One in a Million

 •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 5
Listen from:
Dad's oldest brother spoke sadly, "I never thought he would be the first to go."
"He was ready, Uncle Jess," I replied quietly. "He placed his trust in the Lord many years ago." I waited a moment then continued, "Maybe this is God's way of warning others in the family who aren't ready to meet Him."
"Well, maybe so," he muttered.
Seizing this opening I asked, "What about you, Uncle Jess. Have you ever trusted the Lord and His finished work on the cross for your salvation?"
"No," he frankly admitted, "I'm not good enough. Someday I'll get my life straightened out and take care of it."
He was already 78 years old!
"God doesn't expect you to be good to come to Him," I replied, "He just wants you to admit you
need Him as your Savior and allow Him into your life."
He shook his head and repeated, "Maybe someday..."
I couldn't forget our conversation and a few weeks later I wrote my only letter to him. In it I expressed my concern and ended with the following illustration.
One dark night a ragged man peeked into a window of a brightly lighted house. Well-dressed people around a banquet table laughed as they enjoyed their feast. The man crouched by the window pressed his hand over hunger pangs gnawing at his stomach.
Suddenly, the door swung open and the owner of the house stretched out his hand in welcome. "Come on in, Friend! I saw your face in the window."
"Oh, no," gasped the frightened man as he shrank back into the shadows; "I don't belong here!"
The host assured him that he would soon feel at home but the man protested. He wasn't properly dressed. His would-be host offered him a suit and use of a bathroom. He even promised to stay beside him but the man still hesitated.
What would you have done, Uncle Jess? Would you think anyone foolish to turn down such a good offer? Read on.
YOU are traveling through this world of spiritual darkness. If you could look through heaven's windows, you would see a beautiful home where there's never any darkness. If you knew there would be no sorrow or pain, no more death, no tears and no hunger, wouldn't you think it a wonderful place to live?
Jesus gives the invitation, "I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved." John 10:9.
You told me you needed to clean up your life first. But you can't do it! God says, "All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." Isa. 64:6. His Word teaches that we're saved through faith in Christ, not by good works.
So if you refuse God's offer of eternal life, then you're among the following: "Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." Rev. 20:15.
Would you, would ANYONE, be so foolish as to choose hell when he could be in heaven? Each one who has not trusted Jesus Christ is already on his way downward. UNBELIEF is the sin that keeps a person from heaven.
Don't be offended at my "preaching." My guess is that after age 80, only one in a million ever changes and turns to Christ. The decision is yours, Uncle Jess.
He never answered my letter, but God used it and other circumstances in his life during the next two years. When I saw him again at the age of 80, Uncle Jess had become one in a million!
What about your decision? No one is guaranteed 80 years, or even one year. NOW is the time to accept Christ as your Savior.