OUR artist surely has a goodly number of interesting faces around him. Any one of them would make a good subject for a sketch. Several of the children look as though they would like to sit for a picture. Which will the artist choose? Some have their slates and books under their arms as they trudge home from school. Other younger ones are out with their mothers for a stroll.
In the midst of such an attractive looking group, the gentleman does not know which would make the most pleasing picture. He seems to be trying to decide between the two little girls who are modestly hanging their heads.
Not many of us are artists and so we do not have to make a choice that we all have to make sooner or later. We all hear the good news of salvation. We all know that Jesus died to save sinners. We know, too, that if we acknowledge our lost helpless ruined condition and our need of a Saviour God’s wonderful salvation is for us. God will not turn away any one who comes to Him seeking forgiveness and salvation. He wants us to come. He is beseeching us to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Have we turned to this loving Saviour, or are we seeking our pleasure and happiness in this world?
Do any of us say, “I am good enough; I am doing the best I can and God is too good and merciful to send me into everlasting punishment,” or “There is plenty of time to become a Christian I will have a good time while I am young?”
Dear reader, you must choose between Christ and the world. It may be a difficult choice. Your conscience may tell you to choose Christ; and your desire for “a good time” may tell you to choose the world and its pleasures.
Do you know how dangerous it is to choose this world for the present, thinking that when you are older you will turn to Christ?
Over twenty-five years ago, a young lady who had heard the gospel, preferred to go on with the pleasures of this world rather than to give them up for Christ.
She was looking forward with much pleasure to the opening of a new skating rink. The time came and the rink was fixed up very attractively. The place was filled with laughter and fun when suddenly a pole in the building gave way. As it fell it struck this young lady and killed her. Her soul passed into eternity unsaved.
Another very attractive and lovable young girl was asked, to attend a prayer meeting during the closing hour of the old year. She did not care for the company of Christians and thought it would be a very dull way to see the old year out and the new year in.
She refused the invitation, saying, “No, I will dance it out.”
The end of the year came and with it the much anticipated dance. The young lady was full of animation and excitement in the midst of the gay throng with its glitter and music.
But as the hour of midnight approached she grew suddenly pale and was carried from the room very sick. All the efforts of the doctor to help her were in vain. As the clock struck twelve, she passed with the dying year into eternity.
She had rejected Christ. She had chosen the world—only to spend an eternity of misery in outer darkness.
Dear reader, which will you choose? It may be a difficult choice. It may be hard for you to give up the pleasures of this life. But they last only a few years at best. And if you do turn, to Christ, you will find in Him far more than all this world can give you, and that for eternity.
Do not refuse that blessed One where alone you can find true happiness, peace, and satisfaction. Accept Him now. Tomorrow may be too late.
ML 06/05/1904