George was a boy about twelve years of age. One night he dreamed that he saw a bright light in the sky with many stars around it. As he looked, the sky opened, and the Lord came out and took all true believers up to be with Himself, and the rest were left behind. The people in the street where he lived were filled with astonishment, and could not think where their neighbors had gone.
It was only a dream, but God sometimes speaks to people by dreams, as you will see if you get your Bibles and read Job 33:14-3014For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. 15In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; 16Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, 17That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. 18He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword. 19He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain: 20So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat. 21His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out. 22Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers. 23If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show unto man his uprightness: 24Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. 25His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth: 26He shall pray unto God, and he will be favorable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness. 27He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; 28He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light. 29Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man, 30To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living. (Job 33:14‑30). Well, He certainly spoke to George that night, and I am glad to tell you that George listened to His voice.
Do you listen, dear reader, when God speaks to you? It may be by a dream, the death of a loved companion, or, as He most certainly has spoken to you, by His Word.
But to resume my story, George ban to think, Would he be left behind if the Lord were to come? Feeling he was not ready, he became so sad, that he could get no rest about the matter all the remainder of that week.
Saturday night came, but no rest nor peace came to his troubled soul. Then on Sunday he was left alone with his mother in the evening, and still burdened, he said to her, “Mother, how can I know that I am saved?”
“You must receive the message, George. That dream was a message from God to you, you must receive it,” she replied.
The following morning he told his mother that he was saved, that he had received the message.
George, like so many of those who read these pages, knew the plan of salvation in his head. He had been brought up by Christian parents, who had taught him from his earliest days about the blessed Saviour, who came to die and suffer for sinners on the cross. But though he knew all about it, he had not yet laid hold of it by simple faith until God sent him this message in a dream to teach him the necessity of being “ready.”
Now, dear young friends, will you let this be a message from God to you? Jesus is coming. What George dreamed will surely take place one day, and that soon, for He says, “Behold, I come quickly.” (Rev. 22:9-129Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. 10And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. 11He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. 12And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. (Revelation 22:9‑12).)
He will not take all. Which of you will go? God tells us in His Word, “They that were ready went in with Him (Jesus) to the marriage, and the door was shut” (Matt. 25:1010And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. (Matthew 25:10)). Oh! while there is yet time, come to the Lord Jesus, trust in Him, and you will be saved from the judgments that are coming on this poor world.
“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
I was reading in the newspaper a few years ago the account of a sleeping car taking fire, and of poor Dr. Arthur, who was traveling to Aberdeen, being burned to death.
At the inquest, one of the porters gave evidence that he thought all the passengers were rescued from the burning coach, for he looked in and could not see anybody. But for fear there should be anyone asleep, he cried out loudly at the door: “Is there anybody in here? If so, save yourself.” The Doctor was evidently in a deep sleep, perhaps rendered unconscious by the smoke, and quite unable to save himself. And so he perished.
Our Lord Jesus Christ did not treat us thus. He did not call out to us from His glorious throne in heaven, “Poor sinners, you are in great danger. Save yourselves.” No, He came into the world to SAVE sinners, “He loved us and gave Himself for us.”
“He died, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.”
ML 06/07/1959