“I DON’T think I ever told you how I was brought to Christ?”
The speaker was a plain married woman on whom I had occasion to call. She was just in the middle of her family of three. Her eldest daughter sat by the fireside, and her sister and niece were visitors that evening. “I think,” she added, “I ought to tell you; it may cheer and encourage you in the service of the Lord.”
We were all attention as she proceeded with her short story.
“One evening they asked me to come to your meeting to hear the gospel preached, but 1 felt no desire to do so; indeed I had dropped away from going to any preaching or even to the church. I knew the meetings were held on Sunday and Tuesday evenings, as I heard the singing from my own house, and afraid lest any one should come in to ask me to go, on the following Tuesday, I set out, with my child in my arms just about half an hour before the meeting would commence.
“I had nowhere to go, and as 1 went up one street and down another, I began to consider what a coward. I was, running away when no one wished to injure me, and by-and-by I made up my mind to go to the meeting and spend a comfortable hour.
“Accordingly I made a bold stroke and went in and sat down, no one taking any notice of me as the singing was begun.
“I did not care much for the preaching, which did not seem to disturb my conscience. But towards the end you spoke of possibly some of us having attractions to heaven, some dear ones in the glory, and what it would be to get their arms around our necks once again, and then be together forever with the Lord and them; or what a grief it would be to see them in glory with robes washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb-just to get one glimpse, and then to hear the word ‘Depart, ye workers of iniquity.’”
“These words seemed to pierce my very heart; for you see, I had lost four dear little children, and they had died almost with their arms about my neck; and I felt there could be no greater grief than to have another such parting and so hopeless. I felt as if I could give anything to be sure that I would be with them, and I felt too that they would like to see me there, and to put their little arms around my neck again. I wept, but tried to hide my face behind my child, and at the close of your address you asked, ‘If Jesus were here on the one side, and Satan on the other, to which side would you go?’ and you pictured it out so that I could feel it in my soul as you said,
“ ‘Satan, the roaring lion, (who seeks to devour and to destroy souls, knowing that he is soon to be cast into the bottomless pit with all whom he has deceived, dragging in chains his slaves to perdition,) on one side bids you come along with him; he can give you nothing now, he is always leading on to sin, and lust, and drink; but did he ever satisfy a single soul? He may promise, but he is a liar and the father of lies. Choose now, will you go with him? If you do, you shall share, with him, sin, death, hell, forever.’
“‘But,’ you continued, ‘on the other side Jesus bids you come. He is the Lamb of God who came to seek and to save that which was lost. He yearns and longs to receive repentant ones. He died to save us from Satan, and sin, and death, and hell. He is the Captain of salvation and is leading many sons to glory, He bids you come along. His blood cleanseth from all sin, His arms are outstretched to receive you; won’t you come to His embrace? and then, with the everlasting arms round about you, you will sing, “Safe in the arms of Jesus.’”
“You said more than that; but I felt every word and then you put it to me to decide whether to go with Satan or Jesus. And you told us we need not answer you; but if silently in our hearts we decided, although no one else would know or hear, Jesus would, for He knew our thoughts and heard the sigh of the prisoner, And in my heart I said I would go with Jesus gladly, and for the first time in my life, since I was a child, I seemed to have my eyes opened. I did not get peace; but I began to pray, and read my Bible; and I never missed a meeting.
“I often wished you would speak to me, but perhaps it was best as it was. I sought Him alone and with many tears and cries. I was dark and ignorant, but He was merciful and gracious, and He who commanded the light to shine at first gave me to know Jesus as my Lord and my Saviour; and this was light, and peace, and joy to any soul.”
As she ended she wiped a tear away, and I guessed she was thinking of her husband still unsaved—her only sorrow; but perhaps this causes the more earnest need for prayer and watching in her life. Need I say thou too art invited? The pierced hands are outstretched for thee, brother, sister. He says, “There is yet room.”
Heaven is filling, hell is filling; Satan calls, Jesus calls. With whom wilt thou go? With whom wilt thou spend eternity?
Choose now this day, this moment choose, and thy decision will gladden or grieve the Saviour’s tender, loving heart.
Choose, remembering He is near and will record thy choice—Satan or Jesus: which?
Choosing may not save, but He can save who said, “I would, but ye would not.” “Look unto me, and be ye saved.” J. S.