As Mr. Silverton lied upon silk sheets in his imported Brazilian cherry bed, as the hoses and the oxygen tank continued to prolong his life. While her feeble hands caressed his, with a painful tear sliding down her face, Mrs. Silverton said, "I've been proud to be your wife". "Oh, Anna", Mr. Silverton replied, "I've been so wrong, so ignorant and selfish, I never realized what is really precious, what a fortune really is, so foolish am I. Now all I've accomplished, all my worldly wealth, my golden hopes and dreams have not given me the joy I've always desired, Why was I so foolish, why?
Every Sunday I faithfully attended church, I always heard the truth and I've always known it, but I never carried it out, I never truly believed. Never have I dropped to my knees and repented of my sins, never have I known God's peace, neither have I known His joy, and Christ as my Savior, I've never received. "
As tears whelled up in his eyes, he spoke again not to his wife but to God and said, "Lord God, I've been so wrong all of my life, I stored up treasures here and not in heaven, I've been so prideful and vain, knowing all along of your precious gift of Redemption, and that for my wretched sins, your only beloved Son was slain. I pray to you this moment that you will forgive me of all my sins, all my pride, all my ignorance and that you will save me from my sin and grant me eternal life on heaven's shore. After all my achievements in business and wealth, in luxury and high class living, now as I near my hour I finally realize what this life is for. So I commit my last hour to you, praying for your precious forgiveness, for your mercy and grace. And when I depart from this vainly lived life of mine, I pray I will behold the glory of your face. "
With a grasping breath and one last clench of his wifes' hand, Mr. Silverton was of the world no more and his spirit arose from his earthly shell. At that moment he beheld Jesus Christ in his eyes, as love, peace, and joy he never felt before showered upon him, Jesus said, "John, all is well! Welcome to the kingdom of heaven, welcome to peace forever, welcome my child, welcome my lost and found. " As he descended with Christ beyond this world, he praised the name of God for his redemption and for his last minute awakening before it was too late. Mr. Silverton proclaimed, "Glory to God, glory to the King, glory to my Savior, glory to God the great! ".
So you see there is life beyond this world with only two destinations, heaven or hell and nothing in this world can give you the priceless peace and joy that God can give. Christ is the way, the truth, the life, there is no question, for you can change now and receive His love and grace, for you may not have the chance John did, your life could end any day, give God your life and He will give you real life beyond your comprehension.
My final words to you are to not make the ways of this lost world your treasured obsession. For Mr. Silverton, it took many mistakes to realize this, just nineteen years, cancer, broken relationships, broken dreams and a death bed confession.
Come to the Cross,Luke 11:9 & 10
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; Seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.