By:
Edited By Heymen Wreford
IT is related of a well-known scientist that on one occasion he was on a Highland moor, pursuing some botanical study. At the moment, he was examining a heather bell under a microscope, when a shadow was cast before him. Looking up, he saw an aged shepherd at his side. After words of greeting, he handed to his new companion the lens and the flower. The old man gazed again. Then, with tears in his eyes, he said, “I wish ye’d never shown it me; I’ve trodden on thousands of them.”
If in the light of the judgment-seat of Christ and of eternity we could see the precious opportunities for service to the Lord and of giving pleasure to His heart that we have missed and trodden under foot, would not our regret be keener a thousand fold than that of this old shepherd? We believe it would. The thought should stir up our souls to seek for grace from God that we tread on no more, but live henceforward redeeming the time (R.V., margin, “buying up the opportunity”); not as fools but wise. So that in some measure there may be restored “the years that the locust hath eaten.”