Bob Couch was in a revival meeting in the Central Baptist Church in Huntsville, Alabama. They had come to the close of the last service. He had given the invitation, the people had made their response, and he had stepped down to the front to help the pastor counsel with those who had made decisions. They had introduced them to the congregation and they had come now for the time of benediction when Bob Couch felt somebody tugging on the sleeve of his coat.
And he looked down and there stood a little girl and she said to him, “Brother Couch, my grandfather is back on the last row and he wants to know if it is too late to be saved.” And he said to her, “No. You tell him to come right now.” And when the pastor finished the prayer and the people started to leave the sanctuary, he called them back to attention and said, “Folks, stay in your places. There is a man who wants to be saved. We are going to sing another hymn.”
So they sang again. “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear.” And while they sang that hymn a 72-year-old grandfather walked that aisle and gave his life to Jesus Christ. When he spoke to the congregation at the end of the service he said, “I want to thank you for never losing interest in me or ceasing to pray for me over these past 40 years. And my only regret is I have so little of my life left to give to the Lord.”
It is a sad thing. A person lives 70 years before they come to that place of commitment and faith. But it is sadder still if they never come.