In these days when one hears of nothing but war, perhaps you would be interested to hear the story of a young soldier.
Tom D., young, brave, and strong, he answered the call to arms, and soon found himself in active service amid the thunder of cannon and the crack of musketry.
He and a friend, George L., more than once distinguished themselves for courage. One day in an engagement, the enemy came upon them in superior numbers, and Tom's regiment was almost wiped out. Tom and his friend had escaped so far. They were lying on a ledge of the mountain behind a ruined stone wall, which had protected them till then, when two of the enemy, with grizzly beards, discovered them and shouted to them, "Hands up !" Seeing that is was useless to resist, Tom stood up, throwing to the ground his rifle and revolver, as a sign that he had surrendered. One of the officers immediately shot him twice with his rifle. A ball entered his body, and he fell to the ground. The men went away at once, leaving him to his fate.
George, his friend, who had been lying in the long grass, had not been noticed by the soldiers, and he came up to his dying companion.
The poor man begged his friend to lift up his coat and look at his wound. There was no doctor or nurse to take care of him. George saw at once that the wound was fatal, that there could be no hope for his friend's life.
He himself was a Christian, a true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Very gently he told his friend that he feared he could not live long. The two soldier§ wept together, for there was only a step between the poor boy and death, and every moment was precious to them both. After some moments of silence, Tom asked his friend to put his arms tight around him, which he did. They could feel the beating of each other's hearts, while the great realities of the, other side of the grave—eternity—presented themselves to them.
Even from his childhood, the dying man had often thought of the future, and had felt the weight of his, sins. He had heard the gospel preached which tells of salvation and pardon to those dead in trespasses and sins. But Tom, like many young people of our days, had never read the Bible for himself in order to be enlightened on this important subject, consequently he had never decided for Christ, and possessed no assurances as to the future. Now, only a few moments remained to him, and eternity so near made these things become a reality to Tom. Suddenly he broke the silence, exclaiming,
"George, where am I going?"
"Do you really believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, Tom?" asked George.
"O,' yes, George," he answered earnestly, "yes, I do firmly believe in Him; I believe He died for me."
What joy and comfort for the Christian soldier to know his friend was passing into eternity, saved— washed in the blood of Christ. He answered affectionately,
"Then you have absolutely nothing to fear, Tom; all those who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as their substitute on the cross, Whose blood purifies them from all sin, are all right for eternity."
"If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thy heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Rom. 10:9.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, hath everlasting life." John 6:47.