IT was a bleak damp afternoon, and 1 had just taken my work and sat down comfortably beside the fire, promising myself a nice quiet time, when something said to me, “Go and see E ―,” a young man who lived in one of the cottages, and who had been for several weeks evidently dying. However, I did not feel in the least inclined to move, still less to get ready, and go out. So I argued to myself, he is not likely to be any worse since I saw him, and I can go on Monday; besides, the last twice I have been there he’s been asleep, and most likely would be now too went on busily connecting the stitches in my knitting, and feeling quite satisfied, when again a voice seemed to say, “Go and see E ―.”
This time I thought, Well I must go; perhaps he is worse. And, turning to my companion, said half reluctantly, as I looked out of the window, “I have some thoughts of going to see E―.” But it was in the hopes that she might prevent me, or rather agree with me that there was no immediate necessity. However, as she did not, and as the conviction deepened within me that it was of the Lord, I laid aside my work, and hastened to get ready.
Soon I was on the way, and a short walk brought me to the cottage. His mother met me at the door, and said, “Come in, Miss, if you please, E― has never been so bad; he is a little easier now, but all the morning he has been in great agony.” Going into the little home, I found the poor boy apparently asleep, propped up in bed with pillows, to make a little change in his position; his face white, pinched, and drawn, and his eyes closed. Once more Satan whispered, “What use in coming; he is not able to speak to you; and besides, now he is sleeping, better wait for another day, and not disturb him now.” But something seemed to hold me. And the poor mother went on to tell me of his sufferings, and his deep anxiety about his soul. Presently she said, “He is not sleeping now, and maybe if I go away he will speak more freely to you alone.” So she quietly left the room.
Oh, how powerless one feels to do aught for a soul on the very brink of eternity. Oh, the immensity of the thought, as the vast illimitable future presents itself before one, and the untold value in God’s sight of an immortal soul! O, thoughtless one, stop for a moment, and let me tell you this, You stand on the very threshold of eternity! You may not be disposed to believe me. Yet how narrow the boundary that separates from the unseen, and how short may be the moment until it is crossed! Are you satisfied, let me ask you, to cross it as you are? Are you prepared to meet God? for meet Him you must one day, and that either as a judge or a justifier. If as a judge you stand before Him you can only be condemned; but das a justifier, then indeed you have naught to fear, for the soul that trusts in Christ is forever justified, and stands before God in all the virtue and completeness of Christ Himself. God has accepted His perfect sacrifice, the atonement offered by Him, and His verdict has gone forth regarding the believer, “Ye are complete in Him.”
Presently stooping over the little bed, and speaking very softly, I told the dying lad that he could not be long here; and asked him was he ready to go. But he gave me no answer, and once more Satan whispered, “He is much too to speak, better not disturb him now.” But I still bent over him, and said, “Oh E―, you have heard often of the Lord’s love, and you know what He has done, don’t you?” Slowly the white parched lips moved as he said, “Yes, Miss.”
“And are you going to be with Him?” I asked.
“I hope so.”
“O E―!” I said, “you have no time left to hope. You must know for certain, and you must know at once. Either He has done all for you or He has done nothing. And you know that He has done all, and done it perfectly; and that He has not left you anything to do but to trust Him. And you will soon be where none, not even He can help you. And now I want you to tell me, will you trust Him?”
A look of deep thought passed over his face, but he gave me no answer. Presently I said again―
“E― do you think He is worth trusting?”
I had not to wait for an answer this time, for he said at once, quite firmly, and looking up at me, as if surprised at my question.
“Oh, yes, Miss.”
“Well then,” I said, “you know what He has done; you know what He can do. You have just told me that He is worth trusting. And now I want to ask you just one thing more. Think moment and answer me, Will YOU trust Him?”
Slowly and heavily the weary head turned away, and I could see tears gather in the poor sunken eyes. I had to wait some time before got any answer, and at last I said,
“Do you trust Him?”
The Lord had met that soul. He had given him the portion that he needed. Arad now, as he turned his face to me again, and I repeated my question, for I fancied he had not heard, I felt little doubt in my mind that he spoke the truth, as slowly and firmly he said,
“Yes.”
We had a little more chat together, though he was very weak, but quite enough to make me fully satisfied that he had indeed found that rest which the Savior loves to give. Poor E―! his weary days and nights of suffering were nearly at an end, for early the next night the Lord called him home. And, oh, how thankful I felt that He had allowed me to speak to him in time. Just think for a moment of the awful consequences to that poor soul, had he refused and slighted God’s wondrous grace.
What is all that earth can give; what is the whole world, with all its glitter and amusements weighed in the Light of eternity? Surely it is lighter than vanity. The pleasures of earth can never satisfy, not even at the time, and they only leave the soul more thirsty than ever. The portion the heart needs to satisfy it is not to be found under the sun. There are no living waters that have their source in this world; no food here that can satisfy the heart. Husks you may have if you can buy them, but the price is your soul.
Do you thirst? Let me ask you. Then I would tell you of a spring where you may quench your thirst, and more―never thirst again. Oh, you say, I would like to drink at that spring. Well, blessed be God, it is free, and the invitation is to you if you thirst. “Jesus stood and cried, saying, if any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink” (John 7:3737In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. (John 7:37)). And again, “Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him, shall never thirst” (John 4:1414But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:14)). Go to that fountain as you are. Go simply and honestly to God. You will have your thirst quenched, you soul satisfied, and then you will not need to your delight in the poor unsatiating pleasures that earth can alone afford.