IT was her last Sunday on earth. For twenty-one years she had lived in this world, nineteen of which had been years of suffering, and now she was dying, in a cottage in a remote village, where during many weary months she had lain with a mortal disease, ending her days in agony.
Listen to her. To a kind neighbor she says, “Where is father?” and as the old man comes into the room, with the tears streaming down his 3 face at the thought of losing his only solace, she says, slowly and distinctly,
“Father, I’m going to leave you. Don’t fret for me―I’m ready―I’m going to heaven―I’m going to Jesus―I shall be on the look-out for you. You won’t be long behind me. Promise me you’ll make haste and get ready to come, father.”
A lady sat beside an old woman in a roadside cottage, reading to her out of the Bible. Thinking her to be a Christian, she had been speaking to her of the Lord’s coming to take His own to the Father’s house; but perceiving that she looked unhappy, she asked, “Would you not be glad to see Him?”
To her sorrow came the answer, “No; I’m not ready. I can’t say I’m ready; something tells me I’m not saved.”
Dear reader, mark well the contrast between these two. The first was young, but ready for the Lord’s coming or death at any moment, and had not deferred preparation for heaven till a death-bed. The second was aged, but not ready for either. Are you? The Lord may come for His own as you read these lines. He may come to-day, or death may lay his iron grasp on you before ever you are aware. “Prepare to meet thy God.”
What caused this contrast? One had taken God at His word, the other had not. God has said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and 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).) And, as was said of the dying girl, “when once she knew she was saved, she did not want to see anyone who was not heavenly-minded.” How could she know she was saved? The aged woman said, “Something tells me I’m not saved.” You may know far more certainly than that whether you are saved; even as Paul writes to “us which are saved.” (1 Corinthians 1:1818For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18).) God’s word, which by the gospel is preached unto us, is to be relied on (but frames and feelings are not), and it says, “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Romans 10:99That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9).) Believe this, dear reader, and you too may boldly say, “I’m ready, I’m going to heaven, I’m going to Jesus.”
H. L. H.