“HARK! What’s that?” “Oh, it is only the bugle-call of the rifle corps. They have to fall in for battalion-drill this afternoon.”
Anon both speakers retire from their window of observation, and bestow their thoughts upon other matters. That bugle-call was no summons to them.
Very different results, however, were produced in Albert S. from the moment that his ears caught the sound, for that call bade him prepare to obey a second, which would soon sound, ordering him to “fall in.”
Before the battalion band he will presently be seen, his ax upon his shoulder, a pioneer; his heart proudly exulting that he is thus preparing himself in the event of his services being required to fight in defense of his queen and country. And Albert S. stood high in the estimation of the members of, the corps to which he belonged, for he had taken great pains to make himself efficient, and he was known to be a brave man.
One day, however, his courage was suddenly put to a severe test, and it failed him altogether. He was in the vicinity of Portsmouth on the occasion of a grand review, and then his soul was stirred to its utmost depths, but not by the clamor of trumpets, the clashing of weapons, or the roaring of cannon, but by the sight of five simple words which were painted up upon the side of a house, and the words were these: “Prepare to meet thy God.”
This was a call to which he was consciously unfit to respond, and the fact caused his heart to sink within him.
When he had reached his home again, Albert S. was only too desirous to banish the incident from his mind. He was diligent enough in obeying the bugle-calls, but he tried to forget the heart-searching summons that had terrified him so much. Are you even now doing the same, dear reader? If so, may God make, it impossible for you to forget these words, “Prepare to meet thy God.”
Some two years after the occurrence narrated, Albert S. was standing upon a railway bridge. His health had failed him, and he had been compelled to give up his employment. No longer could he “fall in” in response to the bugle-call. The bridge was near his residence, and as he stood upon it, he noticed that some one had written something on one of its sides, and he read these words: “Prepare to meet thy God.”
This second summons to prepare to meet his God, emphasized, as it certainly was, by the solemn fact that he was now weak and ill, was more than he could endure. That handwriting upon the wall filled him with terror, and he turned away to look over the opposite wall of the bridge, and at that very moment two servants of the Lord reached the spot.
They were going to visit a dying Christian, and, without knowing why, they had taken a rather roundabout route to get to his house, and so found themselves upon the bridge.
Their attention was arrested by the sight of the stranger, looking so ill and so melancholy. They accosted him in a gentle way and spoke to him of the love of Christ. One of them passed on; the other paused, and looking Albert S. in the face, he said, “PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD.”
Did ever aspen leaf tremble more in the wind than Albert S. at this third summons. Terror-stricken, he wended his way home, wondering whither he could flee from the wrath to come! God, who had sent these three calls to Albert S., now sent another of His servants to point the poor trembling sinner to. Jesus, his Saviour and Deliverer. The Lord heard him, and delivered him from all his fears. He found in Christ salvation and peace, and the words, “Prepare to meet thy God,” now lost their terrifying effect upon Albert S.’s heart and conscience.
So changed was he that, save One, none could have possibly foreseen that the once terror-stricken rifleman would become so bold and fearless as a good soldier of Jesus Christ? This was the Lord’s doing, and marvelous in the eyes of those who were privileged to witness it.
To those about him, and to those who came to visit him, Albert S. boldly testified of Jesus, who had delivered him from eternal death. He followed the Captain of our salvation in the bright assurance of His triumph. And when the last conflict came, Albert calmly and fearlessly awaited the coming up of the king of terrors, and with earnest gaze fixed upon Jesus, he said, “Is this death?” This was said in such a tone of triumph during the final struggle that those who stood by could but realize that in all things we are more than conquerors through Him that loveth us.
Reader, prepare to meet thy God.
A. J.