In the city of Berlin a young fellow had taken lodgings, that he might there devote himself to the study of the law. Suddenly he fell ill, and a young doctor, with whom he was intimate, watched over him with the most unwearied love and patience during the time the illness lasted. But, alas! both of them were utter strangers to God and His grace. As the young student’s illness increased in severity, the doctor ordered his bed to be moved as far as possible from the window, that the strong light might not affect the sufferer. So the bed was moved to the other end of the room and placed close to the partition which separated the next room from his, which was occupied by the owner of the house. The bed had not been moved long when the sufferer heard a low voice proceeding from the adjoining room. He listened; and first softly, then in louder tones, he heard:
“Today thou livest yet,
Today turn thee to God;
For ere tomorrow comes,
Thou mayest be with the dead.”
These words (with others too) he heard repeated over and over again, but these were rivetted upon his mind and touched his conscience. When the doctor came next day to see him, he took his pulse and then inquired how he felt. All he got was a piercing look and those words he had heard the day before
“Today thou livest yet,” etc.
“What is the matter with you?” the puzzled doctor asked. “What has come over you? You are quite changed. Were it not that the fever has abated and your pulse quieter I should say your mind was wandering.”
The only answer he got from the young man was:
“Today thou livest yet, Today turn thee to God; For ere tomorrow comes, “Thou mayest be with the dead.”
The doctor left him unwillingly, puzzled at his strange manner, without being able to account for it. The words followed him also, and followed him wherever he went. On the next day when he visited his friend he found him better and calmer, but in real distress of soul searching the Bible to find out the way of salvation. God had spoken to them both, first to the young student, then to the young doctor through him, which ended in the conversion of them both. How strange and wonderful are God’s ways, how great is His grace toward poor lost sinners!
On the day the young student was moved to the other side of the room, it so happened that the landlord’s son not having learned his lesson at school, had been put into the corner to learn the verses of an old hymn, by his father, and from there the student heard those words which came as a voice from God to his soul.
Dear reader, have you ever pondered this solemn truth:
“Today thou livest yet”?
You may try to shut your eyes to the solemn tact that someday you will have to die, but there it stands, for it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. In view of that appointment, which, keep you must, we beseech you
Today turn thee to God.”
“But” you say, “there is plenty of time yet.”
My reader, be not so rash as to risk your soul upon an excuse so foolish. Behold, NOW is the accepted time: behold, NOW is the day of salvation.” Sudden death is not an unusual thing and you may be its next victim:
“For ere tomorrow comes,
Thou mayest be with the dead.” solemn instance of salvation neglected came under my notice lately. A young lady was about leaving her home for D— in South America. Two weeks before sailing she called upon a friend who was sick and in course of conversation he asked if she ever thought about her soul? Her reply was: “I am young yet, I have many years before me, I must enjoy the pleasures of this world and then I shall give a thought as to my soul’s future.” The time came for her departure; as she said “goodbye” to a young man of her acquaintance, she added: “Perhaps we shall never meet again.” The words were lightly spoken and lightly received, but many a true word is spoken in jest, and three days after the schooner had sailed news came that she had been run down by an outward bound steamer and sunk immediately after the collision. A few passengers were saved, the others went down in the ill-fated vessel, and among them was the young-lady, who, as she thought, had many years to live, and whose soul’s welfare was entrusted to that uncertain future. Salvation neglected in time means damnation for eternity. Dear young reader, why will you still refuse God’s gracious offer of pardon? Be not deceived by Satan. Those promises of long life and good days, come only from him who is a liar from the beginning. This present moment is the only one you can call your own. Now is salvation within your reach. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” Tomorrow it may have gone! gone! forever! what then of the eternity that lies ahead. Dare you enter it as you are—unfit for God and unprepared?
Which will you choose: God’s NOW or Satan’s TOMORROW?
“Today thou livest yet,
Today turn thee to God;
For ere tomorrow comes,
Thou mayest be with the dead.”
ML 08/28/1904