Yes, it was his last match. He was carried from the football field to the Infirmary, and from the Infirmary to the grave. Young, strong, and healthy as he was, he was suddenly called to meet his God and to enter eternity. Shall I tell you how and what he said about himself?
Johnnie was a great athlete. It mattered not what line he went in for, he was sure to be at the front. His team was sure to win. At cricket, football, and flat racing, he had scarce an equal, and his rooms at home were hung with the trophies of his victories.
During a game at football, he came into collision with another, and was flung violently to the ground. He was carried in a dead faint from the field. A little later, he lay prostrate with rheumatic fever, and in less than two months, he was in eternity. During the interval, he had time to think, and to review the past. Now he saw that his life of pleasure had been a mistake; and there now he lay alone. Companions as busy as ever; matches going on as usual, and he forgotten!
Prizes and honors were of little value now, for his life was ebbing away. Eternity was unveiling itself, and for it he was not ready.
Reader! do you ever think of the moment when you too must face these things? When solitary and alone, you must stand on the confines of the world beyond, and then meet your God? Companions in sin far away; the busy world rolling on, but your last match has been played. Tell me how would it be with you then? Could you look into eternity without fear? Could you welcome the meeting with God? If you are unconverted and unpardoned you could not, you dare not, for to meet God without Christ is to be damned.
The young athlete felt it so. He longed for something more satisfying than football prizes, and God who saw his need, sent one to speak to him of Christ, and he did not turn the message away. He listened to the word of life, confessed himself a sinner, that his past life had been a failure, and trusted Christ as his Savior. During the remaining days of his life below, he preached Christ to all who came to see him. Then he passed away to be with Him; and from his silent tomb comes the message this day to you who are as fond of the pleasures of youth as he "Prepare to meet thy God." Amos 4:1212Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. (Amos 4:12).