IT is many years ago since the following incident was related to me by my Christian mother, who was present on the occasion here recorded. It was a death-bed scene, and one so deeply solemn, that I have never forgotten the recital of it.
A young woman lay dying. Her life had been one of self-pleasing. Regardless of God’s claims, repeatedly refusing His offers of mercy, she lived a life apart from God; and now (solemn thought) death found her without Him.
Another and last opportunity was still afforded her of turning to God. The Christian named above presented Christ to her, but she said, “It is too late;” and when told it was not too late to trust in the blood of Jesus, again said, “Oh! yes, it is; it is too late; I am lost forever, I know it. You don’t know what a wicked girl I am.” In heart-rending tones, with terror depicted on her face, she cried out, “I know where I am going to; in my soul I have been there already, and I expect to go there again.” Then, turning to her aunt, who stood near her, she bitterly reproached her, telling her she had never helped her to be better and turn to God, and she warned her, if she did not repent and turn from her wicked ways to God, she too would come to the same dreadful place.
Thus she passed from time into eternity to meet an unknown and untrusted God.
Mark well, dear reader, she did not say she had not heard of the grace of God, and of the atoning death of His Son, but she knew well that all His offers of mercy and His grace and tenderness had been despised by herself, refused, yes, up to the very last. She turned, alas, even now, from the loving hands stretched out to save her, for had she even then come to Him, He would “in nowise have cast her out.” She had been walking in the vanity of her own mind, and she died “having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God” (Eph. 4:18). Did she reproach God? Ah! no, she only spoke bitterly of herself and of her aunt, but not of God; and think not that you, reader, will be able to heap up hard words against Him in the day of judgment; you will have nothing to say in the presence of your Judge. Listen to His word: “When the King came in to see the guests, He saw there a man that had not on a wedding garment; and He said, Friend, how camest thou in hither, not having on a wedding garment? And he was speechless.”
So will it be with you if you reject God’s grace, and die without Christ, for “after death is the judgment.” You will have heard the glad tidings of the Gospel for the last time; you will have heard the loving voice of some dear one pleading with you for the last time; you will have had the strivings of the Spirit with you for the last time; and you will have for your constant companion your ever accusing, remorseful conscience. This may be your last opportunity of hearing the Gospel. Are you going to refuse the last? “Oh, turn ye, turn ye, why will ye die?” The Lord Jesus is not only able but willing to save you.
Gladly do I turn from an expectation so terrible to one of a very different character. A young man, stricken down by sickness before he had, reached the age of twenty-one years, came home to his parents’ house to die. In vain were the doctors called in by those who loved him; it soon became evident that “the Lord had need of him.”
For a while he hoped to recover, and once only did he murmur, when he exclaimed, “Oh, mother! my prospects were so bright.” His mother replied, “They are brighter than ever, Willie, dear, for you are going to see the Lord, while we shall be left to mourn for you.” With a bright smile he threw his arms round her, saying, “Yes, and how I wish I could take you with me, for I expect to be with my Lord presently.”
He grew more feeble in body day by day, but his mind was clear and bright, constantly telling us he was going to be with the Lord Jesus Christ, and that he was trusting only to His blood. It was a sorrowful yet happy privilege to wait upon him, so loving, so gentle to all. His brother, who held much precious conversation with him to within five minutes of his departure, said he would not have missed such sweet communion for a great deal. He was taken from us so gently, yet so swiftly, that it could indeed be said he never tasted death, — calmly speaking to us one moment, the next present with his Lord.
Many were the proofs we received of the bright testimony to Christ he had been in the midst of ungodly young men, and of his earnestness in bringing many to the Gospel preaching. In various ways he had sought to speak for ‘his Lord and Master; and now he has realized that bright expectation, and is in the presence of his Lord, where there will be,
“No more going out forever,
But one long eternal rest,
Flowing o’er him like a river,
Leaning on his Savior’s breast.”
Dear reader, which of these two expectations is yours? Perhaps you expect to live much longer, and you think there is plenty of time; but death is in the world, and you may be the very next. When the cold hand of death is laid upon you, and you cannot, shake it off, how will it be with you? Which of these two expectations have you? Is your future to be with Christ, or without Christ? Make your choice at once.
Let me plead with you. Do not turn away. Consider the love of God: He gave His Son for you; He is not willing that you should perish; He is waiting with outstretched arms ready to save all who come unto Him by Christ Jesus. “The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” Oh! will you not choose this day whom ye will serve? You are still here. Be wise, tomorrow may be too late.
Remember, “the wicked shall be silent in darkness” (1 Sam. 2:9); but “Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord,”
“Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men” (Psa. 107). S. R. F.
WE are not in paradise. We have got out of it some way or other; and we are in a world which is under judgment, and where death is staring us in the face. — J. N. D.