WILLIAM had been visiting his mother during his holidays, and now the time had come for him to say “good by,” and return to his place of business. When he was on his way to the wharf where he was to take his boat, he met with a friend whom he had not seen for a long time, and remained to have a friendly chat. His mother was anxiously waiting for him at the wharf to see him off, and as the hour arrived for the boat to leave she requested the captain to wait a few minutes. Orders were given for the whistle to be blown again as another warning that there was no time to lose. The warning was heard, and he remarked to his friend that he should be off and bid him good by, but before reaching the boat another friend stopped him and he remained to have a talk with him. The captain was loath to leave without him so blew the whistle louder and longer, but William refused to heed. At last he gave orders for the boat to go, and accordingly the ropes were loosened and in a few seconds the last chance for the young man was gone. He parted with his friend and hurried to the wharf, but only to find that he was “Too Late.” It was his own fault that he missed his boat. He knew the time it was to leave, and had been warned by the captain that his time was short, but he neglected his opportunities, and had to mourn over his folly. He could justly lay the blame on no one but himself.
For any unsaved reader of these lines there is a lesson in this short account of William’s delay. Many a time have you heard the warning voice of danger in delaying your decision for Christ as your Saviour. You have been told, times without number, that NOW is the time for you to make your choice, and as often have you been warned that at any moment your last chance may pass from you, and Christ be offered to you no more. There is great danger in delay, and especially so when it is a question of the salvation of your precious soul. What remorse would be yours if you were to find that the salvation that is now within your reach, and that has been offered to you so often, is withdrawn from you, and that you could not have it if you would. You would have no one to blame then but yourself. You would have to say “I am lost, and lost forever, and it is my own fault.” In that forever and ever night of the blackness of darkness, you would suffer the undying tortures of a guilty conscience, having refused to listen to the pleadings of God in the day of His long-suffering grace.
Once more dear reader, I would raise a warning voice before it is “Too Late.” You have an opportunity now of deciding for Christ. Salvation is NOW within your reach. You may be saved NOW if you will. Tomorrow may be “TOO LATE.” Listen to the words of a loving, pleading Saviour, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28). He tells you the time He would have you come, and it is “NOW.” “Behold NOW is the accepted time; behold NOW is the day of salvation.” 2nd Cor. 6:2.
My friend, I plead with you to delay no longer. You are ‘running a great risk if you do. If you are only one moment “TOO LATE,” your doom is forever fixed. Be wise and “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” NOW, and you will never have to say as William did, “TOO LATE.”
ML 08/14/1904