Dorcas Dublin lived in a small, well-kept house in Brighton Village, on the island of Saint Vincent. When I first visited her, she was an elderly lady who had known the Lord Jesus Christ as her Saviour for many years. Since that first visit, I have been in her home several more times. One afternoon as we sat talking, she told me a most interesting story that I have never forgotten.
For many years Dorcas worked as a nurse in the hospital in the city of Kingstown. As she cared for her patients, she tried never to miss a chance to tell them about Christ, the Saviour of sinners.
One evening as she was making her last rounds for the night, she noticed a young, twelve-year-old boy, lying on his cot, who seemed to be unconscious. She felt a sudden need to try to reach the boy with the gospel. As she remembered later, the Spirit of God must have been nudging her, and she’s so thankful she obeyed.
Not knowing whether the boy could hear her or not, she bent over his weak, sick body and began to recite gospel verses from God’s Word, the Bible. She hoped that if he could still hear, the verses would lead him to the feet of the Saviour who loved him and died for him.
Here are some of the verses that she recited to the boy: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)). “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15)). “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:1212Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)). “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)). “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:1313For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13)). “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)).
Finally, she repeated the well-known words of Paul and Silas to the jailor in Philippi. The jailer had asked the question, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:3030And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? (Acts 16:30)). Leaning over close to the boy’s ear and speaking very slowly, Dorcas repeated the answer in verse 31: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”
As she straightened up, the boy opened his eyes, looked straight into her face and said, “Nurse, I believe.” And then he closed his eyes, took one last breath and died.
As I listened to Dorcas telling me this account with tears streaming down her face, I remembered that God is certainly a God of love and mercy. And yet I also realized how real eternity is and how important it is to be saved. The dying boy in Dorcas’s care had one last opportunity to be saved in his final moments on earth. Boys, girls and grown-ups, never assume that this will be the case with you! The only time God promises to you is NOW! The Bible faithfully and plainly states, “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)).
If you are not trusting in Jesus, then receive Him RIGHT NOW! The coming of the Lord Jesus is very near, and you do not know how long you have to live. This may be your last chance!
A bumper sticker on a car in front of me caught my attention. This is what it said:
“Those who wait until the eleventh hour to be saved,
Usually die at half-past ten!”
Remember, the best thing in this life is to be ready for the next life.
Are you ready?
ML-11/13/2011