AMERICAN railway companies, though business-like and very progressive, have in one respect earned a bad reputation. The loss of life upon their systems yearly reaches alarming proportions. One of the greatest factors contributing to this state of things is the large number of level crossings throughout the country, and the free-and-easy manner in which the American public has accustomed itself to stroll about the line.
At a crossing in a certain town accidents were of such terrible frequency that the railway company, desirous of reducing them to a minimum, offered a valuable prize in competition to the person who sent them in the best notice for cautioning the passer-by—the notice to be brief, terse, and arresting.
The winner sent in the following:
STOP!—LOOK BOTH WAYS !!—LISTEN!!!
There is another kind of disaster which occurs with awful frequency, not only in America but in England, too. I refer to the death of a sinner in his sins.
Your death will be a solemn event to the small circle of your acquaintance, and to YOU intensely solemn, however it happens. But if you die in your sins, what tongue can tell the terrors of that hour!
One tongue has told it. That of Jesus, the Son of God. With a heart full of pity and compassion, He unveiled the truth: “The rich man also died, and was buried; and in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments." (Luke 16:22, 2322And 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. (Luke 16:22‑23).)
But are people really traveling on to this? Am I? Yes, really. See them marching unconcernedly on to the "level crossing" of death, there to be cut down by the swift expresses of God's judgment.
What shall we do? Let us, in God's name, uplift the notice:
STOP
You cannot stop the swift flight of a lifetime, or the ticking of the great clock of time, but you can pause and consider. Think! my reader. I beseech you, THINK! The devil does not want you to think. He carries you on in a perfect whirlwind of business, care, and pleasure. But is it well with your soul? Are you right with God? Be assured of this:
THERE IS A GOD ABOVE YOU, AND YOU MUST MEET HIM.
THERE IS A RECORD LEFT BEHIND YOU, AND YOU MUST FACE IT.
THERE IS AN ETERNITY BEFORE YOU, AND YOU MUST SPEND IT.
LOOK BOTH WAYS!!
Behind, at your sins; ahead, at the long ages of eternity. Look beneath you, into the pit of hell, with its terrors for the impenitent soul; above you into heaven, the abode of God and of Christ, and of all that is good and bright, and holy, and happy. Look not only at the allurements and pleasures of the world; look at them by all means, for if you look long enough you will see through them, and discover their vanity and emptiness; look also at the life of the Christian, not a life of ease, doubtless, but a life of peace, and rest, and holiness, and joy. The Christian sings:
“Oh! the peace My Savior gives;
Peace I never knew before,
All my life has brighter grown,
Since I learned to trust Him more."
Having looked both ways,
LISTEN!!!
to the gracious gospel message, without any addition of mine, straight from the fountain of Holy Scripture.
F. B. H.