A YOUNG man, knowing that he must soon leave this world, asked the nurse to send him a Christian. She therefore sent for the chaplain; but he could not understand the young man at all. At last, however, a Christian was found and brought to him, and they conversed together. It came out that for ten years the young man had known the Lord Jesus as his Saviour, yet he had not let people know it. In other words, he had not shone for Christ, but had only thought of pleasing himself. And now, when the Lord was going to take him away to be with Himself (for Christ’s sheep shall never perish), there was no joy, because he had not testified of Christ.
The young man’s object in desiring to speak to a Christian was that he might warn others who belonged to the Lord, how sad it is to be left down here, and not to shine for Him. It is only for a “little while.” God grant that we may shine brightly,
“You in your small corner,
And I in mine,”
and live, not unto ourselves, but unto Him who died for us and rose again.
ML 05/24/1903