Waiting at the railway station for my train to start, I was talking to a well-known evangelist and two Christian friends. "He that winneth souls is wise," (Prow. 11:30), is an exhortation which was strikingly exemplified all through the devoted life of this aged preacher of the gospel. Perhaps it had never been more so than on this present journey.
There being some races at a place a little distance up the line, there was an unusual crush of people on the platform. Presently a band of young men jumped into the compartment where the three Christians were sitting. It was a somewhat incongruous mixture, for to all outward appearance these pleasure-bent youths knew little of heavenly matters, nor were they a likely congregation at such a time for a gospel address. Some of them were smoking, and all of them talking and laughing as light-heartedly as possible.
"Dear brothers," said the old evangelist, in the gentle and loving way so peculiar to himself, "we have made a mistake. This is a smoking car; let us change into another."
"No, sir," said one of the young men, no doubt struck by the old man's gentle manner, "this is not a smoking car! We ought to change."
"Don't you trouble to change," said, the old Christian; "we can get into another."
"Not a bit of it, sir," replied a chorus of voices.
"We shall get out. Stay where you are."
With that they all left. After a few minutes the whole group returned, for the train was full. Out went their pipes, and they settled themselves down somewhat more quietly than they had done the first time.
If our old friend had taken the law into his hands in the first instance, and, with a "Now then, this is not a smoking car," peremptorily ordered them either to desist or to get out, as we have often heard under similar circumstances, his opportunity for serving his Master would have been ended so far as that journey was concerned. But his gracious ways had pierced beneath the rough exterior, and touched a tender spot in all their hearts.
He was quick to seize his opportunity. Looking across to one of his friends who sat in the farther corner of the coach, he called out, "What a remarkable verse that is that says, 'Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.' "
Then continuing, he said: "Certainly I knew that I was a sinner, and had committed many sins; I was unjust, and far away from God; but then, Christ suffered for my sins—what a wonderful thing! And He, the Just One, too, took the place of me, the unjust guilty sinner. Oh, what love was this!"
Much more in the same strain followed, to which all the young men listened most attentively. It seemed as if they must; he had gained an influence over them which they could not resist. Or was this the constraining love of Christ in action?
Presently his hand dived down to the depths of the inside breast pocket of his coat. His every movement was watched intently by the gang. Out came a tract. Its title was, "Your Dying Hour!"
Holding it in his hand for a moment or two, he then looked quietly from one to another in the coach. "I wish I had one to give you each, but this is the last I have left." He paused.
"I feel this to be a very serious matter. I am sure this booklet contains a message from God to one of you. But which one is to have it?"
Again he paused. Every eye was fixed upon the speaker. "A thought just strikes me," he said. "I will give it to the one who is going to die first."
For some minutes a pin might have been heard to drop; at length one of them gasped out, "I hope it won't be me, sir."
"My young friend," replied the evangelist, "I will give it to you. Of course, I do not know whether you will die first, but I charge you solemnly to read this book carefully through one hour before you die."
The train pulled up at the station. The young men got out, leaving the three Christians alone again in the coach, praying that this arrow shot at a venture might pierce the hearts of not a few of them.
As the train moved away from the station the group of young men were seen standing close together on the platform reading the book. The day of Christ alone will declare the full result of that day's incident.
Reader, there may be but one hour before you die. Are you ready?