Mr. and Mrs. Evans, my next door neighbors, were thoroughly worldly people; they liked to "have a good time," and seemed utterly careless about their souls.
At last Mrs. Evans' health began to fail, and eventually she consulted a doctor. He pronounced her condition as serious and advised that she be taken to the hospital. There was no improvement and so she was brought home.
Mrs. Evans began to realize that the end of her life was drawing near. She knew she had only lived for this life and was not prepared to meet God. I was distressed at the thought that I had missed opportunities to speak to my neighbor about her soul and asked the Lord for another chance to speak to her of the Savior I knew and loved. After her husband brought her home from the hospital he asked me to stay with her while he was busy elsewhere, and this gave me the opening I wanted.
I found Mrs. Evans equally desirous of speaking with me. She said, "I am so distressed about my soul. You know the frivolous life we have led. I believe the Lord is speaking to me. We have had dancing parties here at our house and I always felt so ashamed, knowing you folks could not approve of this. Then you would go to your meetings every Sunday. I had joined the church once, but I know I was not saved; now I know that my sins are piled upon pile. Is there any hope for me?"
I quoted that precious scripture verse: "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Isa. 1:1818Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18).
"But will the Lord forgive me?" was her anxious cry.
"Yes, indeed He will," I replied, "for He came to this sin-laden world to 'seek and to save that which was lost.' He died on Calvary's cross, shedding His blood for sinners. He said when here on earth: 'Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." "
At this point her husband returned; and our conversation being ended, I left.
The next day was Sunday. Some of her worldly friends came to see her; but, simply greeting them, she turned away her face. They could give her no comfort for the dark hours ahead of her.
On Monday morning I called to see her. Her mother, a Christian, was attending her sick daughter. "Go, and whisper, 'Jesus' in her ear," she said.
I did, and the daughter turned to me in response, her face all smiles. "Oh, how sweet," she said. "The Lord has been so close to me ever since you spoke to me on Saturday. Yesterday I did not want to see my old friends, because I knew they could not give me any hope for eternity. Now the Lord alone is my hope and stay, and I have such joy and peace in Him."
Dear reader, how will it be with you when you leave this world. If you die in your sins, it will be to exist eternally away from God, in "the blackness of darkness forever." Jude 1313Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. (Jude 13). But if you will "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ... thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31). He suffered and died, His precious blood was shed that we by faith in Him might be saved, and enjoy in the presence of God "pleasures for evermore."