“I’m In For A Good Time!”
Some years ago, I had been trying to present Christ as God’s remedy for man’s ruined condition to the hardy population of a beautiful mining town in the mountain regions of Northern California. One afternoon I noticed in the meeting hall a young woman whose sin-marked face, weary look and careless demeanor could not fail to attract attention
Stepping over to her at the close, I asked, “What about your soul? Have you ever thought of preparing for eternity?”
“My soul? —– I ain’t got none!” was the flippant reply, accompanied by a foolish laugh. Further conversation seemed to make no impression, for, after solemnly waring her coming judgment, she exclaimed, “You ain’t going to scare me into religion. Wouldn’t I look nice joining you folks: I’m in for a good time…”
“But when you’ve had your day, when your so—called “good time” is over forever, when death judgment and eternity have to be faced; when God has to be met, WHAT THEN?
“Oh, well, of course, I don’t intend to live like this right along. I’ll get religion when I grow old. I ain’t got time for it now.”
“Yes; so, the devil has deceived thousands, but you may never live to grow old. You may not have time to prepare for eternity, though you must find time to die.”
Another laugh greeted this warning, and she was gone. It seemed almost impossible that so young a person could e so hardened. I was told she had abandoned herself to a grossly wicked life, though little more than a child, and was an outcast from respectable society. Alas, how sin degrades hardens and binds it poor victims.
Perhaps my reader would apply the term “sinner” too such as these, commonly counted the refuse of the world, and use a more polite word to designate one (perhaps like himself) who has lived respectably, while yet a rejecter of the Lord Jesus Christ. Ah, my friend, remember that God has declared that “There is no difference: for all have sinned” —- no difference in this respect, that all alike have “come short of the glory of God” (Romans 5:6). To be eternally lost is not necessary that you should plunge into such unmentionable depths of depravity as this girl. No; just continue to be a Christ-rejecter, and you are as certainly in danger of eternal judgment as the vilest outcast. Unpleasant truth this is to the ‘natural man’ indeed, but nonetheless TRUTH, although not to man’s taste.
Turn to God’s Word yourself and
see there your true condition as described in the third chapter of Romans. Seek not to evade it; for, remember, it is not for the righteous one, not the self-righteous, but the UNGODLY, for whom Christ died. On that ground, and on no other, you may claim Him as your Saviour.
Some weeks after the above conversation, an undertaker came to the house where I was, and said he had a funeral to attend that was a source of much embarrassment to him. Th4e person to be buried was a young woman of so notorious a character that he could scarcely persuade any to act as pallbearers. Mentioning her name, he asked if we knew any who might do her this last service. We promptly offered ourselves. That would do. Some former companions of her folly had already promised to be the others.
It was the girl I had so recently spoken to, cut down in a moment—“suddenly destroyed, and that without remedy.” Two days before, a public holiday, she had spent in a revolting manner, and after midnight was borne home drunk and put into a bed, from which she never arose. In a few hours she had passed into eternity, having died in great agony from the baneful effects of her long debauch. The wine cup and its accompaniments had claimed one more victim. Awful was the sight of her swollen face. A minister had been called in, but what could he say? What comfort could he give? Of deathbed repentance, even he could not speak. No hope could he hold out that she might after all be saved. She had been asked by her mother if she wanted someone to come in to pray with her. “No,” she said, “no one” “Couldn’t’ she remember a prayer then, to say herself—the Lord’s prayer, or any other?” “No, I can’t” —and instead of prayer there were oaths and grans of anguish. “She had lived her life,” the minister said “I shall not speak of it; for it cannot be altered now. You have yours to live yet. I speak then to YOU,” and he faithfully urged then to flee to Christ alone for refuge.
As I helped to lower the coffin into the grave, my heart was sad indeed. As I turned away, I heard someone exclaim, under his breath, “Just think of it—only seventeen years old and gone to—-!” The last word was lost in the noise about me, or perhaps never uttered.
Were you, reader, to pass suddenly from time to eternity in your present condition, what word could truthfully be used to speak of your final abode? Heaven or hell? —for eternity. If you are not born again, pray now and ask Jesus to forgive you and save you from your sins. Now is the day of salvation, Tomorrow may never come for you.
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Shon shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36