Old Judge Roberts loved his Sunday School class of young men. Each one of them, well known to him in the small town, was dear to his heart; and their souls' welfare was the continual burden of his prayers. The old judge loved the Lord, and his heart's desire for "his boys" was that they should love Him too.
How he yearned over care-free, fun-loving Jimmie Johnson! A happy testimony he would be to the saving grace of God. And there was brilliant Harry Camp, an orator in the making. Oh, that his gift of speech might be used of God to turn other young men to Christ! Quiet, dependable "Chuck" Davis, too, so steadfast of purpose as he shouldered the responsibility of an invalid mother and younger brothers at his father's death, what a blessing to him to be yoked up with Christ, the Christian's ready Burden-bearer!
But most of all Judge Roberts longed for the salvation of bitter, scoffing Dave Summers. Ever-questioning, doubting, refusing to accept the teachings of Scripture, why did he continue to seek the companionship of these earnest young men?
Such thoughts as these occupied the judge that Lord's Day morning as his class assembled in the little room. Prayerfully he opened the Bible to the day's portion. Slowly and distinctly he read: "Luke 16:19-3119There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. (Luke 16:19‑31).
`There was a certain rich man'—." Down to the twenty-third verse Judge Roberts read. Then, as he read, "And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments,'" automatically the Judge himself looked up, glancing around the circle of young faces.
Serious thought was depicted on all but one. Sneeringly, Dave Summers was muttering, "Aw, what is hell?”
The Judge's quick ear caught the question. His piercing eyes seemed to bore straight through the scoffer. Almost in a whisper, but with such solemn power from on high that it struck fear to at least one soul present, the answer came: "'What is hell?' Dave,—it's hell!”
Throughout that morning hour and on through the day, that whispered word reverberated in the heart of one lad who heard it. With deep conviction he realized that he himself had never accepted the One who alone could save him from such a dread destination—the One who loved him so much that He came from the glory to die for him.
At last, in its true light he beheld Calvary, and what it must have meant to that sinless Man on the center cross when He who knew no sin was made to be sin for him—God's Lamb, whose blood shed on that cross cleanses from sin the soul who believes and receives Him.
Before the hour for the Gospel came, this dear lad had come to see himself as the guilty sinner for whom Christ died. With broken heart he cried to Him for forgiveness, pardon, and peace; and with thankfulness and joy he found that "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.”
Dear unsaved reader, have you realized the awfulness of hell, the destiny that awaits those who do not receive Christ as their Sin Bearer? Remember, hell is eternal torment, eternal night, eternal loss the blackness of darkness forever. I beseech you, accept God's Lamb on Calvary's cross as your own Substitute while it is yet the day of grace. Receive Him who was crucified; laid in the tomb, arose the third day victorious over death, hell, and the grave; and is now in the glory longing for your salvation.
God "is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”