IT was much impressed on my mind that I should visit, at the earliest opportunity, J. S―, who was lying seriously ill in The London Hospital.
On Sunday morning I went to the hospital, but the hall porter told me that visitors were not admitted at that hour. I explained the urgency of my visit. Going into his office he drew from under his desk a large-sized slate, and finding my friend’s name thereon he passed me in. He told me it was called the “danger slate.” Only the names of patients, who were very ill, and nearing their end, were put on it, and he had authority to admit the relatives of such at any time.
I went in, and sat down at J. S―’s bedside, and though very weak and gasping for breath, he showed how glad he was to see me. I had known him some years, and also knew his mother, who walked in the fear of God and longed to see her son saved from going down the broad road with heedless companions.
He could only bear a very brief visit, so going straight to the point I repeated softly two or three times, those choice words from Romans 5:6,6For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6) “For when we were yet WITHOUT STRENGTH... CHRIST DIED for the UNGODLY.”
He said, “Yes, I’ve been ungodly.” He seemed to take in that he had spent his whole life on the broad road, regardless of God. As he only spoke of the last word, “UNGODLY,” I said, “But the Scripture says also, that we are” WITHOUT STRENGTH.”
He pondered, but seemed not to lay hold of the meaning of these words. Just at this point his nurse drew near, and I said to him, “Suppose nurse told you to lift the patient from the adjoining bed, and carry him through, that door into the next ward, could you do it?”
He answered, “Ah! I could not do it.”
The Holy Spirit used these simple words and enabled the poor man in his weakness to grasp what it was to be “without strength,” as far as obtaining his soul’s salvation was concerned. Speaking slowly and clearly, I said, “For such helpless ones as we are, with no strength, and ungodly, CHRIST DIED.”
He gradually took in the wonderful and precious message straight from the Saviour, and we are sure there was joy in heaven that Sunday morning over this repenting sinner (Luke 15:77I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. (Luke 15:7)), and joy on earth in the heart of his widowed and praying mother.
When leaving the hospital I felt sad at the thought of the numbers of men and women who leave the incomparably important matter of turning to God till the end of their lives; they know not what they miss. God offers them a present, perfect salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ, a present joy unspeakable and full of glory, and for the sake of a few passing hours of so-called pleasure, they run the awful risk of being “suddenly... destroyed, and that without remedy” (Prov. 29:11He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. (Proverbs 29:1)), and of sinking into a lost eternity, in outer darkness.
Some people profess conversion on a sick bed and when they recover it is manifested that it has been only profession. There has been no true heart-repentance towards God, which must come before there will be true faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for those who were sinners, ungodly without strength enemies.
“Time is gliding swiftly by
Death and judgment draweth nigh,
To the arms of Jesus fly:
Be in time!”