THE MAN GOD USES – CHAPTER X – Oswald J Smith

JUST IN TIME

COULD you come to see a sick woman? ” “Is it urgent? ” “Yes, very; she may not live through the night.” “All right, I’ll come at once,” and I hung up the receiver.

Making my way through· the city streets, I was soon at the place, and was taken immediately to the sick chamber. A woman with a sad and forlorn expression on her face looked up at me as I entered. She tried to speak, but her voice was so weak and broken that I had to bend low to catch the words she uttered. And I felt that I was already standing in the presence of the Angel of Death, for it was plain to see that her life was fast ebbing away. Hopelessness was depicted on her countenance while she waited for me to speak; and the darkness seemed to deepen as I watched the pale, drawn face, enshrouded in the gloom of almost hopeless despair. There was no time to lose-no time to talk of the things of this world: her eternal destiny was at stake.

“Mrs. C—, are you ready to go; have you any hope? ” I inquired, as I bent over her.

“No, none,” she murmured, shaking her head, while a deep–drawn sigh escaped her lips.

I stated as plainly as I could the wonderful plan of salvation, and, kneeling down, prayed with her, and then sang in tones subdued and low:

“Just as I am–without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee,
0 Lamb of God, I come!

” Just as I am–and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,
0 Lamb of God, I come!”

As I sang the second verse, I heard her feeble voice—broken, weak and wavering trying to sing with me. Sometimes I could distinguish the words, but more often they were unintelligible, until I came to the last line, and then she sang with heart and voice:

“0 Lamb of God, I come I”

And she did come–came in full assurance of faith; and I left her, knowing that all was well, and that she was going home to God.

And yet she was a member of the church, a member but–unconverted. Conversion was her one great need, for the Word of God plainly and emphatically states that, “Except ye be converted, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matt. 18:3). And as I went home, my heart was sad within me, and I groaned aloud as I thought of the awful responsibility resting upon ministers who allow people to become members of churches without being “born again.”

I never saw Mrs. C– again until I stood by her casket and looked down upon her face, cold in death. And as I preached her funeral sermon, I determined more than ever to lay aside everything else and give myself unreservedly to the one great work of getting people ready for Heaven. The Word of God declares that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (I Tim.1:15). This was His supreme purpose, not to reform them, not to improve them, but to save them. Is there, then, anything else so urgent, so vitally important, as the salvation of an immortal soul? Did not the Saviour Himself declare that, “Except ye be converted, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven?”⁸⁵ Then let us believe God’s Word, and be warned thereby.

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Two or three days passed and again the telephone rang. This time it was a young man. He, too, was very sick, and had passed through intense suffering.

“Why have you sent for me?” I inquired.

“Because I am not ready to go; I am unsaved, and I want to get right with God,” was his reply, or words to that effect.

Once again I told the old, old Story, and oh, how eagerly he drank it in! Text after text was quoted and explained, until at last he, also, saw and believed. Then I knelt in prayer, and closed by singing once more that matchless hymn:

“Just as I am-Thou wilt receive
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve.
Because Thy promise I believe,
0 Lamb of God, I come!

“Just as I am–Thy love unknown
Has broken every barrier down–
Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
0 Lamb of God, I come!”

He, too, sang the faith-inspiring words–words that made the way so plain; and he, too, carne to Jesus, came as a lost and guilty sinner, and gave himself to the sinner’s Saviour. Then I left him–left him fully satisfied and perfectly contented, his soul flooded with the love of God.

Next time I called he was unconscious; and the next—I buried him. Only one opportunity, only one chance. And what if I had talked of other things and left him lying there still unsaved, expecting to visit him again? And once more I resolved to spend my life in laboring for the souls of men, and to proclaim on every side with even greater earnestness, the awful, solemn warning that “Except ye be converted, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.”

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It was morning; seven o’clock. The phone rang loud and long. I answered, and the word from the other end almost took my breath.

“Miss H—- passed away at six o’clock this morning.”

“Miss H—-, what? dead!” I was stunned. Two days ago she had phoned my wife and seemed in the best of spirits. The day before she was at her work in one of the departments of the T. Eaton Co., Toronto, and went home at the usual hour. On the way she stopped at the home of a friend, and after chatting pleasantly for some time, she sat down at the piano and sang with deep feeling the words of that beautiful hymn, “Open My Eyes, that I May See.” Little did she realize how soon the prayer would be answered! Upon reaching home she ate a hearty supper, and about eight o’clock complained of being tired, and went to bed. At ten the doctor was called, and at three the minister and her relatives; at six she was gone. The night before she had walked into the house apparently strong and well; twenty-four hours later she was carried out in her casket, never to return.

Dead! And only three hours’ warning, and I had never spoken to her about her soul. And yet some say I am too serious, that I should give myself more to social service, and the physical needs of the people· that I am always harping on soul-saving!

Great God, have mercy! And give us a glimpse of a lost soul, for is it not a fact that in spite of these awful warnings that occur almost daily, we still seem to forget that the Holy Spirit has written in God’s unchangeable Word that “Except ye be converted, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven?” And, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

Let us believe the Bible, and we will no longer be indifferent; in the face of such solemn truths we must be serious. People are serious enough when a house is on fire; they do not think of taking time to wash and dress the children before they carry them to safety. Their one cry is “Save, save, or they perish!” And when we truly believe God’s Word, believe that “Except ye be converted, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven”; that souls are perishing all around, and that they will be lost eternally-when we really believe in our hearts, we will care about little else but getting them saved, and that as quickly as possible.

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85 Matthew 18:3

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