IT was on a cold evening just before Christmas last, that two young men stood together in a leading thoroughfare in London. The day had been spent in company, and now they were separating. “Good-bye, old chap,” said the elder of the two; “when we next meet, it will be in some out-of-the-way place in India. I’m off on the 29th.” Yes, so had he arranged — passage taken, and everything prepared; but, alas! it is to be feared, without reference to God’s will or asking counsel of Him. He went home to his lodgings, and later on to a bed from which he was never to rise again.
In the morning he was called as usual, and as he did not come to breakfast, a gentleman in the house went to his room, touched him, and found his body “icy cold.” A doctor who was summoned immediately, said he had been dead several hours. Only thirty-three! In the prime of life and energy, in good social position, with everything bright and pleasant as far as this world is concerned, suddenly called away; and what then? It is written: “In the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be” (Eccl. 11:33If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be. (Ecclesiastes 11:3)).
Of his state of soul all that can be said is that God knoweth. Conscientious, kind, a good son and brother, was the verdict of friends; but however good these things may be, they are of no avail for salvation in the sight of a holy, heart-searching God, without belief in the Lord Jesus Christ and acceptance of Him as our own personal Saviour.
Reader, if called away thus suddenly, what would be your lot? It is written, “Once to die, but after this the judgment,” to one without Christ; but to the believer in His finished work on the cross, “Absent from the body, present with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:88We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8)); “To depart and be with Christ is far better” (Phil. 1:2323For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: (Philippians 1:23)).
Reader, again, which would it be with you? Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.
S. H.