It was growing dark. On a hill at the edge of the woods stood two persons peering down the road leading into the city. They were a servant of the Lord, and a young man seventeen years of age. Both of them were on the way to a nearby village, and were waiting for several Christians who had promised to meet them there and go with them.
The two had waited several minutes, when the young man's patience gave way. He said, crossly: "I feel like going on; it is awful to have to wait so long."
The older man, looking earnestly at the lad, said in a tone that he never forgot: "Yes, but there is One who has waited days, weeks, months, yes, many years, for you."
The younger man understood very well what the Christian meant. He hung his head in confusion, tears starting to his eyes. He had been attending the meetings for years, and knew quite well that he should accept the Lord Jesus as his Savior, but he had always been too indifferent about it.
On New Year's evening he had fully determined to turn to the Lord, but he wanted to wait until spring. Spring came and went, but the careless boy had not confessed the Lord. He had put off his soul's salvation again, and decided to wait to accept the Lord in winter, for in winter he thought he had a better opportunity of attending the meetings. But the whole year had passed, and now-?
Yes; the Lord Jesus was still waiting for this unrepentant one. If God had lost patience, and death had claimed the lad, how would it have fared with his soul? These thoughts passed through the young man's mind this evening, and for him there was no more rest.
That same evening he met with another young man, his friend, who was also out of Christ, and put the question to him: "Bob," he said, "When do we want to get saved?"
His friend answered: "I have been waiting for you."
"And I have been waiting for you," was the rejoinder. "But now you may or not. I don't intend to keep the Lord waiting any longer. Why should we not now accept the Lord?"
"Yes," said the friend, "if we are not in earnest about it now, we may never be saved."
Together they knelt before God and confessed their sins and earnestly called upon Him for salvation.
God readily hears everyone who calls upon Him from the heart. He opens His arms willingly to receive everyone who comes to Him in faith. That same night both young men found forgiveness of their sins, and peace with God through Jesus' blood. They are still happy children of God; but grieve for the days of their youth when they kept their Savior waiting.
How about you, friend? Do you still neglect so great salvation?