DR. D— was called to the bedside of a dying scientist. Seldom had he seen a finer looking man, nor felt a kinder grasp than he gave him.
Seated by his bedside, he said, "Sir, you seem very ill.”
Without a trace of hesitation or apparent concern he replied, "Yes, I am going to die.”
“Have you the consolation of religion to comfort you?" the doctor inquired.
The sad reply was given: "I do not believe in the Bible, nor the religion it teaches. Nature is the altar at which I have worshipped: she has been my guide and teacher.”
“You speak of nature as a guide?" the doctor remarked interrogatively.
The sick man replied, "Yes; she is infallible.”
Looking into his beautiful blue eyes, the doctor said to him, "I, too, profess to have been educated in the same school; is it not strange that receiving our instruction from the same teacher, we should arrive at opposite conclusions? Certainly one of us has misinterpreted, or the teacher has deceived us.”
He replied, "It is not in the teacher.”
The doctor answered, "The mistake then is in me or you. Now is it worthwhile to compare opinions? If I have misinterpreted I know that I have done it honestly, and desire to be corrected.”
By this time his gaze was fixed on his interrogator's face with an intensity that bespoke more than ordinary interest, as the doctor asked him, "In all your researches have you ever found a creature whose nature was opposed to its appetite?”
After a moment's thought he replied, "No; such a creature cannot exist. With a carnivorous stomach and an herbivorous appetite, it could only live until it starved to death, and propagation would be impossible.”
“Are there any exceptions to this law?" asked the doctor.
His reply was, " No; none in the animal or vegetable world.”
The doctor said, “You think you are going to die?”
“Yes.”
“And that death will terminate your existence?”
“Yes.”
“Now answer me," said the doctor," have you not an appetite for something you have not got?”
Yes," replied the dying man," I want to live.”
"How long do you want to live?" inquired the doctor.
“I can't tell you?" was his vague reply.
The doctor said, “You must look to the utmost limits of desire and tell me where it is.”
With deep feeling he replied, "I can't,”
“May I assist you?" asked the doctor.
“Yes.”
“Suppose you could now be assured that you shall live until an insect, by carrying away a grain of sand every thousand years, should remove the earth, would you then be satisfied with life?”
The dying man's honest reply was "No.”
“Do you know anything that would meet the demands of your nature?" the doctor inquired. In great bewilderment, he replied, "No.”
“And yet you say that everything in nature teaches there must be. Now I am not going to say that my Bible is true, or its religion true, but would this meet the demand of your appetite? and the doctor quoted the Words of the Lord Jesus: "I am the living Bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this Bread, he shall LIVE FOR EVER." (John 6:51).
The dying man's eyes flashed fire as he said; "Yes, it would, I have misinterpreted nature.”
He then asked the doctor to read the Bible and pray with him. He stayed with the dying man till late at night and he testified that wonderful was the change. He never saw him alive again.
Does not this conversation lay bare the root of things? In the heart of every man there is the desire for a life that will never end. It has been said that all over the world, whether among the civilized races or among the lowest of the heathen, who have never heard the gospel nor seen a Bible there is the belief in a life beyond the grave. Charles Darwin announced that he had come across some heathen people, so depraved and low, that they were without this belief, but missionaries who subsequently labored among them, with greater opportunities of getting to know then, than were afforded to Mr. Darwin, testified that they had this belief.
Who put that belief in the human heart? We answer, God. And why did He put that belief? Surely it was that men might prepare for the great change that death brings.
What is death? Scripture tells us, "The wages of sin is death." (Rom. 6:23). It is terrible, unnatural, dreaded, however much it may be camouflaged by terms or softened by its accompaniments.
And what comes after death? "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this THE JUDGMENT"" (Heb. 9:27).
And what is the judgment? "This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Rev. 20:15).
How then, if death and judgment and the second death lie before the guilty sinner, can we talk about eternal life? We quoted half a verse just now. For answer let us quote it in full: "For the wages of sin is death; but THE GIFT OF GOD is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Rom. 6:23).
Note two things: (1) Eternal life is a gift; (2) It is through the Lord Jesus. Hence follow two things; (1) It cannot be earned or obtained by merit (2) There is only one channel through which it can be appropriated.
Why is it put in this way? The fact is we are sinners and death is the penalty of sin, so Christ must die and meet the penalty of sin, if God can be righteously set free to offer the gift of eternal life. Spiritual life comes through the death of Christ, and in no other way.
Do you come in repentance to God and receive the Lord Jesus as your Savior, and through them receive the pardon of your sins? If you do, the gift of eternal life is yours—not merely an endless life but a life in communion with God and in His presence and sharing His delights forever.
There is nothing between eternal life and the second death. Which do you look forward to?
Do not rest till you know Christ as your Savior, and then, "He that believeth on the Son HATH everlasting life." (John 3:36). Remember, it is not of merit. No turning over a new leaf, no amount of religious observance can merit it. It is a GIFT—a gift of pure sovereign grace. Will you accept it on the terms and through the channel which Scripture states?
Remember, time is fleeting fast away. Pleasures last but a moment. Death is very busy. Eternity draws near. You have only one soul to be saved or lost. Pay heed to these things, we beseech you. God's Word says, "Behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2). THE EDITOR.