A crowd of business men and others were waiting on the up platform the arrival of one of the early morning trains to the city, while one solitary passenger was slowly pacing the platform on the opposite side.
As the train was seen approaching, this man suddenly seemed to realize that he was on the wrong side, for he leaped on to the line, quickly crossed it, and joined the other people just a few moments in front of the incoming train. He mounted the platform close to a man, who having noticed the incident, purposely followed him into the same coach.
"That was a close shave for you a moment ago," he said.
"Yes, I had not realized that I was on the wrong side of the station till I saw the train approaching," was the reply.
"But you ran a terrible risk, did you not?”
"Certainly, but it was worth it. It would have been serious if I had been left behind.”
"But it would have been more so, if you had been killed, and if that had been the case you would have had no one to blame but yourself, as you deliberately neglected the bridge that the railway company had provided for your use and safety. You could have had no compensation, nor could there have been any cause of complaint.”
"That is so. One acts sometimes without regard to the consequences, either from forgetfulness, or from sheer carelessness and neglect.”
"Unfortunately this is so in some of the most serious affairs of life. Indeed in the most important of all there is often seen the most laxity.”
"To what do you refer?”
"I refer to the deep things of eternity, to the salvation of the soul, to the thoughts of meeting God, and to the answer that will have to be made to Him in a coming day. As surely as you ran a great risk to save a few moments, so surely do many for a momentary gratification run the risk of losing their immortal souls. A little profit or promotion may blind a man to the fact that a day is coming in which the Lord Jesus Christ will judge the world in righteousness. The garnish glamour of the present is often sufficient to distract the thoughts from the true splendor of God's eternal Salvation.
"For as the railway company provided a safe way over the line, so has God provided a way of escape from this coming catastrophe. He has made it easy, free, and safe; and there is not, as in your case just now, an alternative road. You set aside the company's bridge, and got safe across.
"There is but one way to God, to glory, to eternal safety and happiness, and if this be not taken, you will be left face to face with the judgment of a sin-hating God. That way is by the Lord Jesus Christ. He has borne the fierce wrath against sin and the curse of a broken law. He has answered to God on every question that could be raised against the sinner, and He offers to you the full results of what He has done.”
The force of this argument was not lost on the traveler, and ere they had reached the end of the journey he had accepted God's great salvation from judgment, and the gift of God—eternal life.
This little incident is told you, that you might be led to consider these same serious facts, and that you might be led to act with the same wisdom as the city traveler.
Christ Jesus in His own blessed words bids you do this, for He says,
Have you crossed this wondrous bridge from death unto life, from sorrow, sin, and distance from God, to the enjoyment of the joy, favor, and liberty of the sons of God?
If not, why not? The way is now open, and you are invited to cross. It may not remain so. Once "the Master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door" (Luke 13:2525When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: (Luke 13:25)), it will be too late. Enter then, while you may.