Walter G – was an energetic young man with ability above the average, and by faithful attention to his work had advanced himself to the position as manager of the important office in which he worked. Thoughtful and well informed on nearly all subjects of the day, a chat with him was profitable and interesting.
Feeling a real interest in his welfare, I often sought to turn the conversation to the way of salvation, and to speak to him of the Saviour who was willing and ready to save him from the judgment of his sins. Pressed more than usual one day he exclaimed,
“O, I know plenty of fine fellows who never think about these things. Do you think they are going to hell?”
I assured him that if they never turned to the Saviour, confessing themselves sinners and trusting in the Saviour and the work He accomplished for the redemption of sinners upon Calvary’s cross, they would certainly be lost for eternity – be consigned to the hell created for Satan and his angels. He was unconvinced.
I am afraid pride in his own ability and integrity, measured by human standards, kept him from acknowledging the truth of God’s Word, which says, “The soul that sinneth it shall die” (Ezek. 18:2020The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. (Ezekiel 18:20)), and if ye die in your sins, “Whither I go ye cannot come” (John 8:21-2421Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. 22Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come. 23And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. 24I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. (John 8:21‑24)).
No wonder God’s Word condemns pride (Prov. 6:1717A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, (Proverbs 6:17)), and numbers it among the things that God hates; for how many souls has it not kept away from the Saviour, keeping them self-satisfied with their own goodness, and so not realizing their need of Him as their Saviour. Consequently they fail to avail themselves of the value of the work He accomplished upon Calvary’s cross.
When we reflect, too, on who the Saviour was, God’s own Son, none less than the Creator of the world, and that He became a man in order that He might by His death satisfy the righteous claims of a thrice holy God, who cannot have sin in His presence; and then learn that God was so well pleased with the work He accomplished that He raised Him from the dead and gave Him the highest place in heaven at His own right hand; surely to fail to acknowledge, yea, to slight such a Saviour, is to throw insult in the face of a gracious God, who so loved the world as to give His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him, should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)).
Soon after this interview Walter G – was driving back to the city from his country home,
It had turned cold and rainy, and overheated by some work he had been doing, he took a chill. Pneumonia rapidly developed, and in a day or two, in spite of all that could be done, he was dead. Friends spoke of his good life, his funeral service was conducted from the grandest cathedral in the city, the choir sang some beautiful hymns, But where was his soul?
Did he ever turn to God as a sinner deserving judgment, and put his trust in the Saviour? If he did, even at the last moment, we know God saved his soul, but he left no evidence of it, and surely his case is a warning of the danger of putting off the settlement of this momentous question.
O reader, whoever you are, “What think you of Christ?” Can you say, “He is my Saviour?” If not, let me beg of you to turn to God now, to believe His word, confess your lost and ruined condition before Him, and put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ who is waiting and anxious to save you.