IT was a sorrowful sight. A strong man lay dying! He had seen life, such as the world calls it, ―life, which the Holy Ghost designates, as “the pleasures of sin for a season” (Heb. 11:25).
Now he was dying! “It is appointed unto men once to die; but after this the judgment” (Heb. 11:27).
Some fifteen years previously he had returned from Australia, where he had spent the best years of his life in quest of the “gold which perisheth.” And, though he had been amongst the few successful ones, who, in the palmy days of the Australian gold fields, had obtained in abundance that which they left home and kindred to toil for, it had not brought him happiness.
Men forget that they are in a world where sin has entered, separating man from God, the true source of all happiness, and involving him in death and judgment The voice of Jesus they care not to hear, as He cries in love and mercy― “Whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favor of the Lord; but he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.” Or, as in the attractive grace of His heart, He presents that which He possesses wherewith to enrich precious souls with forever, saying― “Riches and honor are with me: yea, durable riches and righteousness: my fruit is better than gold; yea, than fine gold, and my revenue than choice silver” (Prov. 8)
But men seek Him not, and when here, He had to say, “Ye will not come to me that ye might have life” (John 5:40).
Yet with Him is “the fountain of life,” at which the thirsty are invited to drink freely (Rev. 21:6).
How many have risked their souls in the eager hunt for the “gold which perisheth,” who had they come as needy sinners to Jesus, would have been enriched for all eternity!
Many a time did this poor man’s wife wish he possessed not that for which he had traveled so far, as night after night he would stagger home drunk, or as, in her care for him, she would brave the faces of his ale-house companions in seeking to persuade him to come home. Then would follow those awful nights of delirium tremens, when it appeared as though the devil made sport of his victim, as the poor drunkard would rise from his sleepless bed, and seizing anything his hands could lay hold of, commence to clear the room of the demons he declared were in this corner or that.
But his faithful wife had died the previous year, and now the ill which she had sought to save him from had come―a drunkard’s death.
It was thought that his wife’s death would speak home to him, and cause him to think of his soul’s salvation. Often had she said with tears, “There may be light at eventide,” when thinking of his evil course. For a time it seemed to weigh much with him; but soon the power of evil asserted itself, and the drink was again resorted to.
Now his sister was sought to nurse him.
A short time before it was apprehended that death would soon end his history here, her son, who was a Christian, came to see his uncle. He was then able to sit up, and the young man spoke to him of the great blessing of being saved: of knowing the Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour. He listened; but evidently had no thought of his great need of salvation, for when his nephew declared, how he had found Christ sufficient for time and eternity, he replied― “Well, I hope you will stick to it.”
But who can tell what passed through his mind at that time, as he heard of the sufficiency of the Lord Jesus Christ to save and to satisfy? How, maybe, the devil whispered, as he has done many a time― “This may do for him; but it won’t do for you. You decided to take your chance years ago, and you need not be disturbed now.” Or, it may be, as conscience recalled a life darkened by many a sin, the poor man decided to die with them buried in his bosom, hardened by them to face every consequence, rather than seek mercy at the hands of a Saviour-God. “He that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief” (Prov. 28:14). “But whoso confesseth and forsaketh his Bins shall have mercy” (Prov. 28:13).
A Felix trembled as Paul reasoned “of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come,” but instead of repenting and finding mercy, he said, “Go thy way for this time, when I have a convenient season I will call for thee” (Acts 24:24, 25). He deferred to judge himself, though trembling at the thought of God’s judgment, and took the consequence in his own hands.
King Agrippa’s conscience woke as he heard the same witness relate his conversion and the story of a Saviour’s grace; but he sought to hide his convictions by jestingly saying, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.”
The deep blessedness of the apostle’s joy and yearning desire of his heart, is touchingly declared in his reply― “I would to God that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds” (Acts 26:28, 29). How many have been as near having salvation, and yet have missed it forever! The devil knew exactly what bait to present to hinder decision for Christ.
Fellow-traveler to eternity, has your choice been made? Or are you like one of old, of whom it is written, he “cared for none of those things”? (Acts 18:17.)
“O turn ye, O turn ye, for why will you die,
When God in great mercy is coming so nigh
Now Jesus invites you, the Spirit says, Come,
And ‘all things are ready,’ O, sinner, come home”
Sadly indeed did the young man’s heart sink within him as he thought of his poor uncle on the verge of eternity, not only unprepared, but totally indifferent. Still he cried to God to awaken the poor dreamer; to open his eyes to his lost condition; but, even as he did so, he seemed to dread what the end might be. The sequel will show that his fears were not groundless.
A week or more elapsed when, receiving a letter telling him of a change for the worse, he hastened to the bedside of his relative. There lay the strong man of apparently iron frame; his chest heaving and his eyes glazing, and every now and again throwing up particles of his fast-breaking down lungs.
What an awful sight! Sitting down beside the bed, the young man sat as it were petrified. No word could be utter. “Say something to him,” said someone standing by. But nothing could he say. He tried to remember a verse of Scripture, but it were as though the Bible had never been written: no verse could be recall. At last he remembered that it was written, “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). But the words seemed to have lost their meaning. In fear and trembling, yet remembering it was God’s word, he uttered those blessed words― “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
But oh! what a feeling of dismay filled his soul! It were as though a stone wall had been built up between him and the bed whereon the dying man lay, as the precious word of God bounded back upon him. Never will be forget that feeling while life lasts, that of being in the presence of a lost soul! May God awaken every reader of these lines to the value of their never―dying souls, “For what shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul, or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36, 37.) But the end came, and your end will come also, reader―oh, that you may be wise now, and come to Jesus for salvation while you may, that a lost eternity be not yours!
“God have mercy on my soul,” said the dying man, as he was being raised to make him more comfortable.
“The Word of God says, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved’ (Acts 16:31),” said his nephew, as he stood, with a sorrowful heart, at the foot of the bed. “Why―that’s―what―we’ve―heard―ever―since―we―were―children,” broke forth from the dying sinner, in faltering words, as with a ghastly sneer he looked at the speaker.
A feeling of intense pity filled the young Christian’s heart, as the devil seemed to belch forth this mocking taunt from the mouth of his poor victim.
“It is one thing hearing it; it is another thing believing it, uncle,” replied his nephew. “Go―out―of―the―room,” said the dying man.
With a prayer to God that he might be given a last word, the young man lingered awhile, and seeing nothing more could be done, he said, “I am going, uncle. I don’t know that I shall ever see you again; but I want you to understand that the Lord Jesus Christ will save you, if you come to Him.” These were about the last words, as far as memory serves, which were spoken as he bade his relative farewell, only to learn by the next post, the sorrowful tidings that he had died, a few hours afterward, “as he had lived.” “Some men’s pins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some they follow after” (1 Tim. 5:24). “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Rev. 21:8).
Reader: Where wilt thou spend eternity?