ONE fine summer morning last year an invalid stepped into a railway carriage already occupied by an elderly lady. The effort of getting into the carriage caused the invalid to gasp for breath, and a violent cough shook her attenuated frame.
“Thou art suffering much, friend,” said the lady compassionately. “Hast thou been ill long?”
“For some months; but I am better now than at the beginning of my illness,” replied the invalid.
“Thou’rt no better,” interrupted her companion, in a decided tone.
“But my doctor tells me that I am better.”
“Then thy doctor deceives thee, young woman, for my experience tells me thou hast not long to live, so I bid thee prepare for eternity.”
So saying, the lady leaned back in the carriage with the air of one who had done her duty, while a smile of complacency rested on her placid countenance.
It was well for the poor sufferer that the loving hand of her God and Father upheld her, or the words so abruptly spoken might have been overwhelming. A faint flush passed over her face, as she calmly said, “Through God’s grace, madam, my preparation for eternity is made. It was not my own work, but the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, who became my substitute more than eighteen hundred years ago. By His stripes I am healed. I am ready to die, ready to meet Christ whenever He shall call me.”
“Thou’rt more presuming than myself, young woman, to be so sure of eternity. I am many years thy senior, and have sought to walk in God’s ways from my childhood; so take heed that thou art not led away by thy imaginings. Thou must work out thine own salvation, and not expect to insure thy happiness for eternity by such easy hopes as thou entertainest. How long hast thou held thy opinion?”
“Fourteen years ago, madam, I came as a guilty sinner to Christ, believing His own word, ‘Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out;’ since that time I have known forgiveness as to my past life, and a happy certainty as to the future.”
“Thou’rt mistaken,” said the lady hurriedly; “we must lead a good life and do our part by making ourselves as fit for heaven as we can; it may be then God will accept us at last.”
“I do not understand your way to be correct, according to the Bible,” replied the invalid; “but I sincerely trust that you may one day rejoice as I now do in knowing that you have eternal life abiding in you. May I ask your acceptance of these,” she continued, handing as she spoke some little books to the lady, “they will say for me what I would gladly say, did my failing strength allow me.”
“I cannot take thy books, my young friend; give them to those who need them. My library is stocked with the works of the most eminent divines.”
As the train stopped at the station the lady had only time to add, as she wished the invalid good morning, “I trust thou wilt find thy preparation for eternity is not a delusion.”
Before the close of the year the invalid fell asleep, and her body was laid to rest, awaiting a glorious resurrection at the coming of the Lord Jesus for His saints. Calm confidence in God characterized her last moments. “I would have you remember,” she said, “that there is no uncertainty as to where I am going. I am resting on the Rock of Ages. Death has no terrors for me. If I sleep before Christ comes it is all well. The Son of God loved me, and gave Himself for me. I am confident of my acceptance.” These were her dying words.
Do the last words of a believer in Christ appear presumptuous to you, my reader? Do you think a preparation for eternity, founded on faith in Christ as the Saviour, a delusion If you do, may God convince you that it is a reality ere you too are called to meet eternity.
Ponder the words of the Lord Jesus, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24).) E. E. S.