THE POOR stag lies dead! Hunted, perhaps, by men and dogs, until it could no longer run, and now it is stretched on the cold ground in the snow. One might think, to look at its large, plaintive eyes, that life was still there. But, no! Do you see those black, ugly birds gathering, and with greedy, open mouth and outstretched wings, ready to pounce upon the poor creature, lying stiff and cold? That tells us that death is there, for the vulture and the crow feed only on bodies from which the life has departed, and they are now hastening to make their ghastly feast. “For wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together.”
Death is a sad and solemn thing, and it is a thing that may well bring terror to the heart of one who is unsaved, for beyond its portal is blackness and darkness, gloom and anguish, for all who will not accept God’s offered way of salvation.
There are many who feel no terror, for Satan so blinds their minds, they are thoroughly dulled to the dreadful future that awaits them; and this is exceedingly sad, for, if their eyes were opened, they would see that they are hanging over the brink of an awful precipice; and gladly would they flee for refuge to the only place of safety.
O, dear boys and girls, rejoice if you know the Lord Jesus as your Saviour! For you, the sting of death is gone, because Jesus has suffered for your sins, and God’s wrath will never fall upon you on account of those sins. For you, death will only be falling asleep, to waken in the presence of Him who has loved you with an everlasting love.
If you know Jesus, can you not speak to those who do not know Him, and warn them against going on in carelessness and entering upon the awful “second death” which will never come to an end!
If you know Jesus, even the first death, the “falling asleep”, may not be for you, for He is coming, and those who are His, when He comes, will never have to pass through death at all. Will not that be blessed?
“We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a Moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” 1 Cor. 15:51, 5251Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:51‑52).
Messages of God’s Love 8/17/1913