Now Is the Day of Salvation

 •  4 min. read  •  grade level: 7
 
A young man who had finished his studies in medicine and had been appointed to the staff of one of the large hospitals, was one day called to the bedside of a dying man who had been a porter, and although still young and of a robust constitution, he had been seriously injured by a heavy lifting. He thought at first the trouble might pass away and so continued at his work, but after two days, unable to keep up any longer, he had to be taken to the hospital.
Our young doctor with other medical men of the hospital were soon at his bedside—an examination revealed the fact that he had received a fatal injury and that the poor man had only a few hours to live, he seemed already to be losing consciousness and human skill could do nothing for him.
What could be the thought of the young doctor in remaining by his bedside after the others had gone away? Had he some secret hope of yet being able to save him? No; but he was a Christian, and he thought of this soul which was about to enter eternity. Was it saved? And if not, how could he, in so short a time, make the truths of grace and salvation understood? He lifted up his heart to the Lord and asked that He Himself might give the suited word.
"Do you know Jesus Christ the Savior?" he asked the dying man.
A slight movement of the head was the only response he received, but it gave him to understand that Christ was unknown.
"Ah!" said the young doctor, "the Word of God is the only thing able to reach him." And he repeated very slowly in the ear of the poor man: "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
Three times in succession he repeated the words without addition, but there was no indication that the dying man had heard them. He left him without any hope of seeing him again alive. He returned the following day and as he had anticipated, the porter was dead. His sister was weeping beside his bed; she had arrived shortly after the doctor had left him.
"Did your brother say anything before his death?" he asked her.
"Ah! sir," she replied, "he could hardly speak; but at the moment of his death he opened his eyes and looked upwards—I put my ear to his mouth and heard him say: "'The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.'" 1 John 1:7.
Who can say what passed between God and the soul of the dying man during those hours when no living being could communicate with him. It may be that the Lord revealed Himself to him as He had done to the thief on the cross.
How infinite the grace of God which can thus bless the word at the last moment for the salvation of a poor sinner!
But, dear reader, I implore you, do not delay in putting yourself under shelter for eternity by coming to the Savior.
"What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?”
Who knows if God may not be saying to you:
"This night thy soul shall be required of thee.”
There is not always a deathbed where one can have the time or the necessary faculties to think of eternity and salvation. It was perhaps the first time that the poor porter had heard the message of grace, and have you not heard it many times? But if it is the first time, O! come without delay for fear that it may also be the last, and that not having received the good news, "now," it may never return. There will not always be a tomorrow to which you can defer your decision—and what a decision! Even for eternity. O come now today—today—now—all is ready, pardon, peace and eternal life—from the glory which Jesus has entered, after having shed His blood for you, He is now calling you; do not turn away from Him.
Come, believe and live.
"It is the blood that maketh atonement for the soul." Lev. 17:11.
"In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." Eph. 1:7.