John and Marvin had been the closest of companions for a long time. Now they were boys fast approaching the time when they would be considered men, and they had many things in common. They had worked together and gone many places together. But there was very little thought of God with them, and they were quite satisfied with the world, themselves, and each other.
God had His eye on these boys, and they were to be given an opportunity to hear the gospel.
On a Sunday evening in a mid-western city, we find John and Marvin walking down the street together. They had done the same thing many times and had plans for this night also. Presently they came to a lighted store building with a sign in the window stating that the gospel would be preached at 7:30. Both stopped, read the sign, and looked in. Then John broke the silence:
“Marvin, I’m going in there.”
Marvin, on the contrary, shrugged his shoulders and bluntly replied,
“Well, I’m not.”
Marvin’s refusal did not change John’s mind, and for once these two bosom companions parted company. Marvin went on his way for an evening of pleasure; John went into the gospel meeting.
When the latter entered the room, a short man arose to peach. After the singing of a hymn and prayer, he opened his Bible and began to tell of man’s great need, his lost condition, and how God in His great love had sent His Son to die on the cross to save sinners. The power of the Word of God reached John. He realized his need and accepted Jesus as his Saviour that very night. It was indeed a happy day for John, for he had “passed from death unto life.” He had been walking down the street that evening, a lost man on the road to hell, but by night he was a saved man, on the road to heaven. He could now sing from the heart those lines:
“O happy day that fixed my choice
On Thee my Saviour and my God,”
Marvin continued in his course he learned that his old friend and companion had been saved, but he cared not. He made his choice also. With nothing now in common, these old friends never came together again. That very Sunday night when they stood in front of the gospel meeting-room, the decisions were made that parted them for good in this world, and, very likely, in the world to come also.
Have you, too, heard the gospel, and made the same choice that John made that night? If you have, you have every right to be happy. If you have not yet accepted Jesus as your Saviour, you have no right to be happy, because you are on the broad road that leads to destruction. May you come to Jesus and find Him as your Saviour before it is too late! Be careful what choice you make.
If you have found Jesus as your Saviour, I beg you to drop your unsaved companions, as John did that night. You cannot possibly go on with them, and please the Lord who died for you. Let your light shine as the young man in our story did he was always ready to testify to what the grace of God did for him.
“Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven.” Matt; 10:32.
ML 12/28/1941