While an epidemic of yellow fever was raging in the Southern United States, a young man was stricken with the fatal disease and grew oblivious to all around him. Shortly before his death, however, his consciousness returned. When his pious sister, who nursed him, noticed it, she bent over him and asked "Brother, you are about to leave us. What is your hope in death?" And the dying young man answered faintly, yet very distinctly: "Sister, this is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners," and then peacefully passed away. That young man was ready to die, because in his young life he had given himself to Jesus, his Savior. He evidently did not belong to the great number of foolish young men and women who delay their repentance, thus being unprepared if death should suddenly claim them.

At the end of World War I the world was ravaged by the mysterious disease known as the Spanish influenza. It claimed young men and women by the thousands. But even if we are spared the ravages of an epidemic, in the midst of life we are in death! Are we all, young and old, ready to meet our God when the summons comes? Oh, let us follow the example of that young man in the South! Let us make Jesus our Savior from sin and death in daily personal faith. This is a faithful saying. We can stake our eternal happiness on it, for it is God's unfailing promise: Whoever, believes in His dear Son shall never die. It is worthy of all acceptation. There is salvation for sinners in none other than in Jesus, our Jesus. So let us daily give ourselves to Him in penitent, humble faith, and we can depart this world in peace whenever it is God's will.

[devotion text by Rev. F. W. Herzberger (1920) -
from the Family Altar - CPH (1957 edition)]
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