A friend of mine was once staying with a rich farmer. He had started life as a poor boy, but by hard toil and saving, had fought his way through the world until now advanced in years, he had built a large house on one of the finest sites in his estates, intending in quietness to enjoy the remainder of his days.
My friend was travelling through the State, and though a stranger, was kindly received and entertained by this rich man, who at once was eager to show him all the objects that were of the most interest to himself. He took him to the neighboring city, and there pointed out the principal stores and warehouses; the largest places of business were his—indeed rows of houses and whole streets had been built by him.
On returning to the house, they drove through miles of country, all the property of the same man, who was proud to tell that he was the possessor of fifty thousand acres, upon which fed thousands of sheep and large herds of cattle. On arriving at the house, they ascended the tower built for the purpose of surveying the surrounding country. On the top of this tower the farmer kept a telescope, by which means he could see what operations were going on at his various farms. He bade my friend look through the telescope, telling him as far as his eye could reach was all his.
"Well," said my friend, after speaking in admiration of all he had seen, "but what up there?"—pointing with his finger as he spoke, to heaven.
"Why, how, what do you mean!" said the farmer; "I don't quite understand."
"You have been showing me what you possess down here, and certainly you have more of this world than most men, what have you in the world to come? You have been for years amassing all this wealth which has cost you toil and time, and yet you know that you cannot take your houses, or your farms, or your flocks and herds with you beyond the grave; and the day is fast drawing near when you will, whether you like it or not, be obliged to leave all this to others. Have you no inheritance for the great hereafter?"
"Well, I don't know; I can't say, for I never think much about that."
My friend then told the rich farmer the blessed truths of redeeming love, and looked to the Lord to rivet home the word in the power of the Holy Ghost.
O! my dear friend, I trust that the simple question, "What up there?" will not be forgotten by you, until you can with joy answer in the words of one when dying, who, laying her hand on her Bible, said—"I have Christ there;" then pointing up, "Christ there;" again laying her hand on her heart, with a sweet smile she passed away, saying, "and Christ here."
O may God grant that you may know this treasure as the inheritance of your heart through time and in eternity!
As It Is Appointed Unto Men Once to Die, But After This the Judgment: So Christ Was Once Offered to Bear the Sins of Many.
If Ye Believe Not That I Am He, Ye Shall Die in Your Sins.