In the four years I have been in the Old People's Home nursing my mother, I
have noticed that the older people get the less able they are to comprehend
anything new. For this reason it is hard for an old person to grasp the
promises of God for salvation; but if they have been saved in their younger
years and have lived a consistent Christian before they come to such a
great age, they will every year grow more and more like Jesus, trusting him
more fully, and seem more humble and thankful as they draw nearer the
grave. I have been more strongly impressed than ever before that people
should seek God while they are young before they become unable to grasp the
promises. I feel the more impressed to sound a warning because there are
some in the home with whom we have labored again and again, but who are so
aged and infirm that seemingly they can not reach a decision to seek until
they find. Their unsaved condition, in view of their extreme age, puts them
in a very serious place.
The spiritual workers in The Trumpet Family sometimes take me with them to
visit those who need help in the city. One day we went to see a man who was
on his death-bed. He had never known God. When we first went into the room,
we did not know that he would be able to talk with us much, but we prayed
earnestly that God's Spirit would work with him. That was all we could do
at that time. Later we went and had prayer with him again, talking to him
about his soul, and prayed earnestly that God would spare his life until he
could obtain salvation, and that God would keep his mind clear so that he
would be able to meet the conditions. We went to see him the third time. In
the meantime other workers had been to see him, and he was becoming
concerned about his soul. While one of the brethren was praying with him,
he grasped the promises that God would save him, and was able to rejoice in
the Lord. When I went to see him a little later, he seemed to have complete
victory and was very happy.
While thinking of this occurrence at a later time, it seemed to me that I
had done nothing toward the brother's salvation, since I was not present at
the time he was saved. But the Lord began to talk to my soul: "Paul may
plant, and Apollos may water, but God gives the increase. Are you not
willing to plant and let some one else water? Are you not willing to be
coworkers with others for the Lord?" I saw the point and answered, "Amen,
Lord, I am willing; any way to get souls saved."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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