THROUGH the beautiful country lanes of South Devon, one evening, a covered carriage might have been seen rapidly traveling. Its destination was Colonel B― ‘s mansion. Its occupant was a lady, dressed like a woman of the world, ―her mind occupied, no doubt, with the dinner-party to which she was invited.
Little did she dream that she would never reach the end of her journey, or that she was so soon to be ushered into eternity.
The horse shied, overturning the carriage. The coachman and horse escaped unhurt, but what of the lady? She was rendered unconscious. In a very few minutes her heart ceased its beating, and she was―GONE!
Just for a minute or two she had recovered consciousness, and uttered five words—her last on earth.
How loving sorrow-stricken friends wait for and prize the last words of their expiring friends! The most magnificent of dying utterances was that of the Son of God. Amid the throes of death, enveloped in the utter gloom of Calvary, after having drained the cup of wrath, which was put into His hands by God, to the last dark dreg, He cried― “IT IS FINISHED!” What words! They rent the wail of the temple. They cleft the darkness. They inaugurated the Gospel day. They vindicated the everlasting righteousness of God. They made salvation possible for you, unknown reader.
Five words were the last that escaped the lips of a man as suddenly ushered into eternity as this lady. He had learned the value of Christ’s dying utterance. Sweetly, and with confidence, did he pronounce his last words on earth― “Departing to be with Christ!” One moment on earth― the next in the presence of Jesus!
But what of the lady’s last five words? They were these― “I have lost my shoe!” One’s heart sickens to think that in such a moment her thoughts were occupied with a dainty shoe. What of her soul? What of her sins? What of her eternity? She was never known to have confessed Christ as her Saviour on earth. Sadly is it to be feared that her next we words, uttered in eternity, would be― “I have lost my soul!”
Peter, walking on the water, looking at the wind instead of Christ, began to sink. The unstable water could never sustain him upon its surface once his eye was off Christ. As he sank, what was his earnest, piercing cry? Three words― “Lord, save me!” How suited to the occasion! Would that these too had been the lady’s, uttered in simple faith in Christ!
What do you think would be your last words on earth? You too must experience the realities of eternity; and we would desire to put ourselves beside you, and earnestly and affectionately inquire if you are prepared to meet God. Meet Him you must.
Job of old knew that a man must be just with God, but HOW that could be accomplished he knew not (Job 9:11Then Job answered and said, (Job 9:1)). To justify himself was worse than folly in his eyes, for he says, “If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse” (vs. 20). Again, to forget it all, and live an easy merry life was no better, for he says, “If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness and comfort myself; I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent” (vss. 27, 28). Again, reformation was no use―the mere turning over a new leaf―for he says, “If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean, yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me” (vss. 30, 31). And then he bewails that there is no daysman who can put his hand both upon Job and God.
Self-justification only leads to God’s condemnation of you; take, then, your true place as a vile, guilty sinner.
Forgetfulness of your sins, of God, of eternity, is folly in the extreme, for that only, at the best, gives you a false peace. It does not avert the storm of judgment that lies before each Christless soul in the near future.
Poor Job longed for a daysman. We can point you to One―Jesus. In His own person, at the cross, He settled the whole question of sin. Now God is “just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” “There is ONE MEDIATOR between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all” (1 Tim. 2:5, 65For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. (1 Timothy 2:5‑6)).
There is only one way to God,—that is, through the Lord Jesus Christ. There is only one means of justification, ―that is, simple belief in God’s Son. “There is NONE OTHER NAME under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:1212Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)). “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)). A. J. P.
THE difference of a single letter in the soul’s faith either saves or damns it. It all lies between a “D” and a “K.” Words, God’s words, when believed, save a man; works, his own works, damn him. Cornelius was told to send for Peter, “who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved” (Acts 11:1414Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. (Acts 11:14)). He did so, heard, believed, and was saved. Many rest on their works, forgetting God’s words, “Unto him that worketh not” (Rom. 4:55But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4:5)); “Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:99Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:9)); “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us” (Titus 3:55Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5)).
Reader, are you resting on words or works? That letter “K” has damned millions. ―W. T. P. W.