SOME years ago a case of choosing evil rather than good came under my observation, producing a lasting and profitable impression on the mind and heart. The mention of it may serve as a warning to those who are halting between two opinions. There comes a moment in life when God sets before the soul by His Spirit His own perfect way, and when that is refused, there is and can be no other.
In the East End of London a young man was giving away tracts in front of a hall, and inviting passers-by to a gospel meeting. Seeing the great need and danger of a young woman who was passing, he invited her into the house for a little conversation with me. Our few moments together were very solemn, and must have been fraught with grave results to that poor heart-sick, sin-stricken soul.
Never before or since do I remember hearing a poor sinner so fully own a way to be wicked as well as willful, and yet deliberately refuse to forsake it when urged to do so. Alas! alas! for the innate depravity of heart thus manifested — “desperately wicked,” says the prophet Jeremiah.
“‘Almost persuaded’— now to believe;
‘Almost persuaded’ — Christ to receive;
Seems now some soul to say,
‘Go, Spirit, go Thy way,
Some more convenient day
On Thee I’ll call?’”
“ ‘Almost persuaded’— come, come today;
‘Almost persuaded’—turn not away;
Jesus invites you here,
Angels are lingering near,
Prayers rise from hearts so dear,
O wanderer, come!”
That young woman was living in sin, and knew that it could not be for long, while she nominally assented to all that was said to her of the grace, love, and holiness of the living God. But forsake her course she could, would, or dared not. For though in no hurry to go and leave the sound of God’s precious gospel behind her, she ended by passing out and onwards, where I saw her no more. She had left the wooing’s of God’s gracious holy Word, for the wretched life which for a few minutes she had looked at in His light, acknowledged to be wrong and short-lived, and which yet she chose to pursue instead of forsake.
How oft the sight of that poor deluded one has risen before me, as I thought of her going down those steps, that winter’s night—fit emblem of the downward course her eyes and heart had taken! “There is a way that seemeth right unto man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Prov. 14:1212There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:12)).
Is there any reader of this little episode in another’s life who has seen and heard of God’s free salvation, yet is halting, wavering, leaning, to the downward path? Pause, I ask, in the solemnity of God’s holy presence. Think what it may cost you to put off any longer. Think of life’s possibilities if you let slip the admonition of today.
“Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts” (Heb. 4:77Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. (Hebrews 4:7)). “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2)). “Choose ye this day whom ye will serve” (Josh. 24:1515And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15)). You cannot serve till you know your Master, and only the believer can say “Rabboni,” i.e. to say “Master,” as Mary did at morning dawn, when she heard her name on the lips of her risen Lord. There in the garden, the sepulcher could not hold Him, but He stopped to speak to one who sought Him in her sorrow and her love. Are you seeking? Do you hear His voice? Will you answer, “Master”?
“Earthly friends may fail or leave thee,
One day soothe, the next day grieve thee,
But this Friend will ne’er deceive thee,
O how He loves!”
G. W.