IT was Christmas-tide, and in a West of 1 England village several of God's people were led to hold a gospel service, to which about one hundred and fifty persons were invited to hear the story of the wondrous grace of God.
Amongst the number invited were an old man and woman, who had passed nearly four-score winters, and a young man, an assistant in the village stores, who was much liked and respected by the villagers.
The night proved to be rough and wintry, but in spite of heavy rain the old couple came, and as the good news sounded forth, tears fell from their eyes, as they were moved by the loving invitation from the Savior—" Come unto Me.”
With great pleasure we heard the old people testify that they had realized they were sinners, and had accepted the Lord Jesus as their Savior. We visited them in their little cottage many times after that night, and found them simply trusting the Lord Jesus.
The young man refused to come to the service; in fact, although several pleaded with him to do so he laughingly refused, and seemed highly amused at the idea that he should be found in such a place, and so passed an opportunity which he never again had the privilege of accepting.
Some months after he was lying on a bed of sickness, taken suddenly ill with a most painful complaint; he lay unconscious and beyond all human aid—dying—yes, truly dying.
No hope for time, and no hope, we fear, for all eternity—he had lived without God and so he died, we fear, without Him. He is dead, and his body lies in the calm of a beautiful West Country churchyard, awaiting resurrection.
Resurrection to what? We fear, to face the great white throne judgment. For all who die without Christ will surely be raised up, and cannot escape the awfulness of eternal punishment as revealed so clearly in the Word of God.
Not long after the death of the young man we had the joy of being called to see the old woman, who was lying on her death bed. She was so happy, and gave us a loving welcome.
“I be so glad to see thee once more before I go,”
was her hearty greeting.
We asked her if she was truly ready, had she a doubt or fear, or was she really simply trusting Jesus?
Her answer was: “Yes, I be ready—I be all right-yes, I be trusting Jesus," and in less than twenty-four hours she had passed away—to be with the Lord Jesus.
Her body, too, lies beneath the sod in a beautiful churchyard, and is also awaiting resurrection—not to judgment, thank God, but to eternal life.
What made the difference between the young man and old woman? Just this: Both alike were sinners, and both alike deserved the judgment of God. In the one case, the old woman owned she was a sinner and deserved the punishment of her sins—but saw that Jesus died for sinners, and therefore for her. She believed what God had said about Him and His work, and trusted in Him and was saved. She rested her soul on such verses of God's Word as the following: "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16.) "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24.)
The young man refused to own he was a sinner-therefore saw no need of salvation. He refused the Savior, and died unsaved.
Reader! we have found in the Lord Jesus Christ a full, free and eternal salvation. Have you? If not, why not? He invites you to come with loving entreaty: "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matt. 11:28.)
If, however, you refuse to come, then those deeply solemn words of God will ring in your ears when too late for mercy: " Because I have called and ye refused; I have stretched out My hand, and no man regarded; but ye have set at naught all My counsel, and would none of My reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; when your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come upon you." (Prov. 1:24-27.)
In face of the wonderful love of God, who gave Jesus to die for you,
Why will ye die?
F. W. C.