WE are hastening on to eternity. No one can stay the course of time; it is flying past us, and we sweep on with the human race to eternity.
It is said that a certain Queen, when dying, said, “A million of money for a moment of time.” Nay, that could not be. On she went into eternity, where queens and subjects appear in the presence of Him who is no respecter of persons. As well might you stay Niagara’s torrent with a straw, or the lightning’s flash with your word, as stop the flight of time. The onward flow has been from Adam down to this, and from this to the end the human race will flow on into eternity. Kings, queens, princes, and subjects of every grade, press on, in inexorable destiny, into eternity.
You and I, reader, ere long will step from the waves of time on to the shores of eternity. Nothing could be more solemn or soul-arresting than this. A few more steps along the path of life; a few more hours, days, months and at most years and we shall be there.
May the shadow of that awful word ETERNITY fling itself across your path if still unsaved; may it arrest, convict, and awaken you, and lead to the solemn inquiry, “Where am I to spend eternity?”
Foolish is the thought that time will end all. Man’s evil heart may wish it, but that cannot be; God, who created man, and endowed him with immortality, has decreed bother wise. To God, then, let us turn, and own His decree, and from Himself obtain light, so that our eternity may be an eternity of bliss and not of woe.
Satan and his fallen associates will live on forever, “and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Rev. 20:1010And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Revelation 20:10)). Their faith in God, and the infallibility of His word, is strong, for we read, “The devils believe and tremble” (James 2:1919Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. (James 2:19)). There is not “a higher critic” among them. Every one of them believes in God, His word from Genesis to Revelation they know to be true, and they tremble in the presence of the inexorable justice of their irrevocable doom.
Would that men were as wise and believing as they! Would that the fallen sons of Adam believed His word as firmly as they, and fled their company and service, to find at the feet of the blessed Saviour of sinners pardon and salvation. Think for a moment of your associates in eternity if in your sins you die. Die Christless, and you remain Christless forever! Die in the service of sin and Satan and his associates, and excluded from heaven you must be forever.
You would not be associated with the drunkard and seducer here, but there―where eternal ages roll—your associations will be with the arch-seducer himself, who is a liar and a murderer, and with all those who have rejected Christ of every class and every grade.
Oh, young man, young woman, think of this! Let it sink down into your inmost soul. Associated forever with the “fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars”―yea, appalling thought, close associates of such, as the objects of divine judgment forever!
Think of the “outer darkness,” the distance between you and heaven’s scenes of light and purity, the undying worm, and the unquenchable fire; reflect upon it, until your very being is filled with an intense desire to flee from the wrath to come, and from such unbearable associations.
Remember that to save you Jesus died, suffered for our sins, drank the deep and awful cup of wrath, was forsaken of God, poured out His life’s blood. You can claim Him as your own Saviour; for He died for sinners, and you are a sinner. He will receive you, for “this man receiveth sinners and eateth with them” (Luke 15:22And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. (Luke 15:2)). Oh, flee to Him at once; let not one precious moment be wasted. See, “the sands of time are sinking,” and your feet ere long will tread the eternal shore!
“Now” is the word― “Now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation.” “Tomorrow is only found in the calendar of fools.” Act then upon God’s “now,” and prove your wisdom. God says “now”; the Holy Ghost says “today”; Jesus says, “Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)).
If lost, because of your refusal to come, how sad and bitter will be the discovery that the Jesus you have rejected as Saviour will sit upon the throne of judgment, “for all judgment is committed unto the Son” (John 5:2222For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: (John 5:22)). And the Lamb, who died for sinners on Calvary, will execute the wrath of God Almighty.
Hesitate no longer; cast unbelief away; come to the Saviour; trust Him who is so worthy of your trust; get saved; and thus love, adore, and serve Him; and at His coming you will be caught up to meet Him, be made like Him, and then throughout eternity’s unending ages you will be with Him.
E. A.