A Story Moody “Never will Forget.” – Dwight Lyman Moody

A few years ago, in a town somewhere in this state, a merchant died, and while he was lying a corpse I was told a story I will never forget. When the physician that attended him saw there was no chance for him here, he thought it would be time to talk about Christ to the dying man. And there are a great many Christians just like this physician. They wait till a man is just entering the other world, just till he is about nearing the throne, till the sands of life are about run out, till the death rattle is in his throat, before they commence to speak of Christ. The physician stepped up to the dying merchant and began to speak of Jesus, the beauties of Christianity, and the salvation he had offered to all the world. The merchant listened quietly to him, and then asked him, “How long have you known of these things?” “I have been a Christian since I came from the East,” he replied. You have been a Christian so long and have known all this, and have been in my store every day. You have been in my house; have associated with me; you knew all these things, and why didn’t you tell me before?” The doctor went home and retired to rest, but could not sleep. The question of the dying man rang in his ears. He could not explain why he had not spoken before, but he saw he had neglected his duty to his principles. He went back to his dying friend, intending to urge upon him the acceptance of Christ’s salvation, but when he began to speak to him the merchant only replied in a sad whisper, “Oh, why didn’t you tell me before?” Oh, my friends, how many of us act like this physician? If we don’t practice in every particular the professions we make, and try to influence the lives of others, and lead the lives of Christians according to Christian precept, the •world will go on stumbling over us.