A GREAT Irishman was setting forth on his last journey. Behind him lay a strenuous life devoted to the service of his country. The Irish people had lavished on him almost unbounded love and admiration, and he had enjoyed honor, fame, and fortune beyond many.
He had been religious, too, a sincere son of the Roman Catholic Church. Early in life he had written in his diary: “Oh, Eternal Being, Thou knowest the purity of my heart, and the sincerity of my promises.” But now, too early old with ceaseless toils, and worn by sickness and sorrow, he was about to pass over from time into eternity, and before him lay, as his biographer says, “the dark unknown, which he feared to go out into.”
Did the thought of his arduous life yield him no consolation? Did the remembrance of the purity of his heart bring him no repose? Could the love of friends afford no mitigation of his fears? None! Gloom and despair settled down upon him, filling his days with terror, while at night the thought of dying drove sleep from his eyes.
As he drew near the end the last sacrament was administered to him, and during the prayers his ear caught the name of Jesus. Blessed name Jesus, the Saviour of sinners Jesus, the sinner’s Friend! “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,” murmured the dying man, and fell asleep in peace.
Years have passed away since then, multitudes of men and women have come and gone on life’s pilgrimage, innumerable changes have taken place; but, thank God! there remains today, unchanged and unchangeable, the power of the name of Jesus. It is still the name that has power to bless, it is still the only name under heaven, given amongst men, whereby we may, nay, we must be saved.
Have you, gentle reader, come under the wondrous power of this name? or, rather, has He who bears this precious name wooed and won your heart? I have ventured to relate to you this simple story, because it adds its little tribute to the power of Jesu’s name, but not to encourage you to risk your soul in the strange madness of delay. Perhaps you say, “I will do as this man did, I will get riches and reputation, I will take all the world has to offer, then at the end I, too, will call on Jesus for pardon and peace.” But consider a little—first, you may die before you have done any of these things. I know not who you are, you may be already the hero of great deeds, and the plaudits of a grateful nation are perhaps at this moment ringing in your ears; or you may be in humble circumstances, and your name shall never be written in the annals of fame; but “death happeneth alike unto all.” You would fain ignore the grim spectre, and, if you are rich enough to command the highest medical and surgical skill, you may buy him off for a time, but one day he will overtake you, and, clasped in his cold embrace, with the warm life-blood congealing in your veins, and your heart, which once beat so high with hope, giving its last faint throb, there will be only left for you a coffin, a funeral, and a grave; and then?— “It is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)).
Again, who can promise you that you shall have a death-bed? You may die in a strange land, in the stress of battle, by a sudden disaster; there may be no friend at hand to breathe the sweet name of Jesus in your dying ear.
Think also, would you really like to spend your life for this world? to keep the company of those who insult and outrage that name; and then, at the last, call upon Jesus? I do not think you can deliberately plan such inconceivable baseness. That pardon which you think to obtain so lightly was won at great cost by the cruel death, the deep, measureless sorrow, the sore travail of soul of Jesus the Saviour, “for without shedding of blood is no remission” (Heb. 9:2222And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (Hebrews 9:22)), and if you had a hundred lives to give wholly to Him, you could never repay Him. Well has the poet sung,
“See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down,
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet?
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
“Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were an offering far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.”
I pray that your eyes may be opened to see this, and that you may receive Him now, with all the blessing He brings. How gracious He is! In His Word He puts it in so many different ways for you. If you do not understand how to receive Him, He says “Come” (Matt. 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)); and if you say, I do not know how to come, “Believe” (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)), or “Trust” (Eph. 1:1212That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. (Ephesians 1:12)); Or if this is still too difficult, He says “Look” (Isa. 45:2222Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. (Isaiah 45:22)).
Do, dear friend, let Him bless you now, and then in true-hearted surrender lay your life, and all that you have, at His feet.
R.