The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-08-17
DEATH BED REPENTANCE
Is POSSIBLE
but Not 10 BE Depended on Says
Rev. j. 4. smith.

But Not 10 BE Depended on Says
Rev. j. 4. smith.
At the Epworth Methodist Church
yesterday evening Rev. ]. A. Smith
preached on the theme, rs deathbed
repentance possible?" The services
were well attended and the pastor had
the close attention of his audience. He
took his text from the twenty-third
chapter of St Luke, 42-43 verse: And
he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me
when thou CONTEST into thy kingdom.
And Jesus said unto him. verify, l say
unto thee to-day shalt thou be with me
In paradise"
Rev. Mr.. Smith told the story Of the
crucifiXion, calling attention TO the two
thieves who were executed on either
side of Jesus. The one repented and
was saved, while the other scoffed at
his Master. IF the lesson tonight
helps and blesses us" said Mr. Smith,
sit must cause US to fasten our eyes
for few minutes on three uplifted
Crosses-On which three men are to die.
On one is He who died for the sins of
the whole world BY His side, one I'M
believing, hardened wretch dies in his
sins. Looking into the face of the Way,
the Truth and the Life the other.
poor repentant sinner, was snatched, as
1t We're, a brand from the ternals burn
ings.
THE dying thief had found Christ
for the first time, and his first and
last prayer was, Lord, remember me-
Even although this was deathbed re
pentance, this was sincere, and he was
prompt in asking for forgiveness when
he found Christ.
His prayer found an immediate an
syer. Jesus told him that he should
be with Him in Paradise. What an
inspiring, encouraging reply Who
would not sacrifice the pleasures of this
world, If it need be, to have the as
surance of being in such noble COM
pany.
ITO what a repose did Christ prom
Use to take him. We know that Para
disc is a glorious home and our most
elaborate conceptions of the beautiful
and sublime are associated with
Christ's kingdom. The thief wanted
to be remembered in heaven because
he knew there was nothing he had
found on earth that was worth re-
men1bering, owing TO the character of
his past life
Christ wanted to be remembered on
earth" He said, "as often as you do
this. do it in remembrance of me-"
From the very side of Jesus Christ
one man may go 10 heaven ana an
other to hell. A man whose wife was
sick went for a doctor and she per-
ished while he was within a stones
throw Of her home. A miss is as good
as a mile and the presence of Christ
does not assure conversion.
II believe that deathbed repentances
are at times, as in this instance, eff
fective. / know of a man who was
converted one day and the next caught
in the machinery of the shop where he
was employed and killed. That man
/ believe went to heaven. But, the
repentance OF the thief who was cru
cified at Christs side is the only one
of this kind recorded in the Bible, and
! would say that those who live care
less lives. depending upon deathbed
repentances, will not be saved We
should become Christians now, while
il is possible for us to do 50, for we
are taking great chances If we wait
until our last moments to repent Many
of US will meet deaths so sudden that
we will have no opportunity to repent.
The time for us to guarantee ourselves
salvation Is now"