Send The Book

When W. P. Mackay left home for college, his mother gave him a Bible. On the inside cover she wrote his name, her name and a Bible verse. She also said she would pray for him.

He graduated with honors from medical school and quickly advanced to become head of the largest hospital in Edinburgh, Scotland. But as he grew more successful, he also grew more wicked and coarse in his lifestyle. He even became president of an atheistic society.

THE MAN’S BOOK

One day a badly injured man was rushed to the emergency room. As Dr. Mackay examined the hopelessly crushed body, he was amazed by how peaceful the man was.

The dying man asked, “What’s my condition? I want the truth. I’m not afraid to die. I’ve trusted Jesus as my Savior. He paid for my sins on the cross. I know I’ll be with Jesus when I die.”

“You have only a few hours to live,” said the doctor. He was surprised that this did not change the dying man’s attitude. “Is there anyone we can contact?”

“Yes,” said the man. “Contact my landlady and ask her to send me the book.”

“What book?” inquired the doctor.

“Just ask her for the book. She will know." The doctor did as the man asked, and then continued his rounds. But these words stuck in his mind: “I know I’ll be with Jesus when I die.”

A few hours later, Dr. Mackay returned to check on the man’s condition. “He died a few minutes ago,” the nurse replied.

“Did he get his book in time?”

“Was it his bank book?” asked the doctor.

“See for yourself It’s under his pillow.”

MACKAY’S SURPRISE

Dr. Mackay reached under the pillow and found a Bible. As he lifted it up, the front cover turned back to reveal his own name, his mother’s name and a Bible verse. It was his Bible - the one his mother gave him years ago! He had pawned it for money to buy liquor while on a drinking spree.

The doctor was overwhelmed. He rushed to his office and asked God to forgive him for his sinful life. As he prayed, he remembered a verse his mother taught him long ago: “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Dr. Mackay immediately contacted his mother to tell her of his salvation, and how God used the Bible she gave him to dramatically answer her prayers. In due time, Mackay’s life proved that “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). The worldly, atheistic doctor became a preacher of the gospel!

YOUR OPPORTUNITY

God wants to save you just as He did Dr. Mackay? God “is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Don’t suffer-in hell for your sins, when Jesus Christ has already taken your punishment. Trust Him and you too will be able to say, “I know I’ll be with Jesus when I die.”

Scriptures from The New King James Version 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc. By permission.

Copies of this tract available through: Grace & Truth