An Epitaph.
THIS, as it stands, looks like an excellent record. But there are certain questions which must very naturally suggest themselves to a thoughtful mind in connection with such a record. First, for whom was it claimed? Next, was it true? Lastly, granted the record was literally correct, what did his “best” amount to? The importance of the last consideration we would specially draw the reader’s attention to.
A few years since a very desperate character named Charles Peace was executed. He had crowned a long course of housebreaking and robbery with willful murder. And yet there is even a sense in which you might put over that hardened felon’s grave the words in question, “He always did his best!”
After his final apprehension it was discovered that by various clever stratagems he always did his best to escape detection. For example, he took very respectable apartments in a certain town, and being fond of music and well able to play the violin, he soon gained friends, and made their evenings pleasant by his agreeable manners and musical performances. But what did it amount to? This hardly needs repeating. He did his best to appear to be what he was not.
But the reader may inquire, What about the epitaph at the head of this paper?
Well, the grave we speak of was in the private grounds of a sporting gentleman. But who occupied the grave?
Ah, not a human being at all! It was only a favorite race-horse that was buried there!
You exclaim, perhaps, “That makes all the difference.”
And you are right. For, granted that the epitaph was true, what did it amount to? The mere sentiment of an interested party.
But to come a little nearer. Suppose that this year it should be found necessary to dig your grave. Suppose, further, that your kind friends should place “He always did his best” at the head of that fresh mound. What, in the eye of God, would such a statement amount to? Charles Peace did his best to be considered better than he well knew he was. But what was that to God? The favorite race-horse was considered by his master to have done “his best.” But what was that to a holy God even if he had gained thousands of thousands for his owner? How vastly appearances change when the whole truth has been told! Fair words then are often made to look like barefaced hypocrisy.
Now, do suffer a plain word, my reader. You have to do with One Who knows the whole truth about your history. Before you again let Him hear you tell some inquirer after your soul’s welfare that you have “done your best,” had you not better inquire what the best of every natural man amounts to, and what your best in particular has been under His eye? Done your best! What has that best been worth? Is it that you have only done your best to escape the detection of your fellow-man? Done your best to be good enough to do without Christ? Done your best to put off to a more convenient season the bowing of your heart to Jesus as your Lord?
DONE YOUR BEST! do you say? Think of it. Would such words on your grave be anything less than ghastly mockery? What, then, are they on your lips? “All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do” (Heb. 4:1313Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. (Hebrews 4:13)).
A leper’s best is only the defiling best of a diseased and loathsome creature. A sinner’s best is only the best of an unarrested rebel. We are all on the same level naturally, and our only wisdom is to own before God our true state. Through Jesus God has full forgiveness and perfect cleansing to bestow on every repenting sinner, no matter even if he has done his worst and always done it.
Begin this year, then, not by fresh resolutions to be better, but by coming to the Lord Jesus Christ and proving the blessedness of putting your trust in Him. Then will it be your joy to speak, not of your doings, but of His Who, when knowing the worst about you, willingly laid down His life to express His heart of love and remove your load of sin. It is to Him we would have you come. Oh, come to Him NOW!
Then will your language be, living or dying—
The Saviour loved me, and He made me know it:
He won my confidence and bade me show it.
GEO. C.