Is _____ in heaven or hell? Was _____ saved?

"And our beloved brother, he has not met with defeat. We had not many words from him during those last weeks, for he had lost the power of speech. But there were moments when the thoughts of his soul burst through the iron barrier of weakness and decay; such a moment was that when he exclaimed, 'Welcome, welcome, welcome!' He was asked if he were saying 'Welcome' to the Saviour, and he answered with an emphatic 'Yes.'

I did so, and left him, and saw him again and heard of him often. His witness to the saving power of the Lord Jesus was very sweet and clear. A few days before the end he said to his doctor, "You have done your best for me, and I thank you. I am not afraid to go, and if you will hand me that New Testament I will show you the words that showed me the way." And then he went over the life-giving words, first showing the futility of all human works (Eph. 2:8), the sinfulness of all (Rom. 3:23), the love of God for sinners, and the death of Jesus for the ungodly (Rom. 5:6-8), and last of all the blessed fact that God can freely justify the ungodly (Rom. 3:24-26), because Jesus had suffered and died in their stead (Isa. 53:6). This was his last testimony; he sank into unconsciousness when it was finished, and did not awake on earth. But the grace of God had triumphed, the chains were broken and the darkness dispelled, and another witness to the long-suffering and saving mercy of God passed away to be with Christ.

A short time ago, it was my duty to sit up during the night with a young man who was evidently dying. His life was slowly ebbing away. He had often been spoken to about believing in Jesus, but had failed to see the way of salvation. At last, seeing him draw very near death, I said, "William, you are dying, what do you think of the offer of Jesus' mercy now?" I explained to him as simply as I could, all we have to do is to believe the message and take God at His word. At length he said, "Oh, I see it, if Jesus came to save sinners, He saves me, for I am a sinner." He believed and was saved; but scores trifle and are lost at last. William, like the thief at the last moment, found mercy; but how rare are such cases? Young friends, what will you do? Will you believe at once? Those deep dyed sins will all be washed away. Jesus will receive you: God will abundantly pardon.

I remember a man who said on his death bed, "I am doomed, my last chance is gone", yet that man was gloriously saved before he died.

The pulse almost ceased to beat, and the end seemed very near; so near that one was led to say, "He will be in heaven while they are at the Breaking of Bread." Again he rallied, and the pulse recovered strength.

She was saved.

But death-bed repentances are very unsatisfactory things. I am far from denying that a man, even at the eleventh hour of life, if he really turns to the Saviour and puts his trust in His precious blood, will find mercy. The grace of God is infinite, and I have no doubt many will be in heaven who were saved upon a dying bed.

But in many cases persons who thought that they were dying, and professed to be repentant, have recovered. With renewed health came a renewed love of sin. Their impressions wore off, their alarm vanished, and their so-called repentance proved to be unreal, the mere result of terror at the thought of death.

He had lost all power to turn himself, except the moving of his head, and knew very well that eternity was in the distance. I was very sorry to find him in such a condition, and asked him what I could do for him. "I want you to write to my mother," then living in the West Indies. He gave me certain instructions, and then I said, "And may I tell her that you have found the Lord?" "I wish I could say that, I would give all the world, if I had it, to find Him; but I fear it's too late now." I assured him that was a mistake, and then he said, "But it would be a shabby thing to come to Jesus now, after neglecting Him so long." "Never mind," I said, "He will bless you, and save you now, if you will believe Him." I put the gospel before him, and left, with further instructions, to tell his mother that he was now "anxious to be saved."

One Sunday, four weeks later, I got a message again asking me to come. I went up, and saw plainly enough that death had marked him as its victim. The dew of death was on his brow. I sat down by the dear fellow's bedside. He was truly anxious to be saved, and I went over the story of the prodigal son with him, the history of the dying thief, and then quoted, "THIS IS A FAITHFUL SAYING, AND WORTHY OF ALL ACCEPTATION, THAT CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS, OF WHOM I AM CHIEF" (1 Tim. 1:16). Presently, when I had stopped, I saw his lips moving, and I knew he was praying. It is a wonderful moment when a man prays — when God can say, "Behold, he prays." At length he said: "My life has been a mis-spent life, but I believe Him now, I can trust Him now. I see it all."

I spent that night with him. To his nurse he said: "I was not too great a sinner for Jesus to save. I am dying, and I am not afraid to die. I am dying happy." To me he once said, "Do you think He will let me slip at the last?" "Oh, no!" I said, "it is not like Him. Do you think He would care for you, and die for you, love you, and then drop you at the last? Hear his own words, 'My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I GIVE UNTO THEM ETERNAL LIFE; AND THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH, NEITHER SHALL ANY PLUCK THEM OUT OF MY HAND'" (John 10:27-29). "Comfort my mother, tell her I am going to be with Christ," fell from his lips, and his last words were, "IF I DIE, ALL IS WELL."

"Oh no, thank God, he died a happy Christian, confessing his faith in the Lord, and giving a bright testimony. He dated the beginning of the change in his heart from that morning you saw him. Something you said to him about 'a leap in the dark' stuck to him, and he was never happy till he found the Lord."

He was silent. He was asked if he died in the belief of the doctrines of Christ as he had preached them. He gave an emphatic "Yes," and his spirit took its flight.