YEARS EARS ago, in the town of Somerville, New Jersey, U.S.A., there might have been seen a contrast of a very striking sort. On one side of the main street stood the strong and somewhat formidable-looking county prison. On the other side, and exactly opposite, stood a little wooden house, wherein lived a fine old Christian woman, with an experience as ripe as her years.
The contrast was so great as to be almost of the nature of a parable. On the one hand the world, with its sorrows, its sins, and its punishments; on the other Christian quietness, tranquility, and joy.
For quite a long time it was the habit of two Christian men to visit that prison each Sunday afternoon, setting the way of salvation before the poor fellows imprisoned there, and distributing to them gospel literature; and always, upon completing this service—which, though happy in itself, was connected with so much that put pain and sorrow in the heart—they repaired across the road, and spent a few restful minutes in the company of the old Christian opposite. It was like entering a placid harbor after crossing a very stormy sea.
As the months rolled by and lengthened into years, this bright old saint declined in strength, and the end of her pilgrimage drew near. The weekly visits on Sunday afternoons were regularly paid, however, until on the last occasion they found her at the point of death, and apparently unconscious of anything.
It had been their invariable custom to sing a hymn either with her or to her; so, leaning over her, as she lay propped up on pillows, one of them said, “Shall we sing you anything today?” There was no response. This was repeated, but still no response. A third time he said, “Can Brother F—and I sing you anything about the Lord Jesus Christ?” At the mention of that sweet name her eyes opened. Consciousness had returned, and in a clear, distinct voice she said, “Yes, sing:
‘How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word.’”
The grand old hymn was accordingly sung right through, finishing with the triumphant words
“That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never—no, never—no, never forsake.”
As their voices ceased, the dear old lady lapsed again into unconsciousness, and within half an hour her spirit had taken its flight. Having proved the faithfulness of the One who would never forsake her in life, she had gone to prove in eternity the strength of that foundation on which she had rested.
“So then,” says the Scripture, “every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Rom. 14:1212So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. (Romans 14:12).) You and I too, then, have to face the inevitable departure from this life, and appearing in the presence of God. What will it mean for us? That is the question.
Have you discovered yet your need of Christ and His atoning work upon the cross?
Do not be deceived into thinking that you can afford to ignore the cleansing virtue of the precious blood of Christ. Just as a leper needs cleansing, even though the disease has as yet only manifested itself in his body by one tell-tale spot, so do you need spiritual cleansing, even though the outward activities of sin in your life have been very largely restrained, so that you have been better than the majority. You need it, in fact, just as much as the poor prisoners of Somerville gaol or elsewhere. Thank God, it is for you as much and as freely as for them.
When, once you have committed yourself in simple faith to Christ you will have the Word of God as a rock beneath your feet, as had the old saint of our story; a rock which will abide in its unshakeable strength to your latest hour.
GOD’S WORD, mark you, not your feelings, is the unshakeable rock. Many make a mistake here, looking for a basis of certainty within themselves instead of without—in feelings instead of in fact. No ocean, no sea ever ebbed and flowed like the tide of human feeling; no granite rock ever stood unshaken and unmoved against storm or sea or earthquake like the Word of God, of which the Lord said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.” (Matt. 24:3535Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. (Matthew 24:35).)
Do not look, then, in any direction other than the Word of God for assurance. Rest your soul, if a believer, on some such word as this.
F. B. H.