“IT is a fact that forty millions fall a prey to death every year,” were the opening words of a conversation with an elderly lady, who was traveling with the writer a short while ago.
“Is it possible, and the death-rate lower than ever, and sanitary improvements so great and many?” was the answer.
“Yes, but in spite of all that, death never fails to pay a visit at last.”
“No, it comes to all of us,” and then she went on to relate how that an old man ninety-nine years of age, in the town of M., which we had just left, had eagerly looked forward to the day when the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria would be celebrated, but he died the night before the event. “Yes, death comes and interrupts everything for us. But after death, what then?” Alas! the question apparently gave not the remotest concern. Coldly and calmly, indifferent as to what would take place when death would usher her out of this poor world into eternity, she began to ask my opinion as to cremation. Ah, it matters little how the poor body fares, the great thing is—what about the soul?
Reader, does the stupendous fact that death lies right ahead of you, nay, may lay you stiff and cold before tomorrow dawn, cause you no anxious thought? None at all? Then yours is truly a desperate case. You are indeed one of those who are well looked after by the god of this world, i.e., the devil, who is desirous of keeping you blind as to that which sooner or later you will have to face. When the King of terrors and the terror of kings calls, you will have to yield.
Possibly, men in all positions may be bribed, but death—never. No; if death says I want you, neither gold, honor, youth, or ought else will stave it off. What then? Let Scripture speak, “It is appointed unto men once to die; but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)). Time was when death and judgment were not before man—what has wrought the change? One word accounts for it—sin. Our first parents did their own will instead of their Creator’s, which is sin, lawlessness. “By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Rom. 5:1212Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12)).
Death now is the common lot of man, though, thank God, numbers can say that death, as the judgment of God, is passed for them. These are described by the Lord Jesus in John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)― “He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation (judgment), but is passed from death unto life.” The One who speaks these words went into death, and bore sin’s judgment, so that the believer in Him can say with dear Paul Gerhardt of the sixteenth century—
“There is no condemnation, there is no hell for me;
The torment and the fire, mine eye shall never see.”
Reader, if you die an unbeliever, the lake of fire, which is the “second death,” must be your eternal portion. Risk not such an awful eternity, but turn at once to Christ, the sinner’s Saviour. His blood has cleansing power―He can save the vilest who trusts in Him.
“Why unbelieving? thou canst be blessed,
Jesus will pardon, He’ll give thee rest.
Why wilt thou longer wait?
Haste to the open gate.
Come ere it be too late;
To Jesus come.”
P. H. S.