ONLY a step between his soul and death! Poor old man! He could hardly totter from his bed, with the ready help of his wife, to the easy chair close by.
Often had we spoken to him of God, of sin, of eternity; but he said he had little to fear, for he had never done much harm. Though he owned that like all others he was a sinner, and had done things he would not like his neighbors to know, yet he had never felt how terrible sin is in God’s sight. He prayed, he said; but the cry of a sin-convicted conscience, “God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:1313And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. (Luke 18:13)), had never gone forth from his heart. Hiding from God, he was building hopes of heaven on not having done much harm in his life of seventy-six years here. What a rotten foundation! We told him God had not forgotten, nor would He overlook, the sins he had done, and which his neighbors knew nothing about. In vain he clung to his self-satisfaction; regardless of the unveiling day so soon coming, when every man shall give an account of himself to God; and those who trust in their works will be judged according to them, and be “cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20) Guilty as he was, the poor old man reminded us of a criminal on the scaffold with the rope round his neck, his feet on the drop, and the executioner ready (like death) to withdraw the bolt that shall launch his soul, if still unrepentant, into the depths of hell.
Unsaved reader, such is your position now with God. Disease was born in you, and sooner or later will bring forth death. You cannot free yourself from its grasp; you are, as it were, living with a rope round your neck, your feet on a drop, and don’t know when the silver cord of life will be loosed, and launch you into a Christless eternity. The very moment is fixed. Are you prepared to step into the presence of God in your sins? Dare you thank Him you are not a murderer, and that the sentence of death is not yet carried out? But God has already pronounced you guilty on two counts:
Count 2. “He that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:1818He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18).) “Truly, as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.” (1 Samuel 20:33And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death. (1 Samuel 20:3).)
In a miserable upper room, destitute of all comfort, the chairs without backs or seats, lay a poor costermonger dying. To the question, “Are you a sinner? he replied, “One of the biggest;” but added, “there is but a step between my soul and heaven.”
When asked how he knew he was saved, he quoted the precious scripture, “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7).) The night before he died he asked his sister to read him the verse once more. When she had done so, he said, “Always keep it in mind yourself.” He begged his wife to turn to God as he had done. Twenty-four hours later, lifting up his hands in the attitude of prayer, he said, “Lord, take me,” and soon after was absent from the body, present with the Lord.
God put a difference between these two men. (Exodus 11:77But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the Lord doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel. (Exodus 11:7).) What made it? (for both were sinners alike by nature and practice). (Romans 3:2222Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: (Romans 3:22).) The blood of the Lamb. “When I see the blood, I will pass over you.” (Exodus 12:1313And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. (Exodus 12:13); John 1:2929The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29).) One man did not feel his need of a Saviour, or put the blood between God’s wrath and his soul; the other went to Him just as he was, and faith alone in the “precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:1919But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (1 Peter 1:19)) set the feet of one of the biggest of sinners firm on the rock. God saw the end of his sins in the death of Christ; so did dear S―, and could look up to his Saviour in glory and say, “There is but a step between my soul and heaven.” Can you say so, reader? Would death to you be a step into heaven, or a drop into hell? Ask yourself, and answer to God. You may never have a death-bed, or another opportunity. Hesitate no longer; “choose you this day whom ye will serve.” (Joshua 24:1515And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15).) God’s time is now (2 Corinthians 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2)), today. (Hebrews 3:77Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, (Hebrews 3:7).) The devil’s time is tomorrow.
God warns, grace lingers; yield to that love. He will save you as you are this very moment, now, today, and keep you forever. (John 10:2828And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:28).) Turn ye, turn ye, for why will ye die? Bear it in mind yourself. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)), and you will be able to rejoice that death to you would be a step into heaven.
A.