Years ago some Nihilists came to live in a continental town. Unknown to themselves they had selected a Christian for their doctor. One day returning earlier than usual from his rounds of visits to his patients, he found one of the Nihilists waiting impatiently for him. "Do come," he was urged, "to see one of our women. She must be dying!”
A glance told the doctor that no medicine could be of any avail to the sick woman. Days, nay, hours, might be the measure of her earthly existence. What could he do? Ah! he could tell her of One who "so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
The woman's earthly existence was fast ebbing away; but there is a life beyond the grave, and God was sending His message of love and life at the eleventh hour. Would she receive it? It would be for her everlasting blessing.
Very earnestly the doctor spoke, not heeding the angry countenances of the bystanders. They were pacing up and down the room in their anger. At last, unable 'to contain themselves, they went outside to await the doctor. When he appeared they accosted him. "Sir," said they 'angrily, "we sent for you to heal her, not to tell her she was dying.”
“My friends," replied the doctor, "I have two things to say to you. In the first place, it was the Lord who brought me here! In the second place, I have spoken to her of eternal life and not of death.”
The men still looked 'fierce and threatening, but at this moment their chief stepped forward. Addressing his comrades he said, "Let the gentleman alone. You who profess to believe in nothing, what can you say to him? He knows everything, and he fears nothing.”
Ah! They feared death, though they professed to fear nothing. They could miserably attack God's servant who was seeking to bring a soul into contact with the only One who could take away death's sting.
Once more the doctor visited the dying woman. She had then lost all power of speech; but with tears in her eyes she took his hand and kissed it. He could only hope that the message had not been in vain, and that God in His infinite grace had bestowed upon her the precious gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Dear reader, do you have eternal life? Can you face death without a fear? Have you something to rest on for eternity which is outside this changing scene altogether? Remember, "The things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." 2 Cor. 4:1818While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18).