Employed in the same bank, we met each other daily; my conversion and confession of Christ he treated with contempt, and blasphemously repelled all efforts to lead him to Christ.
My removal to D. separated us for about a year. Then a young boy entered the bank bearing a note addressed to me. It read:
"My poor boy is dying, and begs you to come to him;" continuing, the writer gave an address in the City of H. urged me to come quickly, and concluded by saying, "May God bless your visit.”
After finishing the duties of the day, I sought a fellow-believer employed in a nearby printing office, showed him the letter, and secured his assent to my proposal, "You pray here, while I go there." (to H.) Reaching the address given me, an elderly lady warmly thanked me for coming, and said, "My poor boy is in the front room upstairs.”
Upon entering the bedroom I was horrified to see terror personified, a face white as chalk, eyes starting from their sockets, body writhing, while the lips uttered the terrible wail, "The eleventh hour is past! My God, there is no hope for me!”
My presence was unnoticed, and words I spoke appeared to be unheard, while the heart-rending wail was repeated over and over again. Seating myself by his side, overwhelmed by the awful spectacle, I silently prayed that One "mighty to save" would deliver his soul from the pit. Then lifting my Bible, it opened at the 15th chapter of Luke, and I read verses 1-4:
"Then drew near unto Him all the publicans and sinners for to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. And He spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?”
Involuntarily I repeated these words, adding, "O, S. don't you see? It says 'until He find it,' and He hasn't found you yet, so that proves He's seeking still.”
The movements of his body ceased, and the awful wail was hushed, so I read the whole chapter to him, telling of a love intent upon finding sinful souls, and at amazing cost, transforming the straying, lost, and spiritually dead into dearest objects to the Divine Seeker's heart. And there in the stillness of that sick chamber, found of the Good Shepherd, assured by the Holy Spirit, welcomed as a son beloved by the Father, all terror and anguish exchanged for the joy of God's salvation, the heavenly hosts, and I too, witnessed that miracle of redeeming love, the new birth of a believing soul.
Reader, is your soul saved? Beware of the terrors of the damned, escape the wrath to come; but, beyond and above these solemn considerations, give the blessed Redeemer the joy of possessing your soul for Himself. For you He suffered, your soul He seeks, and awaits the joy of finding.