A young lady was sleeping in bed one night. As a child she had been taught to read the Bible; but as she grew older she had enjoyed whatever pleasures the world could offer, and very few thoughts of the future had troubled her.
On this night she suddenly and unaccountably awoke from sleep and heard, as distinctly as if someone had spoken them in her ear, the words: "This night thy soul shall be required of thee.”
Thoroughly aroused, she lay trembling. Her previous knowledge of the Bible left no doubt in her mind as to whence came the words (Luke 12:2020But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? (Luke 12:20)), and as she pondered them sleep fled away and fear took its place. What should she do? She knew not the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and prayer was her only known resource.
"I felt," she said, "as if I must wrestle and struggle with God in prayer; as if I must call on Him to save me. Before morning I might be dead; and what then?”
Dear reader, if you have ever faced the thought of your sins, a holy God and the future, you can understand what her feelings were. God had spoken to her. He had applied this passage of Scripture long ago hidden in her memory, in living power to her soul by the Holy Ghost sent down here to convince the world of sin. She was like the lost sheep who knew that it was lost and after whom the Shepherd goes "until He find it.”
But what means could the Shepherd use to find this lost one thus calling on God? Scripture says: "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Rom. 10:1313For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13). Yes, blessed be God, so free is His grace that even if a soul be in ignorance of His way of salvation, He never turns away from one who calls on Him. He Himself finds the means for accomplishing His gracious ends. "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37).
As the frightened girl lay trembling and praying, suddenly and softly came stealing in on her soul the words: "Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise." Luke 23:4343And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:43).
Again it was the voice of God—His still small voice speaking. She heard, and her soul lived. No more fear for the future! Her night was turned to day. Instead of a night wherein she would be summoned into God's presence to hear His judgment of her sins, it had become a day wherein she could be glad and rejoice. She had cast herself upon Him who shed His blood on Calvary.
Very dimly at first did she see God's hand in this. Then calmly and trustingly she lay there thanking Him, realizing that she had indeed "passed from death unto life.”