LET us reflect a little, dear reader, upon the past, and the teeming millions that have lived here, but are now gone. In so doing, we shall learn to so number our days, that our hearts shall be applied unto wisdom. We shall come to the wise conclusion that we must go too ere long, and the important question is, “Where shall we go?”
Often our poor foolish hearts are inclined to envy the great ones of this world, and this is always so until we go into the sanctuary of God, then understand we their end. For “man that is in honor, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish” (Psa. 49:2020Man that is in honor, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish. (Psalm 49:20)). “Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity” (Psa. 62:99Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity. (Psalm 62:9)).
To say nothing of the mighty ones who lived upon the earth for sixteen centuries before the flood, we will commence with Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. His glory was great, his riches immense, his power as a ruler was unlimited; but all came to an end, after a few brief years, and he is gone. But gone where? As he entered eternity, it was as a responsible being to give an account to God, the judge of all. But from this earth he is gone.
Multitudes on multitudes have gone likewise. They have gone, individually responsible to God, but gone, where?
Then come on the great ones of Persia, Grecia, and Rome, with their Darius, Artaxerxes, Alexander, Pompey, Nero, and Constantine. Their glory has passed like a shadow; their monuments crumbled to dust; they have vanished and gone; but gone, where? Gone to give an account to God. Solemn truth! enough to awaken consciences the most hardened.
But to come nearer home. The great Charlemagne has reigned and gone. Henry the Eighth, with his unnumbered sins, has gone. Napoleon, with his insatiable ambition, is no more. The poor money-loving Gould is gone. Ingersoll, the daring, God-insulting infidel, will soon go. Hosts of deluded infidels and atheists have gone to give an account to Him who will judge them in righteousness. They have gone!
On the other hand, multitudes of the saints of God have lived and gone. Where? Thank God, they are at rest above,
Enoch, the man who, amid the surrounding evil, walked with God for three hundred years, has been translated to heaven.
Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Caleb, Samuel, David Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, John the Baptist, Anna and Simeon, and millions more of that age, have gone to that city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
The thief on the cross went to paradise the day that Jesus died, Peter in a later day; Paul from the block, and multitudes from the flames of martyrdom, have passed into the paradise of God, entitled thus to do by the blood of the Lamb.
From Abel down, the title to enter has been the blood of the Lamb. The ground of exclusion from the presence of God has been unbelief.
And now, dear reader, to come closer home still, let us consider ourselves. As to myself, I can say, through God’s infinite mercy, that I am saved. The precious blood of Christ is my only title to heaven. This I have known for many years.
Now then, as to yourself, How is it with you? If you were to die tonight, as far as this scene is concerned, you would be gone, but where? Reflect, dear reader. Ask yourself the question, If I were to die tonight, where should I go? How should I meet God? Where should I spend eternity?
And you may die tonight. And if not, the time is fast approaching when you must bid an eternal farewell to this whole scene, and go, Where? Dare you shelve such a momentous question? Shall the trifles of earth be of more importance to you than your eternal salvation?
Shall the Son of God die for sinners, endure the anguish of Calvary, and at the cost of His own blood open up a way of escape from judgment, and you be lost?
Shall the Holy Spirit plead with you all the days of your life, urging your acceptance of the Lord Jesus as Saviour and Lord, and all be in vain? Shall He meet with nothing but resistance at your hands?
Shall the love and compassion of God, His Divine beseeching’s, His faithful warnings, all be disregarded by you, and, in your foolish unbelief, will you rush on to the sure and everlasting judgment of God?
Be warned in time. Let not your life be wasted in unbelief, and your doom fixed in eternal woe.
But even now God’s Spirit may be at work with you. The desire of your heart may be to be saved. If so, there is but one way, and Jesus tells you of that. He says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:66Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)).
Jesus is the way, then. What a blessed way back to the Father! He 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)). We are reconciled to God by the death of His Son. It is a blood sprinkled way; for without the shedding of blood is no remission. As the father received the prodigal, so will God receive all that come to Him through Jesus, trusting in His precious blood. He fits them for His presence, and they are His forever.
Oh, return, dear friend; get God’s great salvation; then it will be your joy to serve Him here, and to praise Him throughout the everlasting ages.
E. A.