IT WAS a lovely morning. The July sun sparkled on the dancing waters of a beautiful lake, as a merry party rowed across it to a quiet spot, where they were soon enjoying themselves in the water, with all the exuberance which is peculiar to the most attractive recreation of bathing.
But how quickly such scenes may change! An incautious leap into the water, a smothered cry for help, and a young girl was struggling face to face with death. It is needless to dwell on these three or four minutes of intensified agony, that appeared so long, until, through the mercy of God, friendly hands were able to lift into a boat the unconscious form, which a few minutes before was bright with young life.
Presently they could rejoice to see breathing restored; she was resting quietly, and then she began to realize how she had been on the very threshold of eternity. Solemn were the thoughts that pressed on all amidst our thanksgiving, while a special gravity was in the young heart of her, so recently snatched from death. These were the words that fell from her lips: “O, the agony of mind I felt when I saw no escape from drowning, and I did not know where I was going. O! I shall never forget it—may I never forget it!”
And why should not this incident that spoke so loudly to my young friend, have a voice for you, dear reader? Will you not let it bring to you the moment, which may be much nearer than you think, that shall usher you into the presence of God? Who can tell the dreadful agony of facing that moment with no assurance of acceptance, but, on the contrary, with a fearful looking for of the judgment that follows death. For “it is appointed unto men once to die but after this the judgment.” Are you content to drift on to that inevitable hour, without thought, or, it may be, with putting the thought away because it is unwelcome?
God, who in your heart you dread, my reader, loves you, pities you, and sends you warnings to disturb your false peace, so that you may find true rest in His own love, through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. I pray you do not put off these things till you, too, have to face death, and then learn by awful experience what it is to have no hope.
ML 09/19/1909