“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity; there is none that doeth good.”— Ps. 53.
ALAS! in this day of undisguised infidelity and ever restless seeking for pleasures, how many there are who would shrink from being classed under the category of infidels who really are so, for they say in their heart, No God for me. Little as they are aware of it, they are under the thralldom of an unseen enemy who throws around them his siren spell, alluring them by the vanities and pleasures of this present age until they become his captives; yet deluding them with the thought that they are free agents, whereas they are blindly led by his subtle temptations, through the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, to the very brink of the pit, into which one day, in the righteous judgment of God, they will be cast.
Let me bring before you, dear reader, the case of a poor young woman who came under the notice of a dear friend of mine, from whom I gleaned the following particulars:—
Her case was an exceedingly sad one, and what rendered it even more solemn was that her stepmother with whom she resided was an earnest Christian, under whose care and guardianship she had many precious opportunities of hearing the gospel of the grace of God. On one occasion particularly when accompanying her mother she heard the gospel preached with great power: so blessed was the result that many that night were brought to the feet of Jesus, confessing their sins, and gladly received Him as their Saviour and Lord. But alas! it was not so with her, for she had allowed Satan to blind her mind, and by the sins and follies of this present world to steal away her heart, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto her. And so far did he succeed that he led her into infidel speculations till at last she said in her heart, “No God for me.”
In course of time she became afflicted with a disease which to all appearance was incurable. Surely this was God’s hand upon her, and should have led her to think seriously of her soul’s salvation, seeing she might soon pass that bourne from which no traveler returns.
The example of her Christian step-mother and the words of admonition that oft-times fell from her lips, speaking to her of the reality of eternity and of the righteousness and love of God, had but little weight with this poor deluded soul.
Sorrowful to narrate, the enemy of souls, having got her tight in his grip, led her a step farther, and persuaded her that if she put an end to her life, all would be over with her forever. Terrible delusion!
Is it possible that one who had heard the truth, listened to many a powerful gospel address, and had been the subject of many an affectionate appeal, could be so deceived by Satan? How little are we aware of the deceitfulness of the human heart, upon which the watchful enemy exerts such influence. God has declared that the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately (incurably) wicked (Jer. 17:99The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9)).
Fain would I draw a veil over the closing scene of this poor young woman’s life were it not that a hope is cherished in my breast that God may use this little narrative as a warning to some who have trifled with God’s message, and are still treading their self-willed way.
How the steps of the wicked in their downward trend become quicker and quicker as the dread gradients of their sinful course grow steeper and steeper, till the last fatal stage is reached and the last irretrievable step is taken.
Entering the room where her step-mother was sitting, she exclaimed with an agonizing look of despair, “Mother, I am a bad, wicked girl. I have poisoned myself.”
Amazed and incredulous the poor mother, gazing at her with alarm, said, “Oh, surely you have not!”
Hastening into the next room, with a fearful scream, the poor young woman flung herself in agony on the bed. Her mother tried to raise her up, whispering affectionately into her ear, “If you have really poisoned yourself, it is not too late to come to Jesus and trust in Him, He will save you even now. His precious blood is enough to wash away all your sins.”
With a fearful expression of despair depicted on her countenance, she again exclaimed, “I am a bad; wicked girl. I have poisoned myself, and the devil has tight hold of me, and is dragging me straight down to hell.” And with one loud scream she passed away.
Dear reader, ponder this solemn closing scene of the life of one who allowed herself to be led astray by the temptations of Satan. Remember she had great privileges. Many a time had she heard the gospel faithfully preached. She had also the testimony both from the lips and life of an earnest Christian step-mother, but alas! all proved to be of no avail. God gave her space to repent, but she repented not.
How solemn are those words of Jesus in John 5:40,40And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. (John 5:40) “Ye will not come to me that ye might have life.”
Let us now turn to another scene. A loving but sorrowful mother bent over her dying boy. He was but eight years of age, so young and yet his little pilgrimage was drawing to a close. In her solicitude she asked him if he felt better, to which he replied, “I shall not be better till I get to Jesus.” “What do you mean?” said the heart-broken mother. “Why, mother dear,” he said, “I have taken one step out of self, one step into Christ, and the next will be into glory.”
Fearing that his dear mother was a stranger to Christ, and knew not the forgiveness of her sins, he prayed earnestly to God to save her precious soul. Shortly after this prayer he fell asleep—absent from the body, present with the Lord.
Perhaps you will ask me, Was this prayer answered? Most assuredly it was, though not until some twenty years had passed away.
Dear reader, have you sought Jesus in your deep, deep need, and have you not found Him, or rather have you not been found of Him, like some poor straying sheep on the mountains of despair, wandering farther and farther away? And has He not brought you home on His shoulders rejoicing, saying, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.” Happy indeed, if such is your case; but if not, let me beseech you to delay no longer, but come to Him. Think not that He will refuse you. Listen to His words, “Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)).
E. M.