THE other day, when at a railway station in a large city, I met a promising youth, who was about to join the train on his way to school for his last term. I was informed that he was the son of godly parents, and the subject of many prayers. When we had taken our seats, in answer to the question whether he knew the Lord Jesus, he frankly replied, "I have heard people speak of Him many times.”
“The Lord said when He was on earth, 'And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.' (John 17:3.) "How is it with you as to this life eternal?" I asked.
As he made no reply, I pleaded with him on the solemnity of his condition, as one nursed and cradled in the letter of the word, yet still living "without Christ," "having no hope, and without God in the world." Then, changing the subject, said, "Do you come regularly to school by this train?”
“Yes," he replied, putting his hand into his pocket, "I have a pass,”
“Just so, and your pass avails to the end of the year; but have you a pass which avails for eternity? I will show you my pass. It reads thus:— 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 passed from death unto life.' (John 5:24) Your pass avails but for the short journey between these two stations G. and C., but mine from earth to heaven, from death to life, from darkness to light, from condemnation and banishment to no condemnation and no separation.”
I feel deeply concerned for my dear young readers who, like this youth, are just ready for stepping out on to the threshold of life, and are full of the prospects of a bright future of prosperity, but who, like him, leave out of their calculations the welfare of, the immortal soul, and are content that those who so dearly love and care for them should alone be the possessors of the choicest of all blessings. It is not enough to be brought up piously; it will not save you having your parents saved; their Christianity is not your having Christ! Knowing about a person is not knowing the person himself. Knowing all about the Bible is not the knowledge of God.
I have a little girl at home who is naturally shy in the presence of strangers. One day a friend knocked at the door, and a strange face appearing in the doorway, the little child immediately retreated into the corner out of the way. And why? Was there anything unpleasing in the strange face? No; but she did not know him. So long as you remain a stranger to the Lord you will shun not only the Lord's presence, but the company of His people. Had the little child known that stranger as I did, she could not have helped loving him, and it was not long before she did get 'to know him, and the result was, the shyness immediately disappeared, and she might have been seen nestling on his knee.
How can I get to know the Lord, do you say? By believing. His word. How do I know that that ice will bear me? By trusting my whole weight upon it. It may be with a timid step we proceed at first, but, as we find it supports us, we grow bolder, and unhesitatingly trust ourselves wholly and confidently upon it.
No matter how weak the faith may be at first, though we may say with one breath, "Lord, I believe," and with the next, "Help Thou my unbelief," yet the more we trust Him the more we find He is to be trusted, and the better we know Him the more do we love Him.
Dear youths, children of Christian parents, you have had many appeals made to you, and many warnings given. I beseech you, in the name of Christ, flee from the wrath to come; get your "pass" for eternity as you begin life. G. R.