DEATH suddenly and unexpectedly seized her! She had been away from home for some weeks, and was to have returned home on the following day. Her box was ready packed for departure on the following morning, a conveyance had been ordered to call and take her to the station, her friends at the other end had been advised of her return, when suddenly after her return from a walk in the village, death laid his icy hand upon her, and before those around her could realize what was taking place, she was gone. Yes, gone! Having passed the portals of time, her soul had entered eternity.
Two sudden deaths in one week had taken place, we were told by a Christian in the village, and we have reason to believe from what was told us, that more than one in that village had been made to feel very uncomfortable by the presence of death among them. Yes, death to the unsaved is ever an unwelcome visitor, and who knows, dear unsaved reader, but what you may be its next victim?
“Oh, but I am young and in good health,” you say. Granted, but is that a guarantee against death? Did no one ever die young? Ah, you know better; then be wise and look the matter straight in the face. You will have to die someday, and what folly to put off such an important matter as the salvation of your soul, and run the risk of being lost forever.
The story is told of a certain king, against whom a plot had been laid to take away his life. A friend having got to hear of it the day before it was to have been carried into execution, sent a letter to the king warning him of his danger, and charged the messenger to deliver it into the king’s hands, and beseech him to read it immediately, as it contained serious tidings. When the messenger arrived at the palace, the king was merry with wine, and having received the letter, tossed it on one side, exclaiming―
“SERIOUS TIDINGS TOMORROW.”
The morrow dawned, but the king was stiff and cold in death―the assassin’s knife had done its work; whereas had he given heed to the kindly warning, he might have escaped and saved his life.
Unsaved reader, death is a serious thing. Then put not off such a serious matter as being prepared for it until tomorrow. However short or long your stay on earth may be, death awaits you at the close of life’s short day. “After death,” Scripture says, is “the judgment.” How will you meet it? Would you escape it? Thank God, the way is open. In death the Son of God once lay, bearing there all the judgment of God against sin. Delivered for our offenses, He has been raised again for our justification, and now all who believe in Him are justified from all things.
E. E. N.