THERE are not a few, I think, in these days who are precisely in the same state spiritually as these chief rulers spoken of above. They believed on Christ, but would not take a place with Him, because they dreaded the consequences, and it is for the benefit of such that I write the following true story.
A few weeks ago a young man, J. H., nineteen years of age, was dying. His work had been with horses on a farm, and some days previously he had got wet and chilled right through; inflammation had then set in, and there he lay on his bed dying. Now J. H. was the son of godly parents; he was their eldest son, too, and many a time had they cried to God for him, and many a time had they taken him to the preaching of the Gospel that he might be under the sound of the good news message, but up to that day he had never confessed Christ, and had never taken any place for Him in this world. He always was a good lad; by that I mean he did not swear or get drunk, &c., but he had never owned, even to his mother, that there had been any change wrought in his soul by the Spirit of God.
And now he was dying. How solemn! Only nineteen, a stout, hearty young man, and yet dying, and he knew it. He was come to the last day he had to spend on earth, and he was come to it many years before he or his relatives had in the least expected. And what do you think were the feelings of his father and mother at this time, they who had prayed so often and so earnestly for him, but had so little expected such a sudden blow? What could they do save bow to the hand of God in the matter and count upon His grace. This they were enabled to do, and were not to be disappointed. Not many hours before his death J. H. called his mother to his bedside and said: “Mother, don’t fret for me. It is all right with me; I have been a Christian for two years, though I have never confessed Christ. I was converted that night at H., when the preacher was speaking on John 3:16,16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) but I would not take a place for Christ, and now God is taking me away.”
He then called his sister to him, a girl of seventeen, and said solemnly to her, “Louie, I know you are a Christian, but you have never confessed Christ or taken a place for Him here. Take care, or God will take you away too, as He is taking me away, because I would not confess Him.”
Soon after this he fell asleep. I am thankful to be able to add that the sister has confessed Christ, and taken a stand for Him since her brother’s death.
Dear reader, if you are one who has never confessed Christ as your own precious Saviour, let this story speak to you. God has said it, that with the mouth confession is made unto salvation, and how sad it would be if, as in this case, a confession of that precious Saviour had to be, as it were, wrung from you, only a few moments before you pass out of this world.
“Help us to confess Thy name,
Bear with joy Thy cross and shame;
Only seek to follow Thee,
Though reproach our portion be.”
A. F. B.