“OH, I am so glad you’ve come! I’m in a queer state, that I am.”
“Why, my dear friend, what’s the matter?”
“Well, sir, the doctor has just been, and he gives me no encouragement whatever. He has examined me thoroughly this morning, and although he did not say ‘right out’ that I should die, I am sure he thought so, by the look of his face. The fact is, sir, I may die at any moment, for aught I know, and my soul is not prepared to meet God. I’ve talked about death many a time when I was well, and saw nothing very dreadful in it; but, oh dear! it seems an awful thing to me now. It’s a solemn thing to have it staring you straight in the face, and I know it’s not a great way off me, for the water from this dropsy is not far from my heart. Oh, how I wish I knew Christ as my Saviour, as you do! It’s not long since I sat on that chair, as well and as free from pain as you are now. As long as I was well, I lived on year after year caring nothing about my soul’s salvation; and just look at me now! Whatever must I do about my soul?” And saying this, he sank back on his pillow in an agony of mind.
“My dear friend, I know death is an awful thing to have to face without Christ; but I am glad to be able to tell you that for all those who give their hearts to Jesus, the sting has been taken from death, and the victory from the grave. The message of Christ’s gospel, when received in the heart, brings good tidings unto the meek; binds up the broken-hearted, proclaims liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound. (Isa. 61:11The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; (Isaiah 61:1).) And this blessed gospel is brought to you this morning. You know you are a guilty, lost sinner, but Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost.’ He now bids you, ‘Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.’ (Matt. 11:28-3028Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28‑30).) Cast yourself on Him as your Saviour, for He says (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24).), ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life.’”
God’s word, applied by the Holy Spirit, did its own blessed work. After calling upon our friend two or three times, and reading to him the third chapter of John, and other passages of God’s word, I went one day and found a great change in him.
“Well, my friend, you seem happier looking today than before! Have you found peace?”
“Yes, thank God, I have!”
“And have you had all fear taken away from your mind?”
“Yes, I’ve given mysen clean up to Jesus, clean up, to do what He likes wi’ me.”
“You are then able to rest in Jesus, are you?”
“Yes, I’ve given mysen clean up, altogether. If He likes to spare me, I’ll be a different man from what I’ve ever been before, but if He takes me, I’m not afraid to go, for I’ve given mysen clean up, and I believe He has accepted me.”
Time and circumstances have since tested severely the man’s profession. Amidst a house full of sickness, with nothing but the scant allowance of the parish for the maintenance of himself and his sick family, as well as death staring him daily in the face, he has trusted through all, and by the power of the Spirit and presence of God he has been enabled to praise God in the midst of his bodily and mental affliction.
Does not this incident show forth the reality of Christ’s salvation? How it can administer peace and joy to God’s children, even where earthly circumstances would seem to suggest that “all these things are against me”? Are we not enabled, by trusting Jesus, to find in practical experience that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:2828And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28))?
We ought, indeed, to thank God, deal reader, ought we not, for the wonderful worth of life-giving power, found in God’s book? How reasonable it seems, to expect that crowds of anxious enquirers would ever be found, asking the all-important question, “What must I do to be saved?” Yet such is not the case. Take a walk along the main streets of any of our large cities, speak to the crowds you meet, inquire what the great business and object of their lives is, and you will, with dismay and sorrow, find that the service of God is generally left out of the regular program of everyday work; it enters not into the thoughts, words, and deeds of the masses, but is put off till the sick-bed comes, till the heavy burden and sting of bereavement appears, till the face is wrinkled and the hairs are hoar with the frost of many winters.
Dear reader, beware, lest during the time of thy procrastination God may say unto thee, “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee,” and thou be found altogether unprepared to meet thy God. R. M.