I WANT you both to go to the meeting tonight," said a Christian mother to her son and daughter, the former a young man about eighteen, the other some four years younger. Both looked a little disconcerted, and then the latter said, "But, mother, we have been to a great many meetings already, and were not counting on going tonight.”
“Yes, but this is the last of Mr. H—’s meetings, at this time, and I should like you both to go tonight," repeated the mother; and, accustomed as they were to obey, with the obedience of love, their beloved and only parent (for their father had been some years dead), they consented, and getting themselves ready, set off together to the village at some little distance, where the meetings were held. It had recently been a time of blessing there. Many had been awakened to the knowledge that they were perishing, had accepted of God's salvation, and had now joy and peace in Christ Jesus. But that brother and sister had no desire to be amongst the number, and only went to the meetings to please their mother, who had long been a child of God. As they neared the hall, the young girl whispered, “Try and get a seat near the door, mind you, so as we can get out easy.”
“All right," said her brother, "I'll try anyhow.”
And a seat near the door they did get, though as people came crowding in they had to sit up a little further than they cared to do.
The address was a soul-stirring one, on God's love to the perishing. The preacher was earnest, and pressed home the truth to his hearers. Many were affected even to tears, but the brother and sister sat unmoved. It was no new story to them.
From their earliest childhood they had been familiar with it, and at most it was but in their ears as a lovely song.
At the close an after-meeting was intimated, and the anxious were invited to remain; but the only anxiety that those two felt was how to get out quick enough and not "be spoken to," and this was intensified as the preacher left his place and came walking down toward the door. Before they could get out he had already reached the end of the seat where they were, but by a little skillful maneuvering on their part, they got past him unnoticed, and were once more in the open air.
“What a narrow escape," said the young man, drawing a long breath. "Yes," said his sister, laughing, “it is the narrowest we've had; I quite brushed clothes with him." And talking jestingly with each other they walked home.
“Here we are, mother, and we've escaped once more." It was the young girl who spoke as they entered the house, and her light words fell heavily on the mother's ear, and also on her heart. She had long prayed for these dear ones,—specially so tonight,—and had hoped that one, or perhaps both, would have come home anxious, or, it might be, saved. But their careless looks, and light words, told her too plainly that it was not so. She looked up, and said mournfully, "It will be a sad thing if you get escaping into hell." It was an arrow that shot home down into the girl's soul. There was no more jesting for her. She quietly took off her things, and shortly after went to bed, but not to sleep.
“Escaping into hell," rung in her ears. "I never heard mother say anything so dreadful before," she said to herself, as she lay awake. Conscience whispered, "Still, it's true. And, after all, what was it that you escaped from tonight? Was it not from accepting the message of God's salvation, and from being brought to the living Savior? And then where are you escaping to? Escaping to hell?”
“I know," now reflected the awakened girl, "that Christ is an all-sufficient Savior, and that His work is a finished work, but I don't want to be a Christian—to become His—just yet. I am only fourteen, and surely it will do in a few years after this." Louder than ever the words seemed to ring," It will be a sad thing if you get escaping into hell." “Oh! those dreadful words, if I could only get rid of them, if I could only forget them." But they were not to be got rid of or forgotten, till the poor troubled one had found both a refuge and resting-place in Christ. How glad that mother's heart was, when, not long after this, that same young girl stood beside her, with a face lighted up with joy, and a voice trembling with emotion, said, “Mother, I am Christ's now.”
Perhaps this meets the eye of some careless one, whose only anxiety has been to keep out of the way of God's messengers. But pause a moment, and ask yourself, “Why should I do so? How will it end?" Oh! if you only knew your danger.
If you only knew too what real joy you are losing even here, for no one out of Christ knows what joy or true gladness is. Any pleasure or merriment you may have had, was but as the crackling of thorns under a pot, lasting a short time and leaving only ashes behind. If you take your Bible and read the 11th chapter of 1st Samuel, you will find a striking picture of danger and deliverance.
A little company is seen at Jabesh-Gilead, with a cruel foe encamped against them, and the prospect before them that unless deliverance came in seven days, they would all have their right eyes thrust out. What think you were they doing? Getting up soirees, concerts, balls, horse-races? or even reading novels "to pass the time"? Ah, no! they realized their position; they were awake to their danger.
And oh! careless one,—for it is to you I now write,—how can you be careless, with eternal issues at stake? A greater danger hangs over you.
Not the loss of your right eye, but of your precious, priceless soul. Nor are you even sure of seven days' respite. Oh, arouse thee, and baste to be saved! be careless no longer, why will ye die?
Another thing the men of Jabesh knew was, that if deliverance came, it must be outside of themselves. And when the message of their distress was made known at Gibeah, “the people lifted up their voice and wept." And have we not more cause to weep over you," not only because of your danger, but of your indifference to it? Read Luke 19:41-4241And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, 42Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. (Luke 19:41‑42), "And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, "If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes." Ask yourself, “Who was it that wept? and what made Him weep? Again, when the men of Jabesh get back the message, “Tomorrow, by that time the sun be hot, ye shall have help," when they heard it, they were glad. And why were they glad?
Simply because they believed it. But God has a brighter and better message for you. He does not say, "Tomorrow," but” Today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts." “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the clay of salvation.”
Surely you will no longer harden your heart, but hear His voice speaking to you. Remember that NOW is God's time, let it also be yours.
Y. Z.