Walking along the street one day, I was distributing little gospel books to the people I met on the way. All received them very kindly, some with apparent pleasure, as if they understood the real desire of my heart and appreciated it. Only one man refused me. He was a gentlemanly person, affable in manner and address. As I offered the little book, he asked what it was.
"A little paper which tells the way of salvation," I replied.
"Well really, sir," said he, "life is so short, and time is so full, that I cannot stop to read such things.”
I was dumfounded at such an awful excuse. Before a suitable answer came to me, he had bowed himself politely away and was gone.
"Life's so short!" I thought as I went slowly on. That's so. And what follows?
DEATH AND JUDGMENT!!
"Time so full!"—with what? With everything that shuts God out!!
Reader, listen to the words of the Lord Jesus concerning one who, like this gentleman, found life too short and time too full to think about God and his soul.
"The rich man also died, and was buried; and in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments." Was there any hope there? Hear again: "Beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence." Luke 16:19-3119There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. (Luke 16:19‑31).
Beloved reader, be wise in time. We who have found in Christ the living water which quenches all thirst, which sets the conscience at rest forever, we can yet "pass to you" and beseech you to drink before it is too late. Think of the folly of crowding time with what you must leave behind! From those things you can get no more comfort when this short life is over. Think of the stupendous word—ETERNITY.
Think of your sins. Think of the holiness of God, who cannot have sin in His presence. Think of the day when you must surely give account of yourself to Him.
Then think, THINK of the grace He has shown in sending His only begotten Son into this world "to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself." Think on these things! Accept Him as your Savior, and you will find this short life just the beginning of a blessed eternity. TIME will be so full of things which perish not that the things which perish will be compelled to take their place in the far background.