Neglected Opportunities

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 4
 
“My days are in the yellow leaf;
The flower, the fruit of life is gone;
The worm, the canker, and the grief
Are mine alone.”
THESE forcible but melancholy lines are from the pen of one of Britain's most gifted sons, but one who had lived its "having no hope, and without God in the world," and who was cut off in the midst of his days, a neglecter of God's great salvation: (Eph. 2:1212That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: (Ephesians 2:12); Heb. 2:11Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. (Hebrews 2:1)).
Art thou, dear reader, like Lord Byron, tasting "the worm, the canker, and the grief," as a result of indifference to the salvation which God offers thee by His beloved Son? But why be indifferent another moment? There is eternal life for thee in Christ. Why not accept this choice Gift of God? Why delay this great business, which ought to be the chief concern of thy days on earth Why not now accept from the hands; of love this priceless treasure, the salvation of thy soul? Christ died for sinners, and His love is the same to-day as it was the day He bled at Calvary. Still He waits, and still He says, Come unto me, and I will give you rest. (Matt. 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)). And still He affirms, "Him that cometh to me I will in nowise cast out." (John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)). Oh! that He may have thy immediate, deep, heartfelt response, "Lord Jesus, I come.”
But the word of God decides the solemn question now as to every gospel-hearer. We have not to wait until we reach the judgment-seat. "He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hash not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:18, 1918He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (John 3:18‑19)).
Here, then, we have this solemn truth in the words of Holy Scripture. Each one, after hearing the gospel, is seen by God either as a receiver or a despiser of Christ. There can only be two classes. Most solemn, searching thought! Would to God, cries my soul, that gospel-hearers would lay this to heart! To which class, let me ask, does my dear reader belong? Ask thyself, I pray thee, this plain question. All other questions, compared with this one, are to thee unimportant. Stay not till another opportunity of preaching comes round. That may never come to thee. Look to Jesus now; believe in Jesus now; flee to Jesus now; trust the blood of Jesus cow; lean all thy weight on the Person of Jesus now; and a full Christ shall be thine, a whole Christ shall be thine; yes, dear reader, the Christ of God; the salvation of God; the righteousness of God; the peace of God; the glory of God; thine, thine now, thine through all thy pilgrim days, and thine to all eternity.