During the first great war of 1914-18, an officer of a certain regiment while walking, noticed a line of people, and being curious to find out what they were waiting for, he went up to the front of the line, and found they were trying to obtain tickets for seats in a theater, where some popular play was being presented.
As he passed by the door, two of his fellow officers came out, and seeing him, greeted him, and one of them said, "Just look at the crowd! A lot of them will be disappointed, for they told us inside that there were only a dozen or so more seats left.”
"A dozen more seats left!" When there would be no room for any more!
Has it ever occurred to you, reader, that there will come a time when there will only be a "dozen or so" more places left in heaven, before the Lord Jesus will come in the air to take His own to be with Him?
Suppose an authoritative, unimpeachable informant were to bring you word that there were only twelve vacant places left in heaven, and that when these were filled by those on earth accepting God's offer of salvation, no more would be received, and that the Lord Jesus would at once come for His own; what would you do? Would you stay idly by, and say,
"O, I will take my chance"?
Would you not rather make sure of your own place, and then hasten to warn those near and dear to you, of their impending danger? If you believed your authoritative informant, of course you would do this very thing, and rightly so! You would be in real earnest, and would do all you could to persuade your loved ones to lose no time, but to accept God's offer of salvation, while there was still time!
Dear reader, while you are reading these words, is there any "authoritative or unimpeachable informant," who can tell you that there are any more than a dozen places left in heaven? Remember! the time is coming, and we believe, very shortly, when the number of the redeemed will be completed to the last one, and then the door will be shut, and the day of grace will be over forever!
Are you in the happy position of having your place secure and certain, in that abode of joy and happiness? If you are, what about your friends? Must they be left out for lack of warning?
And if you yourself are not in a position of security, why do you delay?
If there are at this moment, only a "few places" left, these may be taken at any moment,—and what then? Think of it, friend, then act upon it, at once, without delay; and when you have one for yourself, tell others!
And how is this place obtained? Read what Paul told a man who was in a great hurry, and who thought he had not long to live. This man asked Paul, "What must I do to be saved?" and the answer was, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:30, 3130And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:30‑31). Just as simple as that, and it is just as simple today and for you!
The man in question asked, heard, believed, received, and then gave proof of sincerity in his actions, all within the space of a very short time, and you can do the same! He did not wait till the following week, or even till the next morning, but there, and at once, at midnight, this man heard the message, believed it, and went on his way rejoicing.
Dear reader, just ponder for a few moments what your feelings would be, if you, knowing of God's gracious offer of salvation through Christ Jesus, and neglecting it till some future time, should suddenly find out that the Lord has come, and you have been left behind! If you will only think this over seriously for a few moments, surely you will realize the terrible and unnecessary risk you are taking with the welfare of your immortal soul!
The Spirit of God urges you to enter that place of safety, at once.