Alfred Lake, as we will call him, was an assistant in a drapery establishment in a pretty seaside town in New Zealand. He was but a youth of seventeen: his life was opening out before him.
A senior salesman in the same establishment was an earnest Christian, and often he spoke to the young assistant about things that really matter. One day he gave him a booklet, written by a leading New Zealand business man, entitled, THE REASON WHY. In it the author tells his large business staff why he is a Christian, and places before them their need of a Savior, and calls upon them to make their decision.
Space is left at the end of the publication in which the reader can record his decision of “for” or “against,” no middle ground being possible. The young man found the booklet interesting reading, but alas! the world, its pleasures, allurements, and sins drew him the wrong way. He filled in the space as follows:―
Decision Form.
I have thought carefully over this matter, and have decided to reject Christ as my Savior.
I call God to witness my signature.
Signed: Alfred Lake Address: ― Street Date: 7th August, 1921
Aged 17 years.
He returned it to the senior salesman with a mocking smile.
Little did the poor lad dream how soon his decision would be irrevocable. Nine hours later a father with breaking heart was viewing the mangled remains of his only son.
Leaving the warehouse that bright afternoon, Alfred decided to spend his half-holiday in a township some fourteen miles distant.
A night of revelry was spent. Past midnight the powerful motor car was flying at top speed along the now deserted highway. Only three miles remained to be traversed, when suddenly a dark object loomed ahead. Brakes were violently applied, wheels skidded, but in vain. The impact was terrible. Alfred was shot through the windscreen, rolled along some distance on the dusty road, and lay still in death. The cow, the cause of the accident, paid the penalty with her life. The driver miraculously escaped with a few cuts and bruises.
The reader may be shocked at the young man filling in his decision form, saying, “I have decided to reject Jesus Christ as my Savior.” You may not have had the temerity to fill in a form in that awful way, but we ask you, what is your present attitude to the Savior? Are you an accepter or a rejecter? There is no middle course. You may have many years to run, but the end must come. When your dead body lies in your coffin where will your soul be? It is better to face these things now. If an unbeliever, your decision is the same as Alfred Lake’s was. We warn you.
But even now God waits to be gracious. The Lord Jesus still says, “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)). “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)). He means what He says. He paid the price in dying on the cross of Calvary and bearing the judgment of sin so that God can be “just and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” (Romans 3:2626To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Romans 3:26)).
Fill in the “decision form” of your heart and say, “I have decided to accept the Lord Jesus as my Savior.” God grant it.
GET RIGHT WITH GOD!