It was a bright summer’s day, and the birds outside were singing merrily, the bees were humming, and the sunbeams danced gaily over tree tops, hills, gardens, and valleys, while the waves in the lovely bay looked more beautiful still in the sunshine.
But let us look into a quiet room close by and find out what makes it so quiet and still on such a glorious morning.
A man is kneeling by a table and his face is buried in his hands, and we see at once that he is moved by intense sorrow.
No sound escapes from his lips, but in his heart a cry is going up to the throne of grace, that God would strengthen him for a great trial that lies before him, and that if it be the will of God he might go through the trial and return once more to his beloved family.
The man’s name is G. M., and he knows that there is but a step between him and death. On the morrow he has to undergo an operation, and it is doubtful if he will survive it.
Not that he is afraid of death, for lie is ready to enter into the joy of his Lord, yet he cannot help thinking of the loved ones he would leave behind in his own home, and the sorrow it would be to them.
But as he knelt, and committed all into the hands of his heavenly Father, certain promises came to his mind with comfort and healing, and he rose up quite calm.
The morrow came at length, and quietly each farewell was said, till all had said good-bye except Evelyn, his little daughter, who stood holding his hand.
He stooped and gave a long last kiss on her rosy lips, and then walked slowly down the garden path to the little gate where a vehicle was waiting for him. But something caused him to stop short and turn around.
Evelyn stood on the garden path, her eyes eagerly following her father’s movements, but she was singing, and he stopped to listen to the well-known words:
“Ask the Saviour to help you,
Comfort, strengthen, and keep you;
He is willing to aid you,
He will carry you through.”
A smile came into his face, and he nodded to let her see that he had heard, and then he passed on.
“He will carry you through!” O! how those words rang in his ears and brought comfort to his heart, and when on the following day he passed through deep waters of pain, and all seemed dark around him, still he seemed to hear those words and they kept him calm.
It was all over at last, and, as he lay so white and still, a doctor leaned over the bed and whispered,
“My friend, it is all over; you will live now.”
“Thank God,” said the sick man: only two words, but they came from the bottom of his heart, and the doctor wondered at the calmness of his patient.
Many days passed by, but each one saw an improvement in the sick man, and he began to look forward to the time when he should be able to return to his own home.
One day the doctor came in, and sitting down beside him said,
“Will you tell me what kept you so calm all the time you were undergoing the operation?”
A smile came to his pale face, and he slowly repeated the verse:
“Ask the Saviour to help you,
Comfort, strengthen, and keep you;
He is willing to aid you,
He will carry you through.”
But before we can really pray to the Lord Jesus to help us in our dark moments and difficulties we must first know Him as our Saviour, and that is what I desire all the readers of this little book to know for themselves.
He died for all, but only those receive forgiveness and blessing who own they are sinners before God, and who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as their own Saviour. He is willing to bless you, but are you willing to receive His blessing?
I recently had a letter from a young Christian girl who is in business, and so meets with a good many people from time to time. She writes that she is surprised how many say they mean to be Christians someday, after they have seen a bit of life.
I am afraid this thought is in the minds of many. When death comes, they would like to die the death of the righteous, but do not want to live the life of the righteous.
That is a very selfish way to act—to live my life for my own pleasure and then expect God to save me at the last. But we read of some who sought admission to the marriage feast, after the door had been closed, and to them the Lord said, I never knew you as Mine. Depart from Me, into outer darkness. May this never be your portion.