COMMON every day occurrences sometimes strike us with special force, as illustrating something more important. Coming home by train one evening, the cry of the porter at one of the stations “Right forward!” made me think of another journey we are all making along the railroad of time to Eternity.
How blessed to know that on that journey it is right forward for us who believe. On the other hand, the thought of so many on this journey, of whom it may be said “Wrong forward,” is very solemn. See how careful all the officials are to have it right for the train as it starts. The porters, guards, engine-drivers, and signalmen, all doing their part to be sure that all is right. The driver looks well ahead for the different signals telling him it is right forward. Forgive me then, dear reader, if I ask you whether you have looked ahead, ―ahead of time into Eternity! If so, is it right forward with you? What madness of you or any one to be on such a journey, all uncertain of your destination. The railroad of time ends in Eternity, and we are all of us bound thither. To have it right forward, we must have it right backward too! Yes, the sin question must be settled.
There are sins past and present (and future too if life be prolonged). If you and I are to have it all right with us for Eternity, our sins must all be met and put away. Oh, ye careless, callous, Christless souls, ye are on the down line; the signals are all against you, and yet you go on! The devil “keepeth his goods in peace.” He does not want you disturbed from your fancied security; but that will not do. We wave the red flag of danger in front of you; we ask you to stop, whatever speed you may be going at in the cars of pleasure, vice, or even religion without Christ. Can it be that you are unconscious of your danger? The engine-driver stops the train as quickly as possible when the signals are against his going on. Why should not you stop then? Oh, think of going into Eternity in your sins. Remember too, once you have reached the terminus, there is no return ticket from Eternity to time; no retracing your steps; no redeeming lost opportunities. “As the tree falls, so must it lie.” As you pass into Eternity, so must you spend it; either possessing Christ and entering into all the joy of being with Him forever, or without Christ. Without Christ! ―oh, what an Eternity! No Christ! ―no pardon! ―no heaven! ―no happiness! ―but the threefold torment of the lost soul, “weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth” in the lake of fire (Rev. 16:88And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. (Revelation 16:8)).
“Right forward” can only be true of us in one way. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:1212Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)). “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15)). Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:66Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)). Again He says, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved” (John 10:99I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. (John 10:9)). Don’t you wish it to be all right with you my dear friend, for Eternity? Then flee at once to Christ. Believe on Him as your own Saviour. Hear His cry of victory on the cross, “It is finished!” (John 19:3030When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (John 19:30).) Look up, and behold the same Jesus who died for sinners, now risen, and glorified at God’s right hand. Rest your all for Eternity on Him, and then it will be right forward with you. “Verily, verily, I [Jesus] say unto you, He that heareth, my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath, everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)). For the believer, the signals on the way are full of comfort and assurance. Jesus, “having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end” (John 13:11Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. (John 13:1)). “He is able also to save them to the uttermost [or evermore] that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:2525Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)). The voice of the Good Shepherd too we hear saying, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish,” &c. (John 10:27, 2827My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:27‑28).) Happy they who believe on Jesus! For them, whether the terminus of this life be death, or the Lord’s coming, it will be the ushering in of eternal glory, and “so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:1717Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:17)).
Reader, is it “right forward” with you?
T. E. P.