MORE than twenty-five years ago, a beloved brother in the Lord, now with Christ, asked me if I could make it convenient to call on a young man then living at Camberwell, in the south of London, who was unconverted and who, he feared, was dying from consumption.
Well do I remember that last Saturday of the closing year when, leaving my office, I made my way to the home of John Kelly, then a stranger to me. The brother above mentioned had told me that he thought I should find J. K. rather anxious about his soul. So, lifting up my heart to God for divine guidance, I went in the confidence that God would, in His mercy, give me the right message.
I had some difficulty in finding the house, and had almost given up in despair, when I was directed to an out of the way back street. Knocking at the door, it was opened by a pale young man of about two and twenty, who bore on his face the traces of some great sorrow. He invited me to come in, and led me along a dark passage into a tiny, scantily furnished room, where the embers of a small fire were slowly dying out in the grate. The room was indeed poor and wretched, but still more so was its occupant.
Taking a seat, I stated the nature of my errand, when suddenly J. K. burst into tears, and told me about as sad a story as I have ever listened to. It would appear that only nine short months before, he had married a young woman to whom he was most deeply attached, and, amidst his sobs and moans, he went on to tell me that on the Christmas day, just passed, he had laid his loved one in the grave.
His sorrow knew no bounds, and while I was doing all I could to comfort his broken heart, he rose from his seat, and on his knees cried aloud to God to have mercy on his soul. Never shall I forget those agonizing shrieks, as, in the deepest distress, he exclaimed, "O God, save me now; I beseech thee, for Christ's sake, save me now." As he repeated the words again and again, I was so overcome that my poor heart fairly trembled, and kneeling beside him, I besought the Lord, amidst my tears, that He would indeed be pleased to reveal Himself to this deeply convicted sinner. After a short interval, we rose from our knees, and for a few moments he seemed quieter as I told the old, old story of the gospel of God's grace. Eagerly did he listen as I continued to press upon him the love of God, the uncertainty of life, his own ill-health, and the vital importance of a complete surrender. Completely overcome, he again fell on his knees, and cried bitterly, “O God, I beseech Thee to save me now; do save me now.
I felt it was a critical moment. The young man's face bore unmistakable testimony of what was passing within. Bending down over him I said, “My dear friend, you and I may never meet again; but God is both able and willing to save you now; and this is His own message to you, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,' for the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth from all sin." My time was now gone, and as I bade him farewell, I besought him to rest his soul on the scriptures I had quoted, and he would find peace and joy through believing.
“I will," was his quiet reply.
Thanking God in my heart, I bade him, Good-bye, little thinking I should see him no more. Two days later I heard from the one who had asked me to visit him that dear J. K. had passed from death unto life, that the dark clouds had all been chased away by the sunshine of God's love, and that he was thoroughly rejoicing in the Lord. My friend told me, further, that J. K.'s doctor had said that the young man's only chance of recovery was to go at once to his native place in the Isle of Man, and so he went. Six weeks after, however, the last gleam of hope had died away. A black-edged letter, received from his brother, brought me the sad tidings that J. K. had passed away, but his end was perfect peace, and that in his dying moments he had borne most precious testimony to the grace that had sought and saved him.
Beloved reader, how is it with you? Time is short, and the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Are you ready to meet Him? Or are you still lost and in your sins? Of one thing I am sure-that if you are as earnest about your soul's salvation as dear John Kelly was, you too will soon find out that his Saviour will be your Saviour without a moment's waiting, and that He is both able and willing to save you now. For His word declares that "Now is an acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Cor. 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)).