FOUR railway servants killed in a terrible collision, and a number injured, was the sad announcement in the N― S―. daily paper of 13th April 1903.
It appears that the driver of the fast freight train which left the city of H — late on Saturday night, had received instructions not to pass the junction about fourteen miles distant, but to wait there, and allow an overdue express train to pass. Whether the driver of the freight train was intoxicated or asleep, remains at present a mystery; anyway, the warning was unheeded, and the locomotive drawing over eighty cars dashed through the junction. In a few minutes the terrible mistake was realized, but it was then too late. They saw the light of the approaching express coming up in the darkness, and in a few minutes the two huge engines were locked in each other’s embrace, four men being almost instantly ushered into eternity.
Whether these men were ready to meet God, we cannot say; but ready or unready, the writer and the reader of these lines must one day meet God. “Prepare to meet thy God,” is the solemn language of Scripture (Amos 4:1212Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. (Amos 4:12)).
Doubtless the reader has received many warnings from God. We read in Job 33:14,14For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. (Job 33:14) “For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumbering’s upon the bed,” because God is gracious unto the sinner.
But has the reader heeded the warning God has given? or is he still rushing on like those in the foregoing narrative, to destruction? Every moment, every tick of the clock, brings us nearer heaven or hell. Does the reader say there is plenty of time? The Word of God does not say so. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” “Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts” (Heb. 4:77Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. (Hebrews 4:7)). Tomorrow you may be in eternity; then the arm of God will not save you: it will be too late. I implore you not to neglect the salvation of your soul. Turn to God now. Own yourself a lost, ruined sinner before God; believe the grace of God in sending His beloved Son into this world to suffer upon the cross for your sins. The work is all done. Jesus has glorified God about the question of sin, and God has owned the completeness of His work by raising Him from the dead, and by putting Him at His own right hand in glory. “To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:4343To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43)).
If the reader refuses to heed the solemn warning God is pleased to give, he must suffer the terrible consequences. “He that, being often reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy” (Prov. 29:11He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. (Proverbs 29:1)). Think of the awful consequences of rejecting Christ, and the terrible remorse of waking up in hell, knowing you might have been saved.
Turn to the Lord Jesus Christ now. He is both able and willing to save.
He has said, “Him that cometh unto Me, I will in no wise cast out.”
W. H. W.