THERE is nothing unusual in the fact of people dying. Ever since the entrance of sin into this world, death has been the general lot of mankind. “It is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)).
Appointed unto men — not unto all men, as so often misquoted. Enoch never died at all; he “was translated that he should not see death” (Heb. 11:55By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. (Hebrews 11:5)) — apt figure of those Christians who shall be alive when the Lord Jesus comes down from heaven into the air to take His people to be forever with Himself, for they, likewise, will never die; they will be “changed in a moment,” and “caught up” to be forever with the Lord.
But, speaking generally, death is the lot of mankind. Hence no surprise is felt while glancing down the death column of a daily paper, and no sense of the uncertainty of life is experienced.
But from time to time the whole civilized world is startled into serious thought by the announcement of some sudden and unexpected disaster, whereby hundreds or even thousands of lives are cut short in an instant of time.
God speaketh!
And what else is the awful tornado in America, levelling in one moment a large portion of St Louis — hotels, churches, business premises, and private dwellings? Men returning quietly from their day’s work suddenly caught by a whirlwind, and without a moment to think, launched into eternity. Families at home, engaged in various ways, suddenly hurled headlong, and buried beneath the ruins of their dwellings.
Yes, this is God’s voice, crying in the ears of men, women, and children, “Be ye also ready!”
How true it is that we know not what a day may bring forth! But surely the very uncertainty of life which such a disaster presses home upon every one of us should lead to an immediate decision of the great question of the soul’s relationship with God for all eternity Reader, are you saved? Are you ready for an immediate summons into the presence of a thrice-holy God? If not, be warned by the suddenness of the call of these hundreds of our fellow-creatures.
God speaketh once!
But scarcely have we time to recover from the shock of the St Louis disaster than the wail of death reaches us from Moscow. Well nigh five thousand victims! In a moment of time men, women, and children, in the possession of perfect health, lie crushed, mangled, bleeding, and dead on the ground where but a little ago they slept and danced.
And is not this the voice of God? “God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not” (Job 33:1414For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. (Job 33:14)). And what a contrast between this dark and dismal spectacle of death and mourning and those gorgeous decorations and public rejoicings which immediately preceded and followed upon the very same ground.
May we not hope that many amongst the exalted personages of this world who flocked to do honor at an Emperor’s coronation may have been made to think seriously of the uncertainty of all things here, and of the realities of death, judgment, and eternity!
Men, yea all men, be they high or low, rich or poor, have yet to meet face to face the Judge of all the earth. At that supreme moment it will matter not one whit what was the earthly position of wealth or poverty, greatness or insignificance; nor what of gold or silver, rank or title was ours. “We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out” (1 Tim. 6:77For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. (1 Timothy 6:7)). Oh! how will it be with us when we step out of time into eternity?
Reader, what hope have you for the future? On what are you trusting? Have you a foundation that nothing can shake? Can you say―
“My hope on nothing less is built
Than Jesus and the blood He spilt;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on His great name.
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand.”
Then happy indeed are you! Death for you is robbed of its terror, for you know Him who “stooped to bleed and die” for you―yes, for your sins. You know, too, that He, having borne God’s righteous judgment in your stead, is now passed beyond death, beyond the judgment, beyond the grave, and is now raised, seated, and glorified at God’s right hand. Are you a believer? If so, then you, too, are seen by God
in Christ,
beyond death, beyond judgment, “quickened together with Christ (by grace ye are saved),” and raised up together, and made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:5, 65Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (Ephesians 2:5‑6)). God sees every believer to be not only washed in the blood of Jesus, and so cleansed from all guilt, but also accepted in Him risen from the dead, and there is “no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:11There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1)).
But, oh! if still in your sins and out of Christ, how often has not God reproved you? Has He not reproved you for your sins by the accusing voice of conscience? Has not His Word, perhaps read in childhood, but despised in after-life, reproved you with its solemn warnings of “judgment to come”? Has He not by the awe-inspiring acts of His providence reproved you for your folly in neglecting His “so great salvation,” which He offers so graciously through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His precious blood? Yes, you have been “often reproved.” Have you “hardened your neck”? Remember that you, too, may
“suddenly be destroyed.”
Remember, too, that as the tree falls so it shall lie. If you die unsaved, you must spend eternity unsaved; if you die unforgiven, you can never be forgiven.
Salvation and forgiveness must be on this side of the grave, or
never at all!
A.H. B.