NOT YET | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Dec 22, 1881

NOT YET.

A DISCHARGED prisoner had been helped by some Christian people to good employment, and was frequently urged by them to give himself to Christ. "No," he said, "not yet; the world must see that I am a reformed man before I can be a good Christian." But the fascinations of the city and the influences of pleasure proved too mighty for him, and he not only ceased attending the house of God, but in every way possible sought for a long time to avoid meeting his Christian friends and benefactors. One Saturday evening he went to the young people's prayer-meeting. The Spirit of God touched many hearts, and the young man's among the rest. After the meeting a gentleman, who relates the incident, said to him: "God calls you to-night, my brother. Will you give up now and wait no longer?" His lips trembled as he said: "The time hasn't quite come yet," and walked away. On the following Tuesday he was dying. The gentleman who had previously spoken to him being hastily summoned, found the young man pale and gasping for breath. He asked him: "The soul, Armstrong—the soul; is it safe?" He could only shake his head and look imploringly into his friend's face who said, "It is not too late now; remember the dying thief; put your whole trust in Jesus now." He shook his head and then his lips moved. He whispered hoarsely, "Do you think I would give him the dregs of my life?" They were his last words.—Selected.