THERE are few who, if asked where they hope to spend eternity, would give you the answer, "I have no hope of heaven.”
Men hope to get there somehow; yes, even frog' the very brink of hell they hope to glide in some frail bark of their own construction over the rippling waves of some silvery tide, right into an eternity of ease and rest, or at least freedom from the ups and downs and vicissitudes of life here.
Their dreams of a future are misty enough, it is true, but their life here is spent in a mist or vapor of unreality, and eternity seems but an expanse of the same dream only without trouble. To have to meet God, to answer for a misspent life of sin, to have to stand face to face with the One they have rejected; are facts seldom or never thought of; and so many a soul sinks, half asleep, into an endless eternity of Woe, and is roused by the terrible realities scarcely believed in at all.
Now, why is this, when the word of God is 'plain and the way of escape is clearly pointed out?
It was one of those sultry summer days, so still that not a leaf moved, and the blackbird piped and warbled as if enjoying undisturbed the exquisite melody of his own clear notes.
I lay under the shade of a great tree, seeking beneath its branches relief from the glare. Numbers of people passed up and down over the green meadows on their way to the river-side, and, my heart ofttimes longed to know the secrets of not a few who came and sat beside me on one of the iron seats placed for the comfort of weary ones.
How few, I thought, knew much of Him who sat, weary and footsore, by the way-side well, and, while asking from the hand of a poor outcast a drink of water, made known to her the "living water." (John 4) She had no hope beyond present blessing; nay, she had judged herself even unworthy of that, and she doubted the veracity of One who offered her more.
And, oh! is it not still so with many a weary desolate heart like hers? Thirsty and way worn, they know not Him who has said, "Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that. I shall give him shall be in him a well of water, springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:1414But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:14).)
My reverie was first disturbed by an aged man who sat down on the seat at my feet, groaning as if oppressed by the burden and heat of the day. He leaned forward on his well-worn staff, and took off his hat to put back the silvery hair from his heated temples, and again he groaned aloud.
“The day is very hot, and you are tired," I remarked.
“Yes," he answered, "but that'll soon be all over for me: there's a brighter place beyond, and the sooner I'm in it the better, now I've seen eighty-five summers here, and it's time I was gathered to my fathers.”
“Oh," I said, "then you have a hope beyond?”
“'A hope beyond"! he repeated, and, as if wondering if I had my senses, he muttered, "Surely, surely, all this time here, and no hope beyond, sad work that would be.”
“Oh," I said, "perhaps you do not quite understand me. I mean, have you got the question of your sins settled, so that you can meet God without fear? How long have you known Him?”
“Known Him? All my life, to be sure; and you and I will know Him better when we get to heaven, I suppose.”
“But what ground have you for supposing you are going to heaven at all? Is it on the ground of your own works, or the work of Christ?”
“'Deed, neither; to be plain with you, I'll just go the way of my fathers, and it will neither be your preaching nor religious talk that will either keep me out of hearten or put me into it.”
“True, my friend," I said, putting my hand on his arm, to stay him as he rose to go on his way, “but listen to me. The word of God says, Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God' (John 3:33Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3).) What do you make of that?”
"Ah, these things don't trouble me, and it's a pity they trouble a young woman like you. Take things easy, and bide your time, and no fear but you'll get to heaven at last; that's my way.”
"Oh, but it's not God's way," I said, but he hurried on.
I had but time to commend this aged man's darkened case to God, when a young man of delicate appearance came, on the footpath. He walked with difficulty, and often held his hand upon his back as if in pain; and his wan face and feeble step, and the blue veins, that too plainly showed their tracery on his fragile hands and temples, told me that though quite young he had known much suffering. As he sank down exhausted on the seat, he apologized for taking that which was, of course, as free to him as to me, and this gave me at once an opportunity of addressing him.
“You look ill," I said; "and this resting-place is as much yours as Mine; or rather, we have together to thank others for the provision made for our weak and tired bodies. Grace is a wonderful thing," I added, "it provides for our need, irrespective of who we are or what we are; so God in His grace and love provides salvation for you and me.”
There was silence for a moment or two, and then, as if musing over his own suffering, he said, “Yes, I have been very ill, laid down in great agony with rheumatic fever, and now, though able to get out a little, I never expect to walk upright, or pursue the avocations I once took such delight in. I feel mine is a blighted life, and I desire to be at rest in a land where there is no pain or sickness. I do not think I shall be long here.”
Indeed! "I said;" and does the prospect of leaving this scene give you pleasure?”
“Yes," he answered mournfully," I am sick of the world; it has treated me badly, and I long to leave it.”
“And where will you go to?” I asked, solemnly. “You cannot die like the dog. You will have to spend an endless eternity somewhere.
Where?”
“Oh, that does not trouble me much; anywhere would be better than this.”
“Nay," I said," hell would be worse!”
“Oh," he said, as a shade of annoyance crossed his face, “of course I know that, but I hope to go to heaven.”
“On what ground?”
“Oh, I have suffered so much here I am sure there must be brighter days in store for me.”
And, so saying, he rose, as if unwilling to pursue the conversation.
“Stop one moment," I said,” I may never see you again: you are on the wrong road for heaven.
If you have not bowed to Christ; if you have not acknowledged yourself a lost sinner in God's sight, and accepted the salvation He offers you without money and without price you are on the wrong road: Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved’” (Acts 4:1212Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12).)
He bowed, and hurried on, saying as he went, "Your way is not my way. I trust in the mercy of God.”
His place was soon taken by a quiet, respectable-looking woman who sat knitting in silence for some time, while her little delicate boy played at her feet. My heart was sad because of the two who had passed on their way, and I had no word for her. I handed her a little book, which she received gladly, and read at once.
When she had finished it, I said, "Have you accepted Christ?”
"I don't know.”
"Did you accept that little book I gave you?" "Yes, certainly.”
“And why certainly of the one, and not of the other? One is a very trivial thing, but your whole eternity depends upon your having accepted Christ or not. Of course, then, you have no hope of heaven?”
“Indeed, I should be sorry to say that. I had godly parents, and I was a nurse once, and I am sure the prayers of the dear lady I attended on her death-bed will not be unanswered. Her last words were, Mary, we will meet, again.'”
“And is that all you are resting on?" I said. "Yes, and I think that's a good deal.”
“Poor soul," I thought, "a good deal and it leaves out Christ, and there is no salvation in any other.”
I had a few quiet moments for prayer, when loud and boisterous mirth roused me to see two young girls on the grass near me. Their flaunty finery and tinsel ornaments, and hollow, heartless merriment, told of a hope that would perish “like the crackling of thorns under a pot." (Eccles. 7:66For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity. (Ecclesiastes 7:6).)
“You seem very merry," I said; “but this world won't last forever, and what then?”
Oh, a better, I suppose," said one quickly.
“There’s time enough to make ready for that too.
My plan is, make the best of this world, and get the best of the next too.”
“Ah, "I said," but you forget, The fashion of this world passeth away.' Love not the world, neither the things that, are in the world, if any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever (1 John 2:15-1715Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1 John 2:15‑17).) The wages of sin is death,' and you may die in your sins.”
“Oh," said one, starting to her feet, there's time enough for religion some day.”
And so they left me.
A middle-aged woman, with a basket on her arm, came up just in time to hear their last words, and looking at me, said, “That’s terrible! but these are two of the worst girls in the place"; and taking the New Testament from her pocket, she said, " It is a blessing to be well brought up, and have religious teaching. Never a day but I have my lesson out of this; but, then, I had praying parents, and was early taught the road to heaven.”
Oh, "I said," how long have you been on it?
“Many a day; indeed, all my life.”
“And have you ever been converted?”
"Oh, I don't know, but I'm sure I'm on the right road for all that, and I would not give up my hope for anything:" Then, looking at me from head to foot, she said, "You are English, I suppose, but I am Scotch, and we are taught these things from our youth.”
“What things?" I asked.
“Oh, how to serve God faithfully here, and get to heaven at last.”
“And what about the death of Christ?" I said. "I am Scotch too, but my Bible tells me that Christ came not to call the righteous but sinners ' (Mark 2:1717When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Mark 2:17)), and, As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one; ' There is none that doeth good, no, not one (Rom. 3); and that it's simply and only because of the finished work of another, that I have any right to heaven at all. Christ paid the debt for me that I might have what His free grace offers to all. He gave His life that Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.'" (John 3:1515That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:15).)
Deliberately she put her Testament into her pocket, saying, as she did so, "That may be your way, but it is not mine," and she too passed on.
Little more than an hour had elapsed since I left the house, and I returned weary and heart-sore.
But this is no uncommon case. If you have been accustomed to speak to souls by the way, in the trains, in the steamers, in the shops, you will know these are no uncommon cases. Souls are perishing all round us, we pass them daily in the busy street, or, it may be, on the quiet country road, or even under the same roof with us, because they will have their own way 'and reject Christ, Him who said, "I am the way." (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).)
Should this paper be read by any in such a case, let me entreat you to turn to Christ now. In a world where "all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ," there is much to blind you to the danger you are in. Awake, awake! Soon it will be too late, too late!
“The door of mercy's open still,
And Jesus says, Whoever will.'”
Come! come! Jesus ready stands to bless you, but it must be in His own way, and not in your way. The end of your way is death! His is the way of life. Listen to His voice of love; it speaks to you, reader, to you!