THERE are two ways, dear children, in one of which you and all the people in the world are traveling.
God calls one of these ways a “path,” the other He calls a “road.” The pith leads up, the road leads down; the path is narrow, the road is broad; the path is difficult, the road is easy; the path has few travelers on it; the road is thronged with people. In the narrow pathway there are many thorns to prick the feet, while in the broad road many roses are strewn along and it is sometimes very enchanting.
Now, which of these ways have you chosen, or which will you choose? Do you say, The pathway has everything against it, while there is everything in favor of the broad and pleasant road; I will choose the easy road with plenty of gay companions!
Wait a moment! Let us take a glance at the end of these two ways. The broad road down which you can travel without any special effort, ends in “the lake of fire.” The narrow pathway, which is so difficult, ends in a scene of delight—a happy home where sorrow can never come and where pleasures will never end.
The time it will take you to travel the broad road will be, at most, a few, fleeting years; then an eternity of woe will result. The difficult pathway will occupy only “a little while,” then you will enter an eternity of joy. Your company in “the lake of fire,” will be the wicked and the lost, and the devil and his angels. Your company in glory will be Jesus Christ, the Saviour, and all the host of the redeemed.
Again, I ask, which of these two ways will you choose?
“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” If you will take your true place as a lost sinner, you are one whom Jesus came to save; and if you believe in Him your sins-are borne and put away. And while the pathway you will be called to travel is a narrow and difficult one, you will have Jesus with you in it, and He will keep you all the way.to the end.
I beseech you, then, dear children, decide for Jesus! Give Him your heart. Do not let Satan deceive you, making you think the broad road is happier and better and that it will be safe enough to journey on it, for a while, at any rate. It may seem fair and bright, but oh! dear children, the end is dreadful. And the longer you are on this road the more difficult you will find it to leave it.
Which, then, will you choose? Count the cost; count it well! Heap tether all the pleasures of which you can possibly think, and put them in the balance against your never-dying soul; and which will you have?
When will you decide? There is only one time that is acceptable to God —that is NOW! R.
ML 07/30/1899