In 1807, after graduating from college, Adoniram Judson set out to see America on horse. The first night he stopped at a country inn. The landlord mentioned, as he showed him to his room, that he had been forced to place him next door to a young man who was exceedingly ill, probably in a dying state; but he hoped that it would cause him no uneasiness.
Judson assured him that, beyond pity for the poor sick man, he should have no feeling whatever, and that now, having heard of the circumstance, his pity would not of course be increased by the nearness of the object. But it was nevertheless a very restless night. Sounds came from the sick chamber — sometimes the movements of the watchers, sometimes the groans of the sufferer; but it was not these which disturbed him. He thought of what the landlord had said — the stranger was probably in a dying state; and was he prepared? Was he a Christian, calm and strong in the hope of a glorious immortality, or was he shuddering upon the brink of a dark, unknown future? The landlord had described him as a young man; and in imagination he was forced to place himself upon the dying bed, though he strove with all his might against it. At last morning came, and the bright flood of light which it poured into his chamber dispelled all his “superstitious illusions.” As soon as he had risen, he went in search of the landlord, and inquired for his fellow-lodger.
“He is dead,” was the reply.
“Dead!?”
“Yes; he is gone — poor fellow! The doctor had said he would probably not survive the night.”
“Do you know who he was?”
“Oh, yes; it was a young man from Rhode Island College — a very fine fellow; his name was E—-.” Judson was completely stunned.
After hours had passed, he attempted to pursue his journey. But one single thought occupied his mind, and the words, dead! lost! lost! were continually ringing in his ears. He knew the religion of the Bible to be true; he felt its truth; and he was in despair. In this state of mind he resolved to abandon his scheme of traveling, and at once turned his horse’s head toward home. He became one of the first missionaries from America and gave his life to reaching others with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Bible plainly warns us in Hebrews 9:27, “…it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment…” Every person in this world. Our friends. Our families. Our co-workers. Our neighbors. And the thousands we pass by everyday will all stand before God one day, just as we will. Does it matter to us if they are lost? If they are facing a Christless eternity in hell? It should! The question is – what are we doing about it?
Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” How often do we seek to spread the Good News – The Gospel to others? How often do we even care? We have the news that EVERYONE needs to know about…it’s time we shared it more!