Reverend Charles Caroll Luther heard the story of a young man who was soon to die just a month after receiving Christ. The young man was deeply grieved for not knowing Jesus earlier and ultimately for not serving him because he wasted his productive years in sin.

On his death bed, this young believer said this in regret: “I am not afraid to die; Jesus saves me now, but, oh! must I go empty handed?” Those dying words moved Reverend Charles Caroll Luther to write the hymn “Must I go and empty handed.” Luther reflected the dying young man’s last testimony in stanza two:

Not at death I shrink or falter,
For my Savior saves me now;
But to meet Him empty handed,
Thought of that now clouds my brow.

History was told of another sinner who heard this hymn being sung on a sunday morning in Essex, England. The unsaved young man heard the words of stanza three:

“Oh, the years of sinning wasted, could I but recall them now, I would give them to my Savior, to His will I'd gladly bow”.

He left the service with a troubled heart  and could not eat his Sunday dinner. That afternoon, the troubled man went to a Bible study on the other side of town. As he entered the service, the hymn “Must I go and empty handed” was sung. He surrendered his life to Christ.

I have decided not to go to heaven empty handed. I must present the trophy of souls brought to the Lord and discipled at his feet. Heaven will not be interesting If we have nothing to give to the Lord.

Now that you are here, do not waste your opportunity to serve the Lord with your whole heart. It is our major reason for existence. Win souls, support missions, disciple believers and get busy serving in God's house.  Do not be comfortable as a bench warmer in church, do something meaningful and contribute to the expansion of God's kingdom.