Some years ago a coal miner attended a gospel meeting. While telling of God’s free salvation the speaker emphasized that all who were present at the meeting could be saved right now. The miner himself was not saved but he realized that he was a sinner and that God’s offer of salvation might not be made to him again.
After the meeting he waited in the hall to speak with the preacher, and in his simple way he said, “Didn’t you say I could have the blessing now?”
“Yes, my friend.”
“Will you pray with me then, for I’m not going away without it.”
And they knelt down there and prayed together. Sometimes in such cases Satan will do everything he can to get a person to change his mind. Perhaps that was what happened with the miner. Or possibly he felt that he should do something to earn salvation. Maybe Satan told him that if he got saved he couldn’t live like a Christian.
The two men continued praying and then the miner cried out, “I’ve got it now! I’ve got it now!” and his face reflected the joy that was now in his heart. He had seen that all he had to do was to simply trust in the Lord Jesus as his Saviour.
The next day the miner returned to the coal pit to work and during the day there was a frightful accident. A number of men died instantly and many others were injured seriously. One of the latter was the man who had been saved only the night before. He was brought up to the surface and laid on the ground.
The evangelist who had preached the gospel the night before was also at the scene seeking to comfort the injured men and the sorrowing families.
There were only minutes of life left to the miner when the preacher found him. The man of God sympathized with him and then he heard the dying miner’s last words: “Oh, I don’t mind, for I’ve got it — I’ve got it — it’s mine!”
He quietly passed away then, but all was well with him. He knew that when God said, “Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 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). God meant exactly that. Now means NOW, and not tomorrow. For the miner, tomorrow would have been too late. Won’t you take Jesus as your Saviour now?
ML 05/26/1968