AN aged pair were sitting, side by side, in their humble cottage home. Both had known what it was to battle with poverty and with other difficulties of life, and now both had grown feeble with years. The husband, especially, seemed bowed down beneath his many infirmities. In answer to my inquiries for his health, he said
“Well, Miss, you see my heart is very weak and bad, my breathing is very tight, and altogether I feel ill. I hope I shall get better, but there is no knowing at my time of life.”
“Well, Francis, there is a home above for all who believe in Christ Jesus, and are, by God’s grace, prepared for it: there will be neither pain nor weakness there. I hope you are thinking about that home.”
The old wife here looked up, and remarked, “Yes, Miss, indeed we ought to be thinking about it, for there is nothing to look for’ards to in this world.”
In one corner of the room sat a young and strongly-built man, and during this brief conversation a look very like a sneer came over his face. Although he uttered not a word, yet his countenance told, plainly enough, that he inwardly ridiculed the idea of looking forward to an eternal world, and considered it a poor and vain speculation to build any hopes upon things pertaining to God and heaven. He was young and strong, perhaps he thought himself happy, and no doubt he thought there was plenty in the future for him to look forward to, without troubling himself about what should come after death.
It is often thus! It is a common thing to find the aged; even if they have no settled hope in Christ, yet ready to bear testimony to the unsatisfying character of the things of earth. They are willing enough to acknowledge that all is transitory hare below. They have, perchance, tried ambition, and found it unsatisfying: they have labored for riches and been disappointed: they have tested worldly friendship and found it hollow and unstable; they have followed pleasure in its various forms, and confess that this too is “vanity and vexation of spirit” (Eccles. 1:14). In such schools of bitter experiences many an aged soul has learned to seek for a more blessed and enduring portion, yea, even for rest, and peace, and satisfaction in Christ. It has often been the case that, when human props and human foundations have given way, the weary and broken heart has first yearned for the one Foundation that cannot be moved, for the one Heart that will never fail a poor penitent and believing sinner.
It is often when the husks of the world have failed the poor prodigal that he first thinks of the Father’s house, and seeks the Father’s pardon. And, though it is to our shame that it should be so, yet, blessed be the God of all grace! His mercy does not fail us in our extremity, His ear is ever open to our cry, His arms ever extended in blessing, His heart ever compassionate and overflowing with love and pity for those who seek Him, pleading the merits of His Son, and honestly desiring the renewing of the Holy Spirit.
But the young are slow to profit by the experiences of their elders. To them, as a rule, the future is full of visions, fair and bright and joyous. They confidently reckon that coming days will prove better and happier than the past, better and happier than the present: and, alas! how many are contented with this future of their own creation, content with youth and health and strength and spirits, and ready to resent any suggestion that these are not sufficient to ensure their happiness. And yet they speak advisedly who say they are not sufficient. Youth is, indeed, a blessing, but youth is fleeting! Health and strength are amongst God’s fairest gifts, but on how frail a tenure are they held! Who may safely calculate upon them for a single year, nay, for a month, or a week? and even if they should be continued, yet they cannot and will not give true happiness apart from a knowledge of the Saviour. The soul can never lose its hunger until fed with “living Bread.” The heart, unless hardened indeed, will never be at rest until it rests in Christ. Do you want proof? Look within you. Do you want proof? Look around you, and see who are the happiest people of your acquaintance. If we mistake not, you will find them amongst those who have their treasure in heaven, who are pressing forward, as the Apostle Paul did, to “those things which are before” (Phil. 3:13). If we mistake not, you will find them amongst those who can, with simple, childlike confidence, say to God, “Thy will be done,” with that intelligent trust which springs only from the certain knowledge that His will is best, that His will is love. It ought to be so, it surely must be so. It is true that many Christians do not, alas! live up to their privileges, but a despondent and habitually melancholy Christian is an anomaly! His despondency is in no way due to his religion, but shows that he has not, if we may so say, enough of it. FAITH IN GOD WILL NEVER ACCOUNT FOR A GLOOMY FACE. The thought of heaven will never cloud the spirit of him whose feet are tending thitherward. But look, if you will, at those whom the world calls rich, and great, and prosperous! Are they satisfied? Are they happy? You know that in many, many cases they are not. Only a few days since I had brought before me a strong confirmation of what I am feebly seeking to show you. It was the case of a gentleman and lady in the prime of life, who are about to leave their lovely country home, and seek to find amid new scenes, and in constant society, the happiness which wealth and beauty cannot afford them. “We must have society. We dare not live alone, we are so melancholy,” was their own confession. And yet, in the sight of lookers-on, they were to be envied. No business cares oppressed them, no bereavement bowed down their spirits, no infirmities of age made life burdensome. All that worldly hearts could wish, it would seem, was granted them. Worldly position, worldly honor, worldly friends, a beautiful home, all were theirs: and yet their own sad verdict was, “so melancholy.” And no one who knew them contradicted it, they saw it was but too true. One day in that luxurious but desolate mansion would be enough to convince any one of the truth. The phantom of happiness was there, but happiness itself, NEVER! What is the secret? Ah, it is a godless home! Even the form of religion is lacking, and the power thereof has never, as we fear, been felt. What a comment does this brief true history offer on our Saviour’s words, “Not as the world giveth, give I unto you” (John 14:27). Reader, there are many persons who act as if they thought that the Preacher made a grave mistake when he urged, “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them” (Eccles. 12:1). The “evil days” of old age, or of sickness, are just the days, they think, in which it is wise, and prudent, and becoming to seek the Lord. When there is nothing else to be done, then they think it may be well to cry for mercy! When earth has nothing more to offer, then heaven may be won as a last resort! Religion is, they admit, a capital thing for those who have nothing else to look forward to, but not for them. Has such a thought ever crossed your mind?
Are you content to wait until youth has fled, till manhood’s prime is past, till death is near, before you respond to the Divine call, “Give Me thine heart”? (Prov. 23:26.) Are you? Do not, I pray you, shirk the question, but answer it to your own conscience as in the sight of God. You cannot hide from Him the use that you make of His gifts: health, strength, and manhood. What a base return if you make those very gifts the excuse for slighting the Giver! What an awful and hazardous barter do you make, if you deliberately plan to give your best years to the service of Satan, and then give the dregs of your life to your Creator I Could anything be more dreadful? Could anything be more dishonoring to God, and to the Holy Spirit? I think, if you will look at it in the light of God’s Word and in the light of the cross of Christ, you will shrink back with horror from so terrible a life-program! Did Jesus die for this? Did he suffer for this? Is the redemption He purchased at such a cost a thing not worth having? Is salvation so undesirable a state that it must be postponed as long as possible? Would the loss of the Saviour detract from your happiness? Would human love grow dim and meaningless if the higher love were admitted? Would other joys grow pale and dim beside “the joy of the Lord”? Would it cloud your face to know that your sins were forgiven? Would it make you gloomy to know assuredly that through faith in Christ you had been born again, and become a new creature? What a terrible hold sin and the world must have upon you if this be so! You would hesitate to acknowledge that such are your views and feelings, and yet, if your actions are to be the test, this is your creed. Satan may tell you that religion is a gloomy thing—but Satan is a liar. The world may deride the sacrifice of Christ, but the world knows nothing about it. Take the opinion of men and women who have tested the Gospel message, and have found it to be the joy and rejoicing of their hearts. They will tell you that they never knew happiness until they knew the Lord, that they never tasted true joy and peace until they believed God’s testimony of His Son. Take the testimony of saints of all ages who have lived and died triumphing in the liberty wherewith God makes His people free. Take, above all, the testimony of Scripture, the Word of Him who cannot lie (Titus 1:2). You believe in the Bible. Then listen to a few brief quotations from its sacred pages bearing on this point:—
“The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day” (Prov. 4:18).
“Happy is that people whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 144:15).
“Whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he” (Prov. 16: 20).
“Great peace have they which love Thy law” (Psalm 119:165).
“Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace” (Prov. 3:17).
“The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Neh. 8:10).
“Behold, My servants shall sing for joy of heart” (Isa. 65:14).
“Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:24).
“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered” (Psalm 32:1).
“Being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1).
“Whom having not seen, ye love: in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Pet. 1:8).
Surely, in the face of teaching such as this, you will never say again that the religion of Christ is a gloomy thing, but will admit that it is full of sweetness and holy joy.
May God, the Holy Spirit, rather incline the heart of each reader to test it for himself, or herself, and learn how true it is that—
“‘Tis sweet to work for Jesus,
While our weak spirits rest
In His own care, safe sheltered there,
And with His presence blest.
In such calm, happy moments
No greater joy we know:
Redeemed from sin, we live for Him
To WHOM OUR ALL WE OWE.”
L. A. B.