Truth For Youth
Too Late! Too Late! Too Late!
Evangelist D. L. Moody had a class of young men. He had won most of them to Christ, but one had refused to yield. One day he spoke to him, urging him to make his decision. “Listen, Mr. Moody; replied the young man, “I am going to the west and after I have made my fortune, when I return, I promise you, I will accept Christ” And he turned away. Moody listened with a sad heart. Some weeks later the young man became seriously ill and was taken to the hospital. Moody felt led to visit him and bending over his bed he again urged him to receive Jesus Christ. But once more, this time in a feeble voice, he refused, “Mr. Moody,” he said, “I am going to the west and when I come back, I'll become a Christian.” Moody turned away with a heavy heart.
Finally one day, the young man who did get better, came walking briskly up to Moody's Verandah. Mr. Moody,” he cried extending his hand. “I have come to say good- bye. I am leaving for the west.” Moody laid his hand on his shoulder and again spoke to him, urging the claims of Christ. The young man became angry and shaking off the hand of the evangelist he retorted. “Mr. Moody, never speak to me again about my soul's salvation. I have promised you to make the decision when I have returned, but not before. Good- bye.”
With that he left and Moody realizing that something had snapped in his own heart, sat down, disappointed. That night Moody was awakened by a loud knocking on his door. Putting his head out of the window, he saw a woman with a shawl wrapped around her. “Oh; Mr. Moody,” she cried, her voice filled with anguish, come quickly. My husband is desperately sick and I am afraid. Please come at once.” In a moment Moody recognized her as the wife of the young man he had spoken to that afternoon. “It would be of no use,” was his reply. “your husband gave me his final refusal this afternoon He has crossed the dead line. It would be useless for me to go”. But because of her entreaties, he got dressed and went.
As he mounted up the steps, he saw the young man lying on his back, his eyes wide open but apparently unconscious of those around him. As he approached, he heard him uttering just two words, “Too Late! Too Late! Too Late” Moody grasped his hand, opened a Bible and commenced to pray. But the young man paid no attention whatever. He was just crying out, “Too Late.” Moody did everything possible to arouse him, but there was no recognition and in a few minutes he died, still exclaiming as he had before. “Too Late!.” “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” . “Behold, now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation.”