|
I got on a streetcar in Buffalo, N. Y., and when the
conductor came for my fare, I gave him a leaflet entitled, "Where
Hell Is." As I handed it to him, he laughed and said, "You always
give me one of those religious papers; I suppose you think I am a
very wicked fellow, but I am about as good as they make them." I
held up my Bible and asked, "Do you see this Book? It tells me that
the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked. (Jer. 17:9). That
means your heart and mine. It does not sound very pleasant, does
it?" Oh, well," he said, "there is plenty of time for me to think about
these things; I am still young."
"Yes," I said, "but if you go into any graveyard, you will see
graves of all sizes. "A little girl once asked her mother how old
one must be before he dies. The wise mother gave her child a long
piece of string and told her to go into the graveyard and measure
the graves, and every time she measured to tie a knot. Soon the girl
returned with the string full of knots. 'Look, Mother, the graves
are all sizes." 'Yes, dear, that is when people die-at all times and
ages.' "
Again the young man laughed and said, "There is plenty of time for
me. "Remember, the time is short; and you need not go to a
Christless grave. Jesus died for you," I said as I left the car.
The next morning I traveled by the same car, but a new conductor was
there, who told me that the man I had spoken to the day before had
missed his footing, was run over by a car, and so seriously injured
that he died in a few hours. I felt very sad, thinking that he had
indeed found a Christless grave. I went to his home, and as I looked
upon that young man's dead face, I could not help thinking what an
awful warning it was to anyone who thinks there is plenty of time.
I tell you, the time is short. (Ps. 89:47). "After this the
judgment." (Heb. 9:27). God, in His love and mercy, had given this
young man time, but oh, how short the time was! God gave the last
message. This may be God's last message to you, my reader! Remember,
"Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." (II
Cor. 6:2). Do you think that "doing the best you can" will save you?
Listen: "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool." (Prov.
28:26). Again, "He that hardeneth his heart shall fall into
mischief." (Prov. 28:14). "He that being often reproved hardeneth
his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy." (Prov.
29:1). Oh, do come to the Saviour now! Tomorrow may be too late! |
