TRAVELLING from L―to W — last month, I entered a carriage occupied by three ladies and one gentleman.
Just before leaving R—station one of the ladies asked if the train went through to O —. I replied, “No! you have to change at W — Junction.”
“But they told me it went through!”
“I am going to O—myself, and am quite sure we have to change, as this is a London train.”
“Had I not inquired again,” she said, “I should have gone straight on, as I felt sure I was all right.”
“It is a good thing to be put right when on a short journey, but how much more so when on a long one. We are all,” I said,
“Traveling to eternity,
and many think they are all right when they are all wrong.”
The word eternity produced a solemn silence in the carriage, and each one willingly received an Echoes of Mercy.
Whilst waiting at W — I again addressed the lady, and found signs of a real interest in eternal things, and I again pressed upon her the importance of immediate decision for Christ, for the Word of God says, “Now is the accepted time” (2 Cor. 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)).
She listened attentively, and appeared to appreciate the interest taken in her soul’s welfare; and as in the providence of God we traveled alone as far as O―I was able to speak of the uncertainty of life and the certainty of meeting God. Scripture says: “Boast not thyself of tomorrow.”
“The train may be smashed to pieces before we reach O―. I should go to heaven; where would you go?” I asked.
“I am not so sure as you,” she replied.
Opening my Bible at John 3. I said, “The 36th verse is divided into two parts; will you read it and tell me where you stand?” She read:
1St “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life;
2nd “And he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth upon him.”
“I am in the second,” she confessed.
“That is a very serious matter,” I said; “because it means that if the train were smashed and we were killed, you would be lost forever. Would you not like to be in the first part and have eternal life?”
“I would,” she replied.
Having pressed home her need of a Saviour and the reality of having to do with God, I said, “I am assured I have a message from God for you.” It is this: ‘My righteousness is near... My salvation shall be forever’ (Isa. 51:55My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust. (Isaiah 51:5) and 6).
“This may be your last chance. You may never see another sunrise. You must face the question now, and come to a decision. God brings you Christ that you may trust Him as your Saviour. You must either receive or reject Him. There is no middle course.”
This is equally true of you, my unsaved reader. God has brought Christ before you through this very book you are now reading. What is to be your decision? Dare you put it down unsaved? The call of God once more sounds in your ears. The Saviour knocks at your heart’s door. Dare you say, “Go thy way for this time: when I have a convenient season I will call for thee” (Acts 24:2525And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. (Acts 24:25)), and again close your eyes in sleep, knowing that ere another morning the message may come: “This night thy soul shall be required of thee” (Luke 13).
Fall down at once on your knees and cry to God to have mercy on your sin-stained, guilty soul, and rise not again until you have found rest and salvation in the Saviour and His work.
Addressing my fellow-passenger, I said, “What an awful thing it would be for you to stand at the Great White Throne and hear God say: “On 19th December 1903, in a railway train, I brought My salvation nigh, but you pushed it away from you. Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire.’
“What is to be your decision? Will you trust Him or refuse Him?”
“I will trust Him now,”
she replied.
“Be it known unto you...
Through this man...
The forgiveness of sins.”
“Here,” I said, “we learn that the very thing you desire to know, God wants you to know. But it is from the next verse we may learn how our sins may be forgiven.
“‘And by Him’ — yes, by Him, not by what we can do, but by what He did on the cross — ‘all that believe.’ Will you take your place now as you have never done before among the ‘all that believe’?”
“Yes, I will.” “What are the next two words?” “Are justified.” “Then are you justified?” “I must be if I believe?” “From how many things?” “From all things.”
“He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life.”
“Do you now believe on the Lord Jesus?” “Yes.” “Have you eternal life?” “I must have.” “How do you know it?” “Because it says so here.” “Exactly,” said I. “God says that all who believe on Him HAVE eternal life. There is time to turn to one more verse before we reach O—: will you read Romans 10:99That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9)?” “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
“Where is the Lord Jesus now?” “He is in heaven.” “Who raised Him from the dead?” “God.” “Do you believe that in your heart?” “I do.” “Then are you saved?” “Yes, I am.”
“Is your mother a Christian?” “Oh yes,” she replied, and her face brightened at the remembrance of it. “And are your friends at O — saved people?” “Yes.” “What are you going to do when you get there?”
“Tell them I am saved.”
As we were now nearing O―I said, Then you have these three things:
Forgiveness of sins.
Eternal life.
Salvation.
“All are present possessions, made good to faith by the abiding work of Christ and the unchanging word of God.”
After expressing her gratitude to me for pointing out the way of salvation so simply, I said, “It is yours now to go home, fall down on your knees, and give ‘thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: in whom we have redemption’ (Col. 1:12-1412Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (Colossians 1:12‑14)).”
Again I ask my reader, “Have you become the happy possessor of the unsearchable riches of Christ? If not, come to Him now, for
“Time is short,
Your soul is precious,
Jesus is worthy.”