“I KNOW I am not a Christian; I don't profess to be one," was the light and careless answer, given by a young girl not long since, after a few earnest words had been spoken to her for her soul's good.
She seemed to think, poor girl, that really some small credit was due to her for not pretending to be what in reality she was not; as if, when brought face to face with her Maker and her Judge, she could by her bold answer. “I have never professed to be a Christian," escape the reward of her indifference.
Yet this very girl could calmly look back and remember the death-bed of a dearly-loved sister, and say, " Oh, she was a Christian if ever there was one, and often did she speak to me about being-saved and of going to heaven."
Love of admiration, of dress, and of worldly companions seemed quite to " choke " any serious thoughts, which her sister's conversation and happy end might have caused, and an occasional attendance at Bible class or the preaching of the word was thought by this young girl interest enough for her to take in "all that sort of thing," as she called religion.
Dear young readers, I hope these words, so lightly spoken, "I know I am not a Christian," will strike you as solemnly as they do me. What an awful thing is this to “know!" How strange that anyone can go on eating, drinking, sleeping, playing, taking pleasure in all the trifling things of this poor, perishing world, and not troubling about what is to follow after this earthly life is over. Then, perhaps Suddenly, death comes, and the giddy, thoughtless one is snatched away to hear the Lord utter His terrible "I know "—"Verily I say unto you, I know you not." (Matt. 25:1212But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. (Matthew 25:12).)
I want you now, dear young friends, to think for a few moments. You know of some, whom you love, who are waiting for the Lord Jesus to come from heaven and take them to Himself. They are true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, and they can each say, "I know that I am a Christian."
I should like you to write down the truth about yourself. Would you have to put down I know I am, or I know I am not, a Christian? That little word “not "—that word makes all the solemn difference.
Should the Lord Jesus come to-day, do you think that by saying, “I know I am not a Christian, but then I have never pretended to be one," you would be allowed to go up into the glory with His people? No, indeed! And, oh, dreadful thought! it will be of no use saying then, " Oh, if only I had thought about this, and had cared about being saved before, I might have gone up too, but now it is too late."
Now is the time God gives you to be saved. Oh! be ready. I will relate to you a simple incident of the danger of delay.
A little girl was once told by her kind aunt that she would call for her, at a certain time in the day, to take her with her cousins in a carriage to some beautiful gardens. This was a great treat for Florrie, and she was most anxious to go. But her aunt attached one strict condition to her promise, which was this, that Florrie should be ready when called for, otherwise she would be left behind.
Florrie, of course, meant to be ready, but her spirit of delaying overcame her, for as the time drew near, she would put off preparing for her journey. In vain her cousins entreated her; she only laughed at them, telling them “there was plenty of time yet." A faithful servant warned the foolish girl several times of the risk she ran of being left behind, but only received from Florrie an angry and rude reply.
At last she was suddenly called for when in the very act of trying to make up for lost time. She was not ready, and the door was shut upon her. So she was left behind, Great was her sorrow, and bitter her disappointment, but no one could be blamed for it but herself.
Alas, when the Lord comes to take His people home, I fear that many an one will not be ready. Oh! what will it be to be " left behind " at the great, solemn day of which I have been speaking?
Those words of the Lord Jesus are spoken to you, dear children, as well as to grown-up people, " Therefore be ye also ready: for in an hour that ye think not the Son of Man cometh." (Matt. 24:4444Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. (Matthew 24:44).)
E. G.