GOD tells us in His word that our life is even a vapor which appears for a little time and then vanishes away: Man is very slow to believe this. As a rule, he puts death and eternity as far from him as possible. But this in no sense alters the truth of God’s word. Life is in some instances, lengthened out to one hundred years or more; but even this great age is but a brief span—a moment compared with eternity— “a vapor; that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” And while a few may have years added, many are suddenly cut off. Allow me to relate three such instances, which have occurred within a few weeks.
During the winter and spring months, many health and pleasure seekers go down from Canada and the States, to Bermuda, to escape the severe weather of these colder climates. Among the many passengers who went in April, was a man of whom I wish to speak to you. Whether or not he was a saved man, I cannot say, but in all probability, he was one of those whose aim was recreation and pleasure. The ship which brought him and his wife, with other passengers, landed at Bermuda on Saturday morning. The sun shone bright and warm, and the air was balmy and pleasant. He thought he would have a bath in the sea, and carried out this thought. Finding the atmosphere very mild and agreeable, he put on lighter underwear. Next, he went out for a drive. Soon after returning to the hotel, a slight cold, which he had had, turned to pneumonia, and in a few hours he was in eternity.
It was his poor wife’s sad duty to have his body taken to the ship which was to set out on its return trip to New York on Monday morning. A few days before the same ship had brought them down, full of life and happy anticipation, doubtless; now, death filled the scene.
Do you say, that was sudden and sad! Truly it was. But let me tell you of a case more sudden.
A few days ago, three fishermen were out in a small boat not far from the Island of St. Vincent. Two of them noticed a large fish, having a long sword like “beak,” jump out of the water in pursuit of some smaller fish; as they, were directly in line with it, they quickly leaned forward to escape, it, but, the third fisherman, not seeing it, did not bend down, and it struck him in the chest, just below the neck. He cried out, “O, God, save me!” He was able to tell the men that he was suffering greatly, and that his eyes were “turning,” and then he passed into eternity.
He was one who had, in a measure at least, recognized God’s claims, and, like many thousand others, was “trying” to win heaven. Alas! for the “dead works” of man which God will not accept. Whether God had mercy and saved the soul of that poor man in the last moment of his life, “the day” alone will declare. Sudden, his taking! Yes, how sudden!
I have one other case to relate. As the S. S. Dahome plowed her way through the deep, bound for the West Indies, in the end of April, she carried some passengers who were Christians. These Christians felt a deep interest in the souls of those they met on the ship, and, as opportunity offered, they gave tracts and had conversation with one and another about eternal things. Among those to whom they spoke, was the bedroom steward who was very kind and attentive to their wants, and who seemed to be, naturally, a nice, agreeable person, but when spoken to about his soul he became restless at once. When asked if he was a believer in the Lord Jesus, he said hastily, “Oh, yes, oh, yes,” and hurried out of the state room. On another occasion, when some little tracts were handed him and a solemn word spoken, in a very quick and abrupt manner, he said, “All right, all right,” and again hurried away. After this he kept out of the way, and no opportunity was given to speak with him again. After a week’s voyage the ship anchored, about noon, in the harbor, and the passengers were soon carried ashore by little boats. That afternoon, the steward suddenly fell down dead.
Sudden! ah, yes! as he waved good, bye to those upon whom he had waited, perhaps no one could have convinced him that in a few short hours he would be in eternity.
Oh eternity, how real! And how dreadful, for those who enter it unsaved. And yet the mass of mankind are blindly going on without a thought, apparently, beyond this life. “They are like blind men dancing on the verge of a pit. One slips in but is not missed, for the rest cannot see him; neither can they see their own danger; soon another goes—and another, but the rest dance on. Crazy, do you say? No they are BLIND. So it is with the sinner. The “god of this world” blinds his mind and thus keeps the good news of the glory of Christ from shining into his heart. God would keep back man’s soul from the pit, and so does not leave him without warning. He speaks once, yea twice, but man perceives it not. Ah, poor sinner, unheeding the warnings that God has given you, for you; hell enlarges herself, and “opens her mouth without measure.” We speak and sing of room in heaven; yes, there is room there, if only you will come to Jesus; but there is room also in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone. Shall God’s warnings be unheeded, and Satan’s lie be be-lived until the yawning mouth of hell receives its victim?
Why go blindly on in your sins? Why not come now to Jesus? You may be in eternity tomorrow. If stricken down as you read this, where would your soul be?
ML 09/11/1904