“NEXT week I am going to N―races, and I intend having a jolly time,”―and the speaker, a tall fine-looking young man, rubbed his hands with evident satisfaction at the prospect before him, as he addressed himself to a young friend of his, who was a Christian, and who had often spoken to his Christless friend about his soul.
“Are you?” answered his friend, “but, T―, next week might find you in eternity, and if you do not trust my Saviour you―”
“That’s enough,” T―interrupted; “that nonsense again! Look here, J―, I am young and strong, and I mean to enjoy life! Ha! ha! me turn a Christian! Not yet, at any rate. Oh, no; I intend driving to N―races next week, where I mean to enjoy myself! It’s pleasure, not preaching, I want,” and with a sarcastic laugh he hurried away.
Oh, dear unsaved reader, do not turn a deaf ear to the loving entreaties of the sinner’s Friend (like poor T―), but “come now,” for “behold, now is the accepted 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)). As you read this paper, do not you hear that loving voice once more whispering into your heart,
“Come unto Me, come unto Me;
Oh! shall He call in vain?”
Oh, I entreat you not to be like poor T―, whose answer was Not yet; or like Felix, who said (see Acts 24:2525And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. (Acts 24:25)), “When I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.” Come now!
“Just as thou art, without one trace,
Of love or joy or inward grace,
Or meekness for the heavenly place;
Oh, needy sinner, come.”
Dear reader, remember “He that, being often reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy” (Prov. 29:11He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. (Proverbs 29:1)). Oh, put off no longer; there is tremendous danger in delay. Trust Jesus now. “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isa. 1:1818Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18)).
A little more than a week after poor T― expressed himself in such a reckless manner, he had passed into eternity, I fear, unsaved.
He caught cold, which in a very short time developed alarming symptoms, through neglect, and all the hope the doctor gave, when called into his poor godless mother was, “Well, he has a good constitution, and he may pull through.”
Surrounded by relatives and friends who were strangers to grace and to God, there was no one to speak a word to dying T―about his soul. He gradually grew worse, and, on the night precious to the great race day on which he was going to enjoy himself so much, as his mother stood by his death-bed along with some relatives, T―turned his eyes, now almost glazed in death, and, with such an anxious look, said, “Mother, I’m dying.” His mother, almost broken-hearted, tried to soothe him, but without avail; and with the lines of anguish deepening on his brow, he cried in pitiful tones, “I’m dying! oh mother, mother, pray for me!” And with these words on his lips T―passed into eternity.
Whoever you may be who read the story of poor T―, remember God’s time to save you is now. Oh, dear friend, is the precious Saviour not worthy of the confidence of your heart. I am sure He is. You have nothing to do; all is done. Only “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)). May you by the grace of God say―
“Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidet me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come.”
If you cannot say that, I pray you earnestly not to forget that
“Tonight that gate may close, and seal thy doom;
Then the last, low, long cry, ‘No room, no room!’
No room, no room!
Oh, woeful cry, ‘No room!’”
J. A. D.