s messenger had been dispatched earlier!
If only the messenger had hurried more, and arrived sooner!
If only the sheriff had attended to the ringing of the bell at the jail gate at once!
If! ah, if! IF ONLY!
There we must leave it. But we turn from the sad scene we have described to another case of far deeper importance. Whose case is that? you ask. We answer: It is your own. If careless, indifferent as to your soul’s salvation, we warn you.
The if we have been considering is sad enough, but what shall be the bitterness of the if, if you find yourself in a lost eternity?
The sheriff did not know of the reprieve. If he had, he would have been a murderer himself to have carried out the execution. The murderers did not know of the reprieve. If the? had, they would have welcomed it with intense relief and exultant joy.
But you? An eternal reprieve is offered you. Again and again and again salvation is pressed upon your acceptance.
But perhaps you do not believe there is a hell. Perhaps you think that if you live a straight life all will be well with you in the end.
I repeat, What will be the unutterable bitterness of your soul, if you have to say in the lake of fire something like the following: If only I had believed God’s word!
If only I had not trusted to my moral life, but to the Saviour!
If only I had believed there was a hell to shun!
If only I had believed that I was a lost sinner!
If only I had received the gospel!
If only I had believed salvation was by faith in God’s Son, and not in my own strivings!
If only I had believed in the Lord Jesus Christ!
Oh! the anguish of those ifs—they surely will be the worm that never dies! May God save you from these terrible ifs.
Be warned, dear reader. Wake up from the lethargy of indifference. Believe no longer the devil’s lie that there is no hell.
Be in earnest. Seek God’s way of blessing. Does the earnest question come from your lips, “What must I do to be saved?” Hear the divine answer, and act upon it, here and now: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31).)
Could anything be plainer? And, mark you, it is God’s way of blessing. There is no other way.
Alas! Nowadays people are preaching many saviours. They will endeavor to put Christi no a level with Buddha and Confucius.
But it has been well said, that Christ will not take even the first place, He must have all the place.
How happily true this is, for He must have all the place since He has done all the work. There is no other Saviour.
Then, “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,” for there is no other Saviour, and no other way.
A. J. P.