"Sir, can a sinner eighty years old be saved?”
The old man who made the inquiry wept bitterly while he spoke. Gently the preacher inquired into his story, and received a sad account of the poor man's life.
"When I was twenty-one," he said, "I was roused to know that I was a sinner, a wicked man. But I stifled my conscience when I got with some other men who persuaded me to put off the matter of salvation.
"I decided to wait a while and then, after a time, I resolved I would put it off for ten years.
"At the end of that time my promise came to mind. However, I felt no great concern, and I resolved to put Christ off for ten years more. I did; and since then my desire to be saved has become weaker and weaker. Now I know I am LOST, and eternity lies just ahead.”
After talking with him for a while, the preacher, learned that the old man's thoughts had fallen into, a fatalistic groove. "No," he moaned; "nothing can do me any good—I have sinned away my day of grace." Patiently the man of God pointed him to the. Savior on the cross and the penitent thief dying at His side.: "But my day of grace is gone," wailed the old man, "and I am LOST!”
Again it was the happy privilege of this servant of Christ to tell the aged man of the patience and loving-kindness of Him who said to the eleventh hour suppliant: "This day shalt thou be with Me in paradise." The story of His grace broke the hard heart of: the old man. Weeping now for the Savior, crucified for him, the hardened heart was melted at the knowledge of His love, and the old knees bowed in amazed worship of Him who said: "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37).