At a party, a doctor, to amuse the guests, began to go round and tell them how long they had to live. A farmer was present, and the medical man said:
“O! old K— can’t live more than fifteen years.”
It was said lightly enough, and was counted amusing by all present, save one, and that was the farmer himself. He thought fifteen years was a short time for him to live, and further thought how it might not be fifteen years—or even fifteen months—or even fifteen weeks—or even fifteen days.
The doctor’s word was a warning to him. He looked ahead—beyond his health and home and farm and friends—he looked into eternity. That look awakened him to a sense of his sin and need, and before long he fled for refuge to the Saviour of sinners.
How long have I to live? It is an interesting question for all of us. We may look at insurance tables, and study averages of life in, different professions and trades. We may consult medical men in times of disease, and seek to learn from them the probabilities of our stay on earth. But after all uncertainty remains. The sickly often survive, the strong succumb. The diseased linger, the healthy are suddenly cut off. The insecurity of our term here may well cause us to ask:
“Am I ready if I should die?” This question may rightly give us to pause and ask ourselves:
“How long have I to live?” We have passed another milestone on our road of life on earth. We have completed another period of time. We have finished writing another chapter of our history. How soon will the “END OF VOLUME ONE” be written, and our life on earth be over, and VOLUME TWO to which “END” will never be written, be begun?
Would it not be wise of you to look into the matter without delay? Ask yourself seriously,
“Am I saved, or am I lost? Am I bound for heaven or hell? Am I nearing eternal glory? In which of the two classes am I found?” Do not hastily reply,
“O! No one can know.”
This is simply dust thrown in the eyes of his dupes by the arch deceiver of souls—the devil. The Word of God most plainly shows that we may know.
You may know how you stand, so honestly face the facts. Listen no longer to the voice of the enemy of your soul and of God. He would like to keep you in uncertainty so that you may still stay in his service. Come to Christ now. He will give you light as to everything. Moreover, He will save you, and keep you through life’s journey whether it be short or long, and if you die tonight you will go to heaven.
Look at the following passages:
“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 condemnation; but is past from death unto life.” (John 5:2424Verily, 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 condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)).
Could words be plainer? What do they bring before us then? That believers
1. ARE FORGIVEN,
2. ARE JUSTIFIED,
3. ARE SAVED,
4. HAVE REDEMPTION,
5. HAVE PEACE WITH GOD,
6. HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE,
7. SHALL NOT COME INTO CONDEMNATION.