"He has had time for everything." Such were the few but serious words of a Christian at the funeral of one who had died suddenly.
He had reached the full limit of human life, and consequently had had more than one opportunity to settle the most important of all questions affecting humanity.
He had had plenty of time to eat and drink, to buy and sell, to amuse himself and to live in the midst of abundance; yes, for all that and much more. He had had time to look into the future, and to ask himself how he stood as to eternity. He had had time to repent, to believe, to be pardoned, to become a child of God, and to live for His glory. But had he done all these things?
Reader, I am sure that you also have had the time for these questions, have you not? I do not know your age, but it is not necessary to be advanced in years to need salvation. No, it is a question which should be settled immediately. Every moment that passes, makes it more serious and more pressing. Look the future in the face. If you are not saved, all is dark and full of uncertainty. You know that you have sinned, and do you not fear meeting God in your sins?
Many have the thought that they will be converted before they die. They speak, to quiet their consciences, of the Master calling laborers for His vineyard at the eleventh hour—they would fain amuse themselves during the ten preceding hours and they fancy that the few last moments will suffice to be occupied with their eternal salvation —What a terrible snare of the devil! What irrational reasoning!
There are two prime reasons which overturn this pretext for delaying conversion. The first is that in no place in Scripture is mention made of the eleventh hour for salvation. It proclaims loudly a present salvation, and each of its proclamations imply that it must be now or never, and Scripture cannot contradict itself.
In the passage to which reference is made, it is workmen employed in the vineyard that is in view, and not sinners in their sins. It is a householder seeking workmen, and not a Savior seeking sinners (Matt. 20); and a sinful man, as such, cannot be a servant of God. The difference is of all importance.
In the second place, supposing that it is salvation that is in question, who can say that it is not now the eleventh hour of his life?
Besides, the fact is that no one had engaged these laborers—they had been all the day doing nothing—and note too that they accept the first offer. They do not hesitate a moment, who can say that they had time and time again refused the offer of salvation? Reader, is it not your case?
God presses souls to decide immediately; and frequently warns them of the consequence of delay.
"Son remember that thou in thy life time receivest thy good things * * * but now thou art tormented." Luke 16:25.
Reader, I beseech you, do not despise these appeals: these exhortations; these warnings; these proofs even; are intended to urge you to repentance. Will it soon be said to your soul in response to all that you can advance;
"Remember?"
What remorse will pierce the soul before such remembrances!
"I have had plenty of time, yes, plenty of time," the agonized soul will say; well then make use of this time now. The moment which follows may be "too late." It does not belong to you. Are you a sinner? Come to Christ. Are you a great sinner?
Come to Christ. Are your sins like crimson and red like scarlet? Come to Christ; He is fully sufficient for all. But come now, yes now.
"How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" Heb. 2:3.
"Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
Isa. 1:18.