A DOCTOR, in charge of a large country district, on his way to see one of his patients, had to pass over a bridge. Just before reaching it he observed an old man coming towards him. As he drew near, the doctor noticed that his left hand was paralyzed; in his right hand he grasped a stick, on which he leaned heavily, as he slowly dragged himself along. The doctor thought, “There is one about to pass from this world. I wonder if he is prepared for the next.” Wishing, to speak to him about his soul’s salvation, he put his hand in his pocket to find that he only had a small coin with him. By that time they were almost passing one another, when the doctor suddenly pulled up, and held out the money to the old man for his acceptance, but he seemed not to notice it.
So the doctor said, “Where are you going?”
“To the workhouse, sir.”
Before speaking again, he held the coin out once more. The man saw it, but his difficulty was to take it. With his helpless left hand he certainly could not, and his right hand was full, grasping the stick. But, anxious to get the money, he brought his stick to the helpless hand, and as he thus kept it from falling, he put out his hand, and, taking the money, looked at it, and then, putting it in his pocket, he said, “Thank you, sir.”
Again the doctor said to him, “Where are you going?” and received the same reply, “To the workhouse, sir.”
Once more the doctor said, “Where are you going?” Thinking the doctor must be deaf, he shouted, “To the workhouse, sir.”
“Where then?”
“I see now, sir, what you mean.”
“Do you? You are hastening to eternity. You will soon have to meet God. Are you prepared?”
“Look here, sir,” he replied, “a man must pray for that, and we must do the best we can.”
“Did I give you anything just now?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Well, it was the last coin in my pocket — the only one. I saw you needed, and gave it to you. Did you ask me for it?”
“No, sir.”
“Who was the one able to give—you or me?”
“Why, you sir, to be sure.”
“And who, do you think, is the rich one, able to give—God or you?”
“Why, God, I suppose, sir.”
“Yes, God. He is able to do it, and He has given His only begotten Son to die in the place of the guilty, that our sins might be put away. Did you tell me your need?”
“Why, no, sir; you gave it without my asking.”
“Well, that’s what God in love has done. He did not wait till we asked Him — till we, feeling our need, went to Him in prayer, and asked Him to save us; but, when we were far off, lost, seemingly caring not, He loved us then, and gave His Son to die. What did you do for that piece of money?”
“Why, nothing, sir; you gave it to me.”
“What could you do; what did you do? Why, you emptied your hand of that stick before you could take it, and you put out an empty hand, and took it. And what then?”
“Why, I said, ‘Thank you, sir.’”
“Well, I saw you, a poor, ragged, helpless creature, and your need, and gave you all I had; and two thousand years ago God gave His Son to die. When He died, He finished the work — He left nothing for us to do. Would you dare to ask God for another Son, or ask Him to do more than He has done? No, you dare not; then, just empty yourself of everything, your prayers and works, and in the empty hand of faith, take God’s salvation.”
“I see it. I see it, sir. I have been praying for it, but I could not get it that way. I can’t do anything for it. I’ll just take it now, and praise God for it.”
Dear reader, how slow man is to see, or to acknowledge that he is so entirely lost and helpless that he can do nothing. And yet the Scripture abounds in passages that proclaim man to be lost and needing a Saviour.
You may not be old and infirm, as the one of whom you have been reading. You may have years of health before you, in which to enjoy life; but at the end thereof Where then?” Solemn question for one who has not trusted in Christ, for one, therefore, who cannot, dare not say, “Heaven is my home.” “Where then?” If not Heaven, it would be hell. Delay not then; but now, ere you lay down this paper, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”