ONE EVENING a sailor, named Jack stepped into a gospel service in New York city. The preaching did not impress him much, and when the after-meeting was announced, he decided to leave the place and go to his ship. One of the Christians tried to talk to him about the “one thing needful,” but Jack was not to be drawn. The fact was, he thought that he had had enough “religion” for a night, and he walked toward the door. The Christian, observing his unwillingness to talk on eternal matters, gave him a card. The card was a peculiar one and, I may add, a startling one. The words were “If I Die Tonight, I will go to —.” On the voyage Jack was sick, and had plenty of time for reflection. As he gazed on the words of the card. “If I Die Tonight, I will go to —,” he became very uneasy and unhappy. Where, then, would he go? There were but two places — heaven and hell; and where would an unpardoned sinner have to go? Jack was not altogether ignorant of God’s holy Word, though he had but little desire for reading it. While looking upon It as a “Sunday Book,” he knew that, according to Its teaching he was on the highway to ruin. “If I die tight,” he mentally exclaimed, “I will go to hell;” and added, “But I will not go there; I will go to heaven: I will take Christ right here and now.” There and then he believed on Christ, who died for him on Calvary’s cross, and found peace with God.
ML-08/22/1971