IN A large city some years ago there lived an old man, Mr. Foscue, who had gathered up an enormous amount of wealth. He was a miser, and his great concern was to so hide his treasure that even his friends would not know of the vast fortune he possessed. With this purpose he dug a large cave in his cellar, so deep that he needed a ladder to reach the bottom. It was entered by a carefully concealed trap door fitted with a spring lock, so that when the door was let down, it would lock itself tight.
One day old Mr. Foscue was missing. His house was searched from attic to cellar, but no trace of him could be found. He had suddenly and mysteriously disappeared.
Time passed by and no more was heard of him, so his house was put up for sale and very soon a buyer was found. After the new owner had taken possession, one day he determined to make a thorough examination of his purchase, looking into every nook and cranny. When he searched the cellar he discovered the trap door; he forced it open, and descended the ladder. Then a ghastly sight met his gaze. On the floor lay the body of the poor old miser, with a candle stick beside him, and all around were the piles of money he had so jealously guarded.
In a moment the terrible truth was revealed. The miser had been starved to death. He had entered the cave, and by some accident the trap door had closed and locked him in. He had been buried alive with his treasure, and all his wealth had been unable to save him from an agonizing death.
The poor old miser, Foscue, in seeking to secure his wealth had lost his life. But there are many who risk a more terrible fate, for to obtain earthly things they risk the loss of their precious never-dying souls. Their very life declares that with them temporal things, things of time, are what they seek after.
The Lord Jesus who knows the secrets of the unseen world said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God” (Matt. 6:3333But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33)). “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matt. 16: 26. Make sure you are saved today.
ML-12/17/1972