IN the old coach days a young lady was I traveling and beguiled the time by narrating to her fellow-passengers how she got more pleasure out of her enjoyments than most people. She adopted the plan of enjoying her pleasure first in anticipation, next in realization, and finally in retrospection.
An elderly gentleman turned to her and said, "Madam, there is one pleasure you have overlooked.”
She begged him to explain, adding, "I cannot afford to lose any pleasure.”
He replied, "Madam, you have overlooked the pleasure the contemplation of these things will give you on your death-bed.”
An ominous silence followed, showing how his remark had struck home.
Dear friend, let me ask you, you think you have been having "good times," enjoying life, but have you ever considered the fact that you cannot live here forever, and after death cometh the judgment? What comfort will the pleasures of sin give you in that day? When you stand alone to answer for the deeds done in the body, what will you say? Your companions may applaud you to-day and urge you on. In that day you will not have their support when you stand trembling before Him whose counsel and invitation you now reject.
Do you find your "good times" lead you to earnest prayer or a desire to read God's word, where alone the way of peace, the path of life, is put before you? Do you find "seeing a bit of life" leads to walking soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world? Do you realize that "the thought of foolishness is sin," that a covetous desire is idolatry?
Doubtless before the Flood men thought what "good times" they were having. No doubt they thought Noah very much behind the times in building a vessel right away from the sea. But the rain came, the stored-up supplies of water from beneath gushed forth in irresistible volume. They learned too late the awful mistake they had made.
As it was in the days of Noah, so it is now. God is put aside. His word is rejected. Men rush headlong to secure a prize, always promised them but never secured.
Don't turn away because these words condemn your course. If these words are wrong, you have nothing to fear from them. If they are right, and rest assured they are, then what are you going to do? God desires that you should "love life and see good days.”
Now the "life" God would have you "love" is eternal life, and "this life is in His Son." (1 John 5:1111And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (1 John 5:11).) But the next verse finishes up in solemn contrast, "He that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”
Now, my friend, as you value your own soul, and your eternal happiness, let me ask you, "Have you sought the Lord Jesus? Have you found the Son of God? Apart from Him you are without life. Do not put me off. Time is short. We may never meet again. If you realize the awful peril of your position you will not evade my questions, nor trifle with the subject. Give the matter the attention it deserves.
Once the Lord stood amidst a great concourse of people and cried unto them, saying, “If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink." (John 7:37.) These words do not refer to mere natural thirst, but to the soul's thirst after true and lasting happiness. True happiness and life are only to be found in Christ. Do you know Him as your Savior? Do not rest till you do, or you will find out the hollowness of earth's passing pleasures on a death bed; you will find them but the ashes of a Dead Sea apple, outwardly fair and alluring, but carrying with them no abiding satisfaction. P. J. B.