I DO not think I shall ever forget the first day I saw poor Tom. It was the beginning of many visits, and it is my desire now to tell, God helping me, of his triumphant entry into paradise.
A terrible disease had seized him, and it was evident to all that he would never be a strong man again. He was quite young, and had a young wife and a little baby. My earnest desire was to lead him to the Good Shepherd, who had so loved him as to die for him; but I was not brave enough to speak to him, and, sad to say, he did not seem to care to hear anything about Jesus. So I only carried him little books, and used to try to say a word sometimes, but there was never the slightest response. More than once he had been angry when servants of God had called to see him to tell him of the love of Jesus.
For many months this state of things continued. Much suffering and pain were his, but he always clung to the hope of getting better. Poor dear Tom! He knew nothing then of the things that belonged to his peace (Luke 19:4242Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. (Luke 19:42)), and his only desire was to live on in this world, without God and without Christ. But earnest prayers were going up for him to the God of love and mercy, who heard and answered, though it was His will to try our faith first.
I must say, I was getting discouraged, for nothing seemed to touch him, still God never let me give up praying for him.
In the beginning of the year, I heard an evangelist preach, who, as I was leaving the hall, held out his hand to me, saying, “Are you saved?” My reply came readily, “Oh yes! I am, but I know somebody who is not and he is very ill; will you go and see him?” And there and then it was arranged that the next day I should take him to see Tom. Accordingly we went together. The evangelist delivered the message faithfully, and on leaving he held his stick out over Tom’s head and said,” Tom, believe me, the wrath of God is hanging over your head, just like my stick is. The Bible says it, and it must be true.”
The visits were continued, and at last, after many months, there was a change.
Dear Tom was aroused, he now was always glad to hear the word of God. Still for many weeks the blessing lingered; many who were praying felt sure it was coming, yet he could not grasp the Saviour as his own. But, thanks be to God, the day did come when Tom could look up with a smile, and say, “Jesus is mine, and I am His. He loved me, and gave Himself for me.”
Words cannot describe his joy, and that of his loving Christian friends, who had so long watched and wept for his soul. During the beautiful summer weather he was able to get out, and used often to go to the evangelist’s house, and sit in his pleasant garden, learning from him more of the love of the Saviour, who was soon going to call him to that land where the inhabitants shall no more say, “I am sick.”
The winter came on again, and slowly but very surely dear Tom got worse. He did not keep his bed, but sat propped up in his easy chair, so white and thin, and such a terrible cough he had; but now he was always ready and longing to listen to a few words from the Bible. He suffered a great deal; it was wonderful how his poor wasted body could bear so much.
He several times broke a blood vessel, and more than once we thought he was dying, but he rallied again. His constant prayer was, “Dear Lord, take me home; but, oh! make me patient to wait Thy time.” And the Good Shepherd tenderly carried him all those painful, weary days. His favorite hymn was, “Safe in the arms of Jesus,” and many times I have sung it to him, with a full heart and trembling voice. He was indeed a bright witness to the power of the grace of God. On the 4th of March, 1887, he entered into the rest that remaineth for the people of God. Dear Tom had reached home at last to go no more out! His tired feet would never more tread the sin-stained floor of earth. And in that day when the Lord makes up His jewels (Mal. 3:16-1716Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. 17And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. (Malachi 3:16‑17)) he will shine in the glory.
My dear friend, will you come to the loving Saviour who saved Tom? He loves you; oh! do you love Him? He is not willing that any should perish. Now is the accepted time; today is the day of salvation; but there is another day coming, and coming quickly, a day of gloom and thick darkness (Amos 2:1616And he that is courageous among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day, saith the Lord. (Amos 2:16)), the day of the Lord’s anger (Joel 2:11Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand; (Joel 2:1) and 2), and oh! in that day, where will you be? Where will you spend eternity? God loves you, and Jesus says, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28).) Is not this rest worth having? Do put you trust in the Lord Jesus, and then you to will be able to sing―
“Jesus, my heart’s dear Refuge,
Jesus has died for me;
Firm on the Rock of Ages
Ever my trust shall be.”
A.B.