A young girl had heard the coming of the Lord spoken of, and from that time could not go to bed without thinking:
“Perhaps the Lord will come this night and take papa and mamma and all my friends and acquaintances whose sins are forgiven, and leave me here with all those who do not love God nor care for Him; and when I die I shall have to go to the lake of fire with the devil and his angels.”
Her anxiety and trouble increased every night, for she knew that Jesus had said, “I come quickly,” and instead of being able joyfully to say like true Christians,
“Yes, Lord Jesus, come,” she often prayed:
“O Lord Jesus, do not come before I am saved.”
One night her fear, lest Jesus should come before she was saved, became insupportable. She arose from her bed, cast herself on her knees and cried;
“O Lord Jesus, I know that I have sinned much, and that I am very wicked, but the Bible says that whosoever believeth in Thee shall never perish. I believe that Thou hast died for me, and I come to Thee, for Thou hast said that whosoever cometh to Thee, Thou wilt not cast out.”
The Lord responded to her cry and gave her the assurance of His pardon. She returned to her bed, saying
“Now, I am safe.” And from that moment in thinking of the coming of the Lord she could say with joy:
“Yes, Lord Jesus, come!”
Dear young reader, can you joyfully say these words to the Lord, or are you in fear of His coming because you are not saved?
“When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, “Lord, Lord, open to us; and He shall answer and say unto you, I know you not.” Luke 13:2525When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: (Luke 13:25).
How much better to be saved and to say to Him, “Come, Lord Jesus.”
ML 11/12/1939