It was a little cottage, a small company, and a young and untrained preacher. But the Spirit of God was there in convicting power, and as the speaker pressed upon his hearers the importance of accepting God's great salvation, the soul of one young woman was thoroughly aroused by the stirring question, "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?"
After the meeting, as she passed along the country road on her homeward way, these words were ringing in her ears, wakening the slumbering conscience and causing deep anxiety as to her eternal destiny.
But the devil, the arch-enemy of Christ and of our souls, was there, and at once set to work to hinder this precious soul from heeding God's warning yet loving voice; and he had a capital tool with which to work. The year end was drawing near with its round of gaiety and pleasure, and our young friend was to take no unimportant part in the plays and programs which were being arranged for the close of the year. She knew that if she confessed herself a follower of Christ, she could not consistently take part in these worldly entertainments. Accordingly, she endeavored to stifle the voice of conscience and forget the warning words she had heard. But this was hard to do. At the house where our young friend lived, the Christian host had placed on the dining-room wall a large text. There, to her dismay, she found the question she was trying to forget staring her in the face: "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?"
In spite of this earnest appeal to her soul, she still resisted. The weeks passed by, and the year end came with its round of merrymaking and fun and frolic. Though she did withdraw from an active part in it all, her conscience was not appeased. There was no pleasure for this sin-burdened soul. In fact, she confessed to a Christian friend that it had been the most miserable year end she had ever spent! Now, disillusioned with the world and all its sinful pleasures, the disappointed girl was in proper frame of mind to turn to the loving Savior, the Source of all true joy. In Him she found full satisfaction for her hungry soul and abundant goodness to fill her longing heart.
Reader, at this holiday time, you have doubtless received from many loving lips the kindly greetings of the season. But have you first received HIM who is God's unspeakable Gift? Do not neglect any longer His great salvation. If you will come as a guilty sinner to the Savior, you will find in Him the Secret of all true joy and happiness. Then you too can sing:
"O Christ, in Thee my soul hath found,
And found in Thee alone,
The peace, the joy, I sought so long,
The bliss till now unknown.
Now none but Christ can satisfy,
None other Name for me;
There's love, life, and lasting joy,
Lord Jesus, found in Thee."