THE world's forgetfulness of this text was strikingly illustrated by an incident that occurred at the annual Kansas State Fair of 1891.
At that time the C.R.I. and P. Railway Company had just completed a branch line running into the Indian Territory, and as an advertisement they had on exhibition at the fair, the upper portion of a human body, which had been found in a cave in the territory. The body was entire from the waist upward, and the skin and flesh had become hard and dry like a mummy.
Lying by the man's side was found a razor, with the date "1776" engraved on its rusted blade.
This strange exhibit attracted a large crowd, and many were the speculations as to who the unknown unfortunate was, and how he came by his death in the lonely cave.
Some thought he was a scout, who had been murdered by the Indians. Others, that he was an explorer, who had lost his way on the pathless plain, and had crept into the cave to die of starvation or disease.
While they were thus speculating and staring, a servant of Christ appeared on the scene, whose well-filled bag of tracts plainly indicated that he was there, not to see the sights, but on his Master's business. On noticing the crowd and the object which attracted them, he stepped quietly to the front, and in silent contemplation stood and surveyed the lump of lifeless clay. Then turning to the assemblage he remarked, loud enough to be heard by all, “Yes, here is what remains of his body, but his soul is either in heaven or in hell! ' There was a moment's silence, and then a low sneer ran through the onlookers as most of them turned and walked away. Ah, how few of those careless worldlings thought, that day, of the soul of the unknown dead! They could stand and gaze and speculate, but not one thought as to his eternal destiny, or their own.
Reader, are you thoughtless as to these serious matters? Are you living in gay forgetfulness of eternity? Remember "after death the judgment," and that "judgment eternal" (Heb. 6) Death is not the final END, nor the end of existence. It is the beginning of a new state of existence IN EARNEST. You have attended the funeral of some departed friend, and as you gazed tor the last time upon the faded cheek and the folded arm the sobs would come and the tears well up. But stay! This is not the end. Death is not all, for it is written with the pen of eternal truth, "Once to die, but after this the judgment." Mark well that word "but.”
Up! Rouse thyself, ere it be too late and thou awake in hell! Thy sins! See them, red like crimson, deep as the scarlet dye, innumerable as the sand upon the seashore! Canst thou meet God as thou art? Oh, look away, away to Jesus; He is the sinner's Friend, thy Friend. He is the sinner's Substitute, the sinner's Savior. Wilt thou have Him? Wilt thou bow to Him now?
Take Him as thine own just now. "Look" this moment. Believe in Him and live forever. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but is passed from death unto life”