It was the evening fur the children’s meeting at the Gospel Tent, and the boys and girls were streaming in through the gate in the high black fence by which the tent was surrounded.
Soon the hour arrived and the meeting began. Still, however, the children came in twos and threes, while a little group stood round the entrance watching the others go in, but not entering themselves. Hymns, and prayer being over, up got a kind friend to speak, and then not wishing the meeting to be disturbed by any more late comers, a helper went to the gate and gave a last invitation to the little group standing outside.
“Won’t you come in?” he said. They shook their heads. “Well! it’s your last chance,” he added, and then pointing to a little girl,
“You’ll come in, won’t you?” But she, too, shook her head and said softly, “No!”
The big gate swung on its hinges, and the little group were left outside without even being able to see what was going on inside.
Hardly a minute passed when there was a knock, and then another knock, still louder.
“What do you want?” said the man inside,
“Please, sir, somebody wants to come in!” said a voice.
He opened the door to see who the somebody was, and who do you think he found? Why, the very little girl who had said “No!” so decidedly, not two minutes bore.
What made her change her mind so quickly? It was the door being shut.
I expect some of my young readers are already thinking of a Bible story about the shut door. In Luke 13:24,2524Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 25When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: (Luke 13:24‑25), we read:
“Strive to enter in at the strait gate; for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the Master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us: and He shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are.” Luke 13:24,2524Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 25When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: (Luke 13:24‑25).
The time is soon coming when the opportunity of believing the Gospel and being saved will be gone. When the Lord Jesus rises up and comes into the air for His own people, the Gospel door will be shut.
The little girl missed her chance of the meeting for that evening, but we had more meetings to which she was able to come. If you miss the Gospel offer, and the Lord Jesus comes and has to leave you behind, you will be outside the shut door forever.
O! what a terrible thing that would be. God save all my young, readers from it, and lead them to enter NOW, at once, through the door which stands so widely open. Jesus said,
ML 10/16/1938