HEAVEN seems nearer at the sunset hour than at any other time. A hush is coming over the earth. Its activities are ceasing. Men’s thoughts are getting off from their work. They are unstrapping their cares as a soldier will his knapsack at the close of the day’s march. There is leisure for spiritual occupations, time for the evening prayer, time to fold the children’s hands together at the feet of Jesus, time to think of things that are unworldly and spiritual.
And God seems to suggest this as He hints of another and better world in the glories of the sky. How the colors and details shift! There are rivers of crystal flowing; gates, each of one pearl, opening; foundations garnished with all manner of precious stones. It may all change, and a flood of glory come, so suggestive of the city that hath no need of the sun.
We do not wonder that men think of spiritual things at such a time. A Traveler in Algiers speaks of seeing some Arabs on a promontory watching the setting sun. The light about them fades, but “the sun still shines through some unseen valley, and lights up the figures as they kneel in prayer.” It is a scene no one wonders at. Men’s thoughts at sunset naturally fly heavenward, like birds to their nests.
Old age is a kind of sunset hour. The activities of life are over. The burdens unstrapped will never be lifted to the shoulders again. There is leisure for prayer. It is the aged father and mother’s Bible that is found lying so often on the table. You talk with them, and find that spiritual things are engaging their attention more fully. They know they are not far from home. There are lights in the sky beckoning them, glories drawing and winning them. Some of the light to come gets into their prayers and testimonies. Their supplications for their fellows are very precious. How we long to hold on to these fathers and mothers in Israel, when we see that the end has come, and that their faces are set as though they would go to Jerusalem! In the midst of light they pass away “from glory to glory.” Blessed is the church that has many aged Simeons and Annas in its fellowship.
Consider the world as a sea: the wind is strong, the tempest mighty: to every man his own desire is the storm. If thou lovest God, thou walkest like Peter on the water; the surge of the world is under thy feet. ―Augustine.