Will You Decide Now? " was the question I put to an elderly man; but
no answer followed. His head was bowed in thought. I waited, and still waited, but no reply came.
" When Will You Decide? " was my next interrogation; but yet no response.
" Will You Decide Twenty Years Hence? " Twenty years, twenty years, and the man already old!
" No," said he; " it is not likely that I shall live twenty years! "
" Then Will You Decide Ten Years Hence? "
" No," said he; " I dare not put it off ten years."
" Then Will You Decide Five Years Hence? "
" No," he replied; " I dare not delay for five years."
" Then Will You Decide This Time Next Year? "
" No," said he; " I might die before next year."
" Then Will You Decide This Day Next Month? "
His answer was delayed.
It may be that the devil suggested that four weeks would soon roll round, and that he might safely wait that length of time; but at last, after mature consideration, he said-
" No, I should not wait a month."
" Then Will You Decide This Day Next Week? "
Again he said " No."
" Then Will You Decide This Time To-Morrow? "
To-morrow, so near at hand! To-morrow, only a few hours away I To-morrow! " No," said the old man. " I ought to decide now I "
Why Now? Age, wisdom, conscience, time, eternity, Scripture, furnish the reason why. Their combined and unanimous, their long, and loud, and only cry is Now! Now! Now!
Undecided reader, say when it shall be? When? It may be Now or Never. God places a period before you. He says, " Now is the day of Salvation "; nay more, He says, " NOW is the accepted time " Decide For Christ Now!
" Why won't you Let us alone?"
Four of us were traveling on a steamer in the West Highlands of Scotland. At the stern of the boat a lady was feeding the seagulls, which followed in its wake. One of our number gave her a gospel booklet, and one also to her husband by her side. Presently she threw it overboard, and the gentleman followed her example. We expostulated with them, saying that the booklets spoke of the Lord Jesus, and we pointed out to them what a solemn thing it was so to act.
Oh! I only wanted to see how the gulls would like it," said the lady.
" But you will have to answer for this act one day,", we replied.
Her husband, with face turned white with rage, and with a look which I shall not soon forget, here broke in, saying, " Why won't you let us alone? "
What a terrible thing if God had taken them at their word, and let them alone!
And, friend, if God were to let you alone what would be the consequence?