AND so he was, for he only lived a few more hours. “What a terrible accident!” “How very sad!” and similar expressions, were on the lips of most people in the quiet neighborhood of E―, South Australia, while the subject of these remarks was spending his last few moments on earth.
He had left his house in full health and spirits, gone down his own paddock, and commenced sawing a limb off a large tree which had been felled previously. He had not worked long when, without the slightest notice, the tree rolled toward him, and a branch, overhanging him as he sawed, struck him with a crushing blow, and left him helpless on the ground. For three long hours he lay there without any human aid.
One can just faintly imagine his experience as he lay in that lonely paddock, with the eye of God resting on him, knowing, as he did, that he had not long to live.
Terrible as those three hours were, I believe they were the most profitable hours he ever spent on earth, for
JESUS SAW HIM LIE THERE.
JESUS MET HIM THERE.
JESUS SAVED HIM THERE.
His wife, wondering at his delay in returning, went in search, and found him as before described. When she saw his poor pale face and helpless condition, she wrung her hands in bitter agony, while she cried, “Oh! William, I’m afraid you will die. Fly to Christ.” And as she spoke she stooped to hear his faint voice say, “It’s all right now, take me home that I may die in bed.”
We would like to have been near to comfort the poor woman, and do what we could for the sufferer; but how sweet to know that Jesus was there first! It is so like Him―the first to see, the first to run, the first to speak, and the only One who can bless and comfort permanently.
The sad tidings reached me in the evening, so I hastened to the scene. I had known William for years, and often had spoken with him about God’s love, Christ’s death, and the necessity of immediate salvation. But he still spoke, as many others do, as though salvation was only meant for great, big, black sinners, and not for people who go to church, say prayers, pay their debts, &c., though God says, “There is no difference.”
As I entered the room, a Christian who sat by the bed-side said to him, “Do you know who that is?” He looked long at me, ―for his eyes were getting dim,—and said, “Yes, it’s Mr. W―.” Bending over him, I inquired, “Is it well with your soul?” Clear and distinct was his reply: “It is well; I’ll soon be higher up.” I read a portion of God’s Word, and we prayed and thanked God for having saved his precious soul, and made him so happy, and for creating the desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.
Amidst the tears and choking sobs of the sorrowing friends could be heard his voice of thanksgiving and his “Amen” to our words of prayer. We parted, not to meet until, around our Lord Jesus Christ, we shall, with all the saved, together sing, “Unto him who hath loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood.”
Reader, if it had been your case, where would you be now? Is it well with your soul? However men may differ upon other subjects, all are agreed as to the certainty of death. “It is appointed unto men once to die” (Heb. 9). We believe this. Why, then, not believe all? ― “After death the judgment.”
It is a solemn thing to die and be buried; but there is something more solemn, and that is to be raised again in your sins. Don’t wait for some accident to decide you for eternity; you may be cut down without any warning. We sound in your ears this wholesome warning: “Fly to Christ.” There is no time to be lost. Your eternal destiny trembles in the balance. Heaven or hell―which? Jesus paid the sinner’s debt. Trust Him NOW as your Saviour, and you will be able truthfully to say―It is all right now, it is well; “I’ll soon be higher up.” J. J. W.