IT MUST BE SETTLED TONIGHT

The burly miner blinked as he left the dark interior of the coal mine.Stopping at a faucet near the mine entrance, he washed the worst of thegrime from his face and hands, then headed towards his home on the outskirtsof the village. As he trudged along the dusty lane, he passed the open doorof a little church.

Inside, a small crowd listened intently as an energeticman gesticulated from the pulpit. Interested, the miner stepped to the door."Absolute surrender is what we must have," the minister was saying. "Are youwilling to surrender yourself absolutely into His hand? If not, you are notready to meet your God." The minister paced back and forth on the platform."We do not know how much longer our earthly probation will last.

Tonight youare living; tomorrow may be too late. Ask yourself, I beg of you, 'Am Iready to meet the Lord?'"The miner, touched to the quick, slipped into the back pew. I am not readyto meet God, he thought. I have lived a careless, godless life.

How can Imake peace with Him? The meeting ended, and the people filed out. Still theminer remained in the pew, his head in his hands.Finally, the minister touched him on the shoulder. "Brother, are you readyto meet the Lord?"Blindly, the miner shook his head. "I know I am not. Oh, help me findpeace!"An hour passed as the minister shared the plan of salvation; yet somethingheld the miner back from full surrender."It's getting late," the minister finally said. "Go home, and continue toseek the Lord."The miner shook his head. "Stay with me a little longer; it must be settledtonight.

"Once again the minister explained the way of salvation and prayed, but invain. Another hour passed."You must go home," the minister told him. "It's late, and I cannot make itany clearer.""It must be settled tonight," the miner repeated, his eyes burning withearnestness."Then we shall stay here together," the minister agreed.

Once more he spokeof Jesus, and shared promise after promise. Once more he prayed, but invain. "I must go," the minister finally said. "It will soon be morning. Gohome, and return tomorrow night. Maybe then you will find peace.""Sir, I cannot leave this place until I find peace."The poor man's voice trembled. "Tomorrow may be too late. It must besettled tonight."The minister could not resist his appeal. "By the help of God." he said, "itshall be settled tonight."Again he explained the steps of conversion; again he prayed.

As he spoke,the miner broke into sobs and tears, and at last the light pierced hisdarkness."I see it!" he cried. "I give myself absolutely to God, to His will, to doonly what He wants. It is settled.Praise His name, it is settled!" The two men knelt again, but this time tothank God for bringing light to a sinner's soul.The next morning the miner went to work as usual. During the day he was sentto a distant part of the mine to fetch some tools.

When he did not return,his fellow workers went to look for him. They found that the mine walls hadcaved in on him, and he was buried in the debris. Working with pick andshovel, they began to dig. Finally, from the fragments of rock and rubbishand stone which hid him from sight, came a faint sound:

"Tonight ---- wouldhave been ---- too late.

Thank God ---- it was settled ---- last night!"

-Am I ready to meet the Lord?-

Author Unknown