Goodnight or Goodbye?

A devoted Christian business man was struck by an automobile and rushed to a hospital. He was informed by the doctors that he had only about two hours to live. He had implicit faith in the goodness of God and in His Word, so to him death was only a gateway leading to the glory of heaven and the presence of God. He had his family called to his side, and thus addressed them:

"Goodnight, my dear Wife. You have been the greatest woman in the world to me. Through sunshine and shadow we have walked together. You have been my inspiration in everything I have undertaken, especially in my walk as a Christian. Many times I have seen the Spirit of God shining in your face. I love you far more than on the day you became my bride. Goodnight, dear; I'll see you in the morning. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Mary. Mary, you are our firstborn. What a joy you have been to me! How glad I am that in face and spirit you have always reminded me of your mother. I see in you the sweet, beautiful, young woman who left her home to be the builder and keeper of mine. What a Christian you are, Mary! Never forget how your father loved you. Goodnight, Mary, goodnight."

He then turned to his eldest son:

"Goodnight, Will. Will, your coming into our home has been an incredible blessing. You were a manly boy, and you have become an exemplary man. You love the God of your father. How proud I am of such a son! May you grow in every Christian grace and virtue. You have my love and blessing. Goodnight, Will, goodnight."

Charlie was the next. Charlie had fallen under evil influences and grievously disappointed his father and mother. The dying man skipped him, and spoke to the youngest child, a beautiful young girl.

"Goodnight, Grace. Grace, your coming was like the breaking of a new day in our home. You have long been a song of gladness and a ray of light, filling our hearts with music. When you surrendered your life to Christ, my cup of happiness was filled to overflowing. Goodnight, my little Grace, goodnight."

He then called Charlie to his side:

"Goodbye, Charlie. Charlie, what a promising boy you were. We believed you would develop into a great and noble man. We gave you all the opportunities we gave to the other children, but you have disappointed us. You have followed the broad and downward road. You have not heeded the warnings of God's holy Word or hearkened to the call of the Saviour. But I have always loved you, and love you still, Charlie. God only knows how much I love you. Goodbye, Charlie, goodbye, goodbye."

Charlie seized his father's hand and between his sobs he cried out, "Father, why have you said 'goodnight' to the others and 'goodbye' to me?"

"For the simple reason that I will meet the others in heaven. But all the promises of God's Word that assure us of a reunion also tell me I can have no hope of seeing you there. Goodbye, Charlie, goodbye!"

Charlie, realizing his lost condition, fell on his knees by his dying father's bed and cried out to God in the agony of his soul, praying for the forgiveness of his sins and the hope of meeting his father again.


"Do you mean it, Charlie? Are you in earnest?"


"God knows I am," said the brokenhearted young man.


"Then God has heard you and saved you, Charlie. It is goodnight and not goodbye. "Goodnight, my boy." With this the father was gone into eternity.


Charlie became a preacher of the gospel, telling souls to "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house" (Acts 16:31). "For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17). "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:15).

(Posted with permission of Moments With The Book)