It doesn't take much to put out a candle, does it? One little puff, and it is gone. The life of a man may be snuffed out as quickly.
Once I met a young man who held an important post on the west coast of a primitive country, and was just about to return there after a short vacation.
"A very unhealthy country, is it not?" I asked.
"Yes, very. Out of a population of two hundred Europeans, eighty of them died in three months," he replied. "I had been down with fever and in the hospital for weeks together, but I am rather lucky; they were just dropping like flies all around me."
I shuddered, and asked whether this terrible wiping out of human life did not make him think seriously. He assured me it had not the slightest effect upon him.
"We never think we shall die," he said. "Why, I remember a fellow who was brought in when I was in the hospital. He was put in the bed next to me. He didn't seem so bad, so I proposed a game of cards. We were going to play for money, but he told me it must be for cash—a check wouldn't do—as I might be dead before the morning and nobody would cash it. The poor fellow died himself that night."
What a terrible thing it is to die unprepared! The wicked "in a moment go down to the grave... They say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of Thy ways. What is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto Him?... How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them!" Job 21:13, 14, 15, 1713They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. 14Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. 15What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him? (Job 21:13‑15)
17How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger. (Job 21:17).
If your life were to end suddenly, if your candle were put out, where would you find yourself? Your time on earth will soon be over, and then—?
Is Christ your own personal Savior? Have you fled to Him for refuge from the wrath to come? If not, do so at once, for you know not what a day may bring forth.
Now is the accepted time.
Now is the day of salvation.