One evening, as I was standing at the door of a hall where the gospel was to be preached, I noticed a little girl looking at me. When the others had gone in, I said to her, “Will you come in?”
“Not yet, sir,” she replied, “I will come in presently; but there is plenty of time yet.”
About a quarter of an hour after, I was again standing outside to keep the boys quiet. The same little girl came up to me and said, “Please, sir, may I go in now?”
“No,” I said, “there is no more room, the hall is full; you are too late.”
“But I was asked in only a few minutes ago.”
“I know you were,” I replied, “but you did not want to come in then. When I invited you, you refused, and now that you would like to come in there is no room.”
Dear children who read these lines, let me ask you, Are you like this little girl? do you say, “Plenty of time yet” to believe in Christ? Oh, be wise, remember what God has said in His Word: “Because I called, and ye refused, I have stretched out My hand, and no man regarded; I also will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh.” Prov. 1:24-2624Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; (Proverbs 1:24‑26). No doubt God has invited you many times. Have you refused? He has stretched out His hand and stretches it out still. Will you look? Listen to the Saviour’s gentle voice, say. ing, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28).
“All things are ready, come,
Tomorrow may not be.
Oh, children, come, the Saviour
waits This hour to welcome thee.”
ML 12/06/1959