WALKING along the street one day, I was distributing little gospel books to the persons I met on the way. All received them very kindly, some with apparent pleasure, as if they understood the real desire of my heart and appreciated it. Only one refused me. He was a gentlemanly person affable in manner and address. As I offered the little book, he asked what is was.
“A little paper which tells the way of salvation,” I replied.
“Well, really, sir,” said he, “life is so short, and time is so full, that I cannot stop to read such things.”
I was so astonished at such an awful excuse I felt dumb, and before a suitable answer came to me, he had bowed himself politely away and was gone.
“Life so short!” I thought as I went slowly on. That’s so. And what follows?
Death and Judgment!!
“Time so full!”—with what? With everything that shuts God out!!
Reader, listen to the words of the Lord Jesus concerning one, who, like this gentleman, found life too short, and time too full to think about God and his soul:
“The rich man also died, and was buried; and in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments.” Was there any hope there? Hear again: “Besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot: neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. (Luke 16:19-31.)
Beloved reader, O, be wise in time! We who have found in Christ the living water which quenches all thirst, which sets the conscience at rest forever, we can yet “pass to you,” and beseech you to drink before it is too late. Think of the folly of crowding time with what you have to leave behind, and from which you can get no more comfort when this short life is over! Think of the stupendous thought in that word—
Eternity.
Think of your sins. Think of the holiness of God, who cannot have sin in His presence. Think of the day when you must surely give account of yourself to Him.
Then think, O, think of the grace He has shown in sending His only begotten Son into this world “to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” Think on these things, accept Him as your Saviour, and you will find this short life but the beginning of a blessed eternity, and time so full of things that perish not, that the things which perish will be compelled to take their place in the far background.
“Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” (Heb. 4:7.)
“Behold, now is the accepted time: behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2.)
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (Jno. 3:36.)
ML 04/01/1917