F―was employed by a large firm. He was a steady, hard-working young man, had held his situation for several years, and was respected by his employer. He had been married some little time when his wife was suddenly taken very ill, and had to undergo an operation in the hospital.
Feeling anxious as to the result of the operation be spoke about his trouble to a young man whom lie knew was a Christian, and who was employed in the same firm. He was told that it was no doubt God’s voice speaking to his soul, and he was urged earnestly to accept there and then God’s priceless gift― eternal life. The Gospel was put before him in a simple way, the young man he went to, feeling led by God to speak to him. He was spoken to of God’s wondrous love in the gift of His only beloved son, that whosoever believed in Him should not perish, but have eternal life; of God’s righteousness demanding the death of the sinner, but of His wondrous grace in giving His only begotten Son to die, and how that, through Jesus bearing in His own precious body the punishment of sin, God could justify and declare righteous all that believed in Him; that salvation was God’s gift, all of grace from first to last, and was not obtained by works of righteousness which we had done. After having heard this, he expressed his astonishment at the simplicity of the Gospel, and confessed that he had never heard it spoken of so simply, though he was also heard to say afterward, “There will be plenty of time for me when I get old.” His wife, who had meanwhile been the subject of much prayer, was in God’s mercy restored to health, and things went on for a time much the same as before.
The young man who had spoken to him, still feeling deeply concerned with regard to F―’s soul, as well as his responsibility to God, wrote to him beseeching him in even plainer language, if possible, than before, to accept Christ as his Saviour, finishing the letter with the words, “Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth” (Prov. 27:11Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. (Proverbs 27:1)). Not many weeks after this F―happened to run a nail in his foot, which he thought little of at the time, but which ultimately caused him to be taken to the hospital, where he fell into convulsions, and after two days of intense agony, died of lockjaw. With what fearful reality was the scripture proved in his case, and how terrible the consequence of the willful rejection of Christ.
And now, dear reader, how is it with your soul? Have you been cleansed in the precious blood of Christ, and thereby obtained forgiveness of all your sins, or are you, like this poor young man was, ―a Christ rejecter? Are you likewise saying, “There is time enough yet,” forgetting the fearful warning now before you, resulting, may be, in your perishing forever in hell-fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. You cannot say you have not been warned. Oh, we beseech you, fly to Jesus. Take shelter beneath His precious blood, which cleanses from all sin, and is the foundation of every joy and everlasting bliss. Oh, believe in Jesus the Son of God, who came down to this earth, from His throne in glory, to suffer and to die, in order that you might live forever with Him in the glory to which He has gone back. He is the only one who can meet your need and satisfy your heart forever. Trust Him now. “Behold now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2)).