Some time ago a preacher of the gospel was calling on a business man. This man had never professed faith in the Lord Jesus, and his Christian friend had expressed his anxiety for his eternal welfare.
"It is true," said the merchant, "I am not of settled mind in religion. Still I am not utterly hopeless. I may yet enter the vineyard, even at the eleventh hour.”
"Ah! You refer to Christ's parable of the laborers who wrought but one hour at the end of the day. But you have overlooked the fact that these men accepted the first offer.”
"Is that so?”
"Certainly. They said to the Lord of the vineyard: `No man hath hired us' They welcomed his first offer immediately.”
"True; I had not thought of that before. But then the thief on the cross, while dying, was saved.”
"Yes; but is it likely that he never rejected an offer of salvation as preached by Christ and His apostles? Is there not reason to believe that he, too, accepted the first offer?”
"Why, you seem to want to quench my last spark of hope.”
"Why should I not? Such hope is an illusion. You have really no promise of opportunity to be saved at some future time. Now is the accepted time. Receive Christ now. This may be for you the last offer of God's salvation.”
"How shall I begin?”
"Just as the leper did when he met Jesus by the way. He committed his body to the Great Physician in order to be healed. So commit your soul to Him as a present Savior. Your eyes are open to see your peril. Beware of delay.”
The merchant was aroused to a knowledge of his present need and recognized his foolish error in procrastination. He received Christ as his Savior and found in HIM his best offer.
Dear reader, have you accepted the first offer?