It is remarkable how much you may learn of the state of society by conversation on the rails. I was traveling a few days ago on the line to Rochdale, when two men from Halifax got in the same carriage. After a little general conversation, one of them told me of a most interesting address he had heard the Sunday before, given to a Sunday school. The address was on the word Waiting. The speaker described a waiting-room at a station: what different characters were all waiting. Then on the platform all were waiting. At last the train moves, and all are off on the journey. Then comes a jerk at the siding-points: if kept on the right line you will feel a jerk. Then the signal posts warning of danger, &c. This was a similitude of the journey of life. Oh, how it was enjoyed!
I said, “And may I ask was there anything about Christ in the address to the young?” “No,” he said, “I cannot say that there was.”
“Then how were they to get a right start, so as to be sure of reaching heaven at last?”
“Oh,” said he, “it was nothing about heaven, it was all about this world.”
I found we were as wide apart as the poles—Christ was all to me, and nothing to him. He did not seem to have the least idea of his danger or of his need of Christ as a Savior.
His companion now put in a word. He evidently did not like Christ being presented to them as the only way, the truth, and the life. He said, “From what I learn, there are very few Christians in the world compared to others: take the Buddhists, are there not more than four hundred millions in the world?”
“Yes,” I said, “that is true; and it is said there are three hundred millions, the increase of this last century, of heathens and Mahometans in the world; and only some thirty millions increase of professing Christians. And then, amongst those who nominally profess Christianity, think of millions of spiritualists, and how many of them possessed by demons, such as are mediums, or have a familiar spirit. And how rapid the increase of this intercourse with demons!” He, however, seemed more occupied with the vast influence of Buddhism, and appeared acquainted with its present attack on Christianity. For, strange as it may seem, yet the learned of this world, who have refused the truth of God, are ready to favor the wild theory of the Buddhists. Thus we conversed.
I said, “Well, now, to come nearer home, we will take profession in our land. If you were to stand at the doors of church or chapel, and ask every person that comes out if they know that they are saved, that their sins are forgiven, do you think that one in a hundred would be able to say with certainty that they are saved?”
After some thought, he said, “No, I do not think there would be one in a hundred who could say so.”
I said, “Then, looking at the whole case, the millions of Buddhists, of Mahometans, and (in Christendom) of spiritualists, Unitarians, and infidels of all sorts, who reject the love of God as shown in the atoning death of the Lord Jesus, do you think to say that there is scarcely one in a thousand who is a true Christian, and knows that he is saved, would be a fair proportion?”
“Well,” he said, “I should think that would be most likely about the mark.” This was said as if he had found Christianity a failure.
I said, “This is a very serious matter. I will put it this way. Suppose you are not saved, then, if only one in a thousand are saved”—I cannot describe the consternation this produced. It was a conclusion from his own reasoning, from which there was no escape. At this moment the train pulled up at Rochdale, and I got out, with a parting word of exhortation. May God bless that conversation to their souls.
There was one thing this man said I never heard before, as to Cain and Abel. He had observed, it seemed hard to say a Unitarian would not be saved. Well, I said, take Cain, the first who refused to own himself such a sinner as to need approach to God through the death of another. Abel, by faith, approached God through the death of a sacrifice; Cain did not, but with the fruits he had grown in the earth. There is no mistake which God accepted, is there? This was the strange thing he said as to that: “Well, was not Cain a much more honorable and worthy man than Abel?”
Yes; such is the thought of proud man. Entirely ignoring the fact that he is a guilty murderer, who has killed the Prince of life, he will dream of his own worthiness, and dare to approach God with his own works. Yes, he says, these works make me honorable.
No; without shedding of blood there is no remission. Whoever rejects pardon through the redemption-blood of Christ, let him hear those words: “He that believeth not, the wrath of God abideth on him.”
How little men are aware that the present rejection of Christ is exactly as foretold nearly 2,000 years ago. Who can describe the wickedness of the world just before the flood? Who can tell the millions drowned to one saved? And He who surely knew, said, “As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be when the Son of man cometh.” Yes, the day is so near: “Because they receive not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (2 Thess. 2:1111And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: (2 Thessalonians 2:11).) The truth was never more widely preached than now, and never more rejected. Men will not have it—any lie, any delusion, rather than the infinite love and everlasting righteousness of God.
Is it possible, reader, that you are one of the thousand that have rejected and still reject the only Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord? If there were only eight saved, as at the flood, would you be indifferent? Surely not. Blessed be God, you need not be lost. Are you thirsting for the water of life? To the very last, Jesus says, “And let him that is athirst come: and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Does not God proclaim free forgiveness of sins to you through Jesus? Does He not declare, “In him everyone that believeth is justified from all things?” Yes, yes, believing on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered for our offenses and was raised from the dead for our justification, righteousness is reckoned unto us. Do not deceive yourself by self-exaltation—by the way of Cain, bringing the best you can produce of your own. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God; all are guilty alike before God, and to all alike is proclaimed free forgiveness of sins. Is not this just what men will not have? Who can tell how soon this day of boundless grace may close? If the reader knows, on the authority of the word of God, that he is not with the thousand unsaved, but, through depths of mercy, the one who is saved, give Him all the praise. To you the word “Waiting” will have a different meaning from that with the busy throng at a railway station. Yes, waiting for the Son from heaven, even Jesus, who delivered us from the wrath to come—so soon to hear His welcome voice, the Bridegroom coming for His heavenly bride. Oh let us hearken, let us look for Him, let us wait! Is there any other hope for this dark and sinful world? None. We shall be changed in a moment.
This was no matter of hope to my unsaved fellow-traveler. To him all things remained as they were. May the Lord awake all that are His, to wait His speedy return. Then, poor rejecting world, thy day of doom shall come, the day of the wrath of Almighty God. Ah! to thee Jesus will come in flaming fire, in judgment. Oh awake, awake, ere it be forever too late.