THE other day, as I was standing at the door of a Hall, where a friend was preaching the gospel, a little boy came up and said:
“Please, sir, may I go in?”
“No, my boy,” I replied; “impossible to let you in, there is no more room.”
“But I was in there last Friday evening, and the Friday before I am a regular one.”
“Very likely, my boy; but today you cannot go in.”
“But you said last Friday afternoon, ‘There will be meeting for boys and girls at the M— Hall on Friday evening, at seven.’ Why can’t I go in?”
“Look here, my boy,” I said, showing him my watch, “it is twenty minutes past seven, so You are too late, and the room is full, and Your being there last Friday does not take you in tonight.”
Soon the last seat in God’s house will be occupied, and it will then be too late to come and knock.
“Now,” God says, “is the day of salvation.” Those who refuse God’s invitation will be found at the door knocking, and, like this little boy, will be denied entrance.
“When once the Master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open unto us and He shall answer and say unto you, ‘I know not whence ye are.’” Luke 13:2525When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: (Luke 13:25).
ML 05/03/1925