THIS solemn and awful fact which I now relate took place some years ago. Mr. L— was living without hope and without—God in the world-like the vast multitude today who are on the broad road that leadeth to destruction-having his fill with pleasure, worldly society and sin, when one day, whilst in the very height of gaiety and fashion, he was taken seriously ill with no hope of recovery. His wife saw very plainly that he was sinking and rapidly nearing the border of eternity. Deeply anxious about his soul's eternal welfare, she went to fetch a Christian woman who had just recently been converted and was happy in the Savior's love, knowing that she now had eternal life through faith in the Son of God, and that she was cleansed from her sins by the precious blood of Jesus (1 John 5:12, 1312He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:12‑13); Rev. 1:55And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (Revelation 1:5)).
When this Christian woman entered the room where the sufferer lay, Mr. L—fixed his eyes on her and asked, "What have you come for?" She said in her kind, loving, and gentle way, “To tell you about the love of God, to speak to you about Jesus the Son of God, who came into this world to seek and to save sinners; and to read to you from God's word." What do you think was Mr. L.’s response to this visitor's longing for his soul's salvation? “I don't want you, either to read to me from the Bible, or to pray with me, or to speak to me about the love of Jesus.”
Oh, how sad! In this way did he refuse the proffered mercy. He rejected the love of God, the precious blood of Jesus. Thus he preferred death rather than life, eternal misery rather than everlasting happiness! Unbelief is a terrible thing, it is a millstone hanging round a man's neck, dragging him down to hell and the lake of fire.
It is that which shuts the door of heaven against a man, and opens to him hell's door. “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool," says the wise man (Pray. 28:26). Far better to take the great heart of God and believe in His wonderful love (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)).
The dying man lingered but a short while. The last words from his parched lips were, “Hell, hell, hell!”
Dear reader, let this awful end of Mr. L—be a most solemn warning to you. For we read in the prophecy of Isaiah (33:14), “Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?”
Then let heaven and hell stand before thee in all their realities and remember that word, “Everlasting." "Heaven, "or" the lake of fire"! Which is to be thine eternal dwelling-place? Today is the time to make thy choice. Tomorrow may be too late. Today we point you to the cross with the Son of God there uplifted, suffering, bleeding, dying; and all for sinners. Oh, what stupendous mercy! Jesus says, " Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” May you come now and receive this rest for time and for eternity! God grant it may be so, to His praise and glory. Amen.
W. B.