Some time ago we heard an earnest Christian Colporteur speaking of his work. For reasons best known to himself, he called not at the front door to see the occupants of the mansions of the great, but at the servants' halls, and his experiences were varied and interesting.
He told us of one place where the butler was not a particularly genial person. He spoke slightingly of religion, as he termed it, and said he had no use for such books as were offered, and refused permission to show them to the servants.
The Colporteur continued to call each month notwithstanding many rebuffs.
On one occasion he found the butler with apparently a little more leisure than usual, and he was decidedly more agreeable. Keeping his books in the background, he got into conversation, and spoke to him seriously about the things that matter. Presently the butler exclaimed: "What I should like to know is this, What will be the end of it all?”
Diving into his bag the Colporteur produced a little book.
"Here," said he, "give me 20 cents for this, and you will learn from it 'What will be the end of it all.'" The butler bought the book and they parted.
A month later the Colporteur called again. The butler met him with a beaming face, shook hands most cordially and said, "Thank you ever so much for the book you sold me the last time you were here.”
"What has happened?" said the Colporteur.
"I commenced at the beginning," said the butler, "and I read on until I came to this question:—
'When will you decide for Christ?'
"I read that again, and again, and again, and I replied, 'Just now!' Now I cannot tell you how happy I am; come in, show your books to the servants, speak to them about Christ, and may God bless you!”
Here ends this true narrative, but do not, as usual, stop here and skip the rest; because as it happens, it concerns you.
There has been the usual round of pleasure, and perhaps an unparalleled record of disaster in the air, on the land, and in the sea. Flying, motoring and swimming have levied a heavy toll. You are "thankful to Providence"— whatever that means—that you have escaped. Of course you must have escaped. Of course you must have your pleasure, and you have plunged into the whirl of excitement. It may be the absolutely babyish occupation of watching some dogs chasing a tin toy called a hare, or the hundred and one other forms of amusement. You will spend your nights in the dance-hall, go to work the next morning limp and weary, and struggle through the day, thinking not so much about business as about the buzz of the following night, and you call that life!
It is going to have an end, however. You know that, though you dare not stop to think about it, but just here ask yourself—will you?
"What will be the end of it all?”
Let the Word of God answer in a word:
"The Lake of Fire.”
"That is all perfectly true," says a reader, "I believe in a person making the best possible use of his life, living straight, doing his duty, seeking to help his fellowmen, and the man who does that need have no fear as to, "What will be the end of it all?”
Will you be terribly shocked, dear friend, if we whisper in your ear—the end will be: The Lake of Fire? Have you noticed the kind of people who will be sent there?
Who are they whose names are written in the book of life? Those who discovered that they were sinners.
"All have sinned and come short of the glory of God," Rom. 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23), and believing on the Lord Jesus Christ they became the possessors of everlasting life (John 6:4747Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. (John 6:47)), and their names were inscribed on Heaven's roll. Those whose names are missing, whether religious or irreligious on earth, had not fled for refuge to the Savior, and had not sought the shelter of His blood.
"But no person believes in the Lake of Fire now," someone may say. O! yes they do. They may preach against it, they may write and attempt to prove it not true, they may say they do not believe it, but they do. The Son of God spoke of such a place, the Word of God speaks of such a place, there is something inside you that tells you there is such a place, and you believe it, and you know you do.
Ask the simple believer in the Lord Jesus Christ: "What will be the end of it all?" He will answer in a word, "With Christ!”
You cannot understand how he exists. He is happy, that is quite obvious. He has a satisfaction you know nothing about. He may not say much, but he lives it, and in your heart you envy him and you wish you were like him. What is the secret? He has Christ with him here. He looks on to the end, not only without a tremor, but with eager anticipation. Why? Because it means to be "with Christ." You may have heard him sing,
"Our hearts beat high, the dawn is nigh,
That ends our pilgrim story
In Thine eternal glory!”
You see, dear friend, the true believer has the best of it every time, for, "Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." 1 Tim. 4:88For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. (1 Timothy 4:8).
Then be wise, and today face the end, and in the name of our Lord and Master we ask you, "When will you decide for Christ?" Answer without hesitation, "Just now.”