Victor Emmanuel, King of Italy, when Prince Royal, was witnessing some artillery experiments when the cannon burst, scattering pieces of metal in all directions. Everyone present ran away except the Prince, who presently called them back. “No use running now,” he said, “all the danger is over.” Sinners, “Flee from the wrath to come.” There is danger for you every moment you are unsaved—danger of your being lost for all eternity. Your immortal soul is in terrible peril— “the soul that sinneth it shall die,” and only Christ can give you life. A patient was in a doctor’s consulting room. He had been examined, and now, looking in the doctor’s face, he asks, “What do you think of me today, doctor?” The speaker was a man in what we call the prime of life, but upon whose face the hectic flush and the sunken eye told only too plainly of consumption.
“I think you are very ill,” said the doctor, quietly.
There was a short pause, and then the sick man spoke again. “What do you think of my case? shall I get well again?” and he gazed anxiously up into the doctor’s face.
There was a longer pause, and then the doctor said, slowly but kindly, “No, my friend, I do not think you will; you are dying!”
A look of anguish and of despair came over the dying man’s face. Eternity in all its reality was opening up before him, and the past was still unforgiven. He had been moral and upright in his ways before men, a good and steady workman, a kind and most affectionate husband and father, but he felt now that in all, that there was nothing for God. He had only lived for himself and for this world, and now he was leaving it, and had nothing to rest on; little wonder that his face reflected the trouble of his soul. He found peace, through faith in. Christ’s finished work, and so passed from death unto life.
Many have been almost persuaded—it may be you—and have died in their sins almost at the gates of heaven. Look at this illustration. A young man has been caught in a fearful storm and has struggled long against it. He has seen, as his strength failed him, the lights of his home, but had died before he could pass across the doorstep. What a terrible thing it will be for you if you are lost after being almost saved! Ah! men and women and children, many of you have been prayed over, wept over, have been entreated to come to Jesus. You have been over and over again on the point of decision, but you have never come out for Christ. Beware, the storm of death may come upon you and carry you off into eternity—dead and lost—and it may be close to the gates of heaven.