Perhaps, reader, you have trembled, as he did, and, like him, have banished your fears for "a convenient season.”
Let me tell you of a gentleman who resembled Felix. He had a devoted wife who was his evangelist, his Paul, so to speak; and often she besought him to “turn NOW to the Saviour, Jesus." But there was always something in his way, some business or pleasure; and his soul's salvation still continued a question for "to-morrow, to-morrow," while the years passed away, and the loving counselor was at length called home.
Upon her death-bed this lady besought her sister to plead with her husband to enter in at “the strait gate" while he might. And, faithful to her charge, many times did the sister of the departed wife beseech the procrastinator to come to Jesus, often reminding him of her who was now in glory, and of her words of exhortation.
But his constant reply was, " I will come to Jesus, but NOT TODAY; to-day there are certain things which must be attended to; these done, I will come.”
Hapless man! He was seized with a sudden illness, and the long-deferred morrow saw him upon a sick-bed. The doctor's grave countenance indicated the solemn fact of the hopelessness of the case. "Sir," said he to the sufferer, “I will not trifle with you; you have but a few hours to live.”
“What!” cried the dying man, in an agony, of soul; “I dare not die; I cannot die; I am not ready!”
“Sir," replied the Christian doctor," I pray you, do not spend the short period of your life that remains in useless remorse; to-day, while it is called TODAY, there is mercy. Turn NOW to Jesus; believe in Him NOW, come NOW, just as you are, with all your sins, with all your procrastination, and you shall be saved NOW.”
“No, no," said the wretched man, in horror, “not to-day; I cannot die; I am not 'ready to die to-day.”
“I beseech you," said the doctor," to look away from yourself, forget the past, turn to God now. You have but a little moment left to you. Oh! do not waste the last opportunity which God in His mercy gives you.”
Alas! all was in vain: every effort, every entreaty to lead this man to look to Jesus, and live, was fruitless. His voice grew fainter and feebler; the burning fever which had so suddenly laid him low overcame him; the trifler with God's love and with his immortal soul was dead.
He died with "Too late; not ready," upon his lips.
Thus perishes the neglecter of mercy; he who waits for "a convenient season." In the grasp of death, he says, "Too late now"; as in the arms of pleasure he said, "Too soon now. In that black future there are no more warnings, no more loving counsels, but only everlasting woe.
“In thy lifetime," the rich man was told he had had his good things. Here were his stores, his glories, here all that he had (Luke 16).
“In thy lifetime," sinner, God appeals to thee. Come to Jesus.
“In thy lifetime," the question must be settled. Then hearken to thy grateful words of mercy: "NOW Is THE ACCEPTED TIME NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION." Wait not for the time of adversity, lest at length you be too late.
In the face of eternity, which is so near at hand for you, in the presence of God's grace for the sinner, awake to the fact that NOW is the time. Remember, God gives no promises for TOMORROW. His unlimited mercy, His free, full salvation to the sinner is limited to TODAY.