A FRIEND of the writer was hurrying down the street that leads to the ferry at Windsor, Canada, hoping to catch the steamer for Detroit that was about to start. As he reached the gate the gateman closed it. Mr. H―said, “Can’t I enter?”
“No; the gate is shut; that settles it.”
Of course he had to wait until the next boat, but, as far as the boat that was just starting was concerned, he was too late, the gate was shut, and the words of the gateman, “The gate is shut; that settles it,” showed the uselessness of any attempt.
This little incident may serve to illustrate to us another gate, and the necessity on our part of prompt action in order to enter. We like to see a man in dead earnest, even in natural things. A slothful man will not accomplish much. We hear sometimes of “an up-to-date” man, and we know what that means. It speaks of a man who is ready to seize hold of anything that is legitimate, and to avail himself of everything that the mind of man has brought about in order to make what he is undertaking a success.
And when it comes to the things of eternity shall we be in less earnest? Shall we not be “up-to-date” in the matter? Shall we allow Satan to hide from our eyes the infinite gain that will be ours by closing in with God’s offer of salvation on His own terms and having the matter settled for time and eternity? Satan objects to any such dead-earnest decision. He would prefer a thousand times that we remain indifferent to the whole thing. His word is, “Plenty of time yet.” He would not have you strike the bargain right away with God to “buy of him wine and milk without money and without price.” He hates the song―
“‘Tis done, the great transaction’s done,
I am my Lord’s, and He is mine;
He drew me, and I followed on,
Charmed to confess the voice divine.
Happy day, happy day,
When Jesus washed my sins away.”
Friend, shun Satan as you would a serpent, a thief, a murderer, for he is all three. He is a serpent to deceive, a thief to rob, and a murderer to slay.
Everything says, be in earnest. Time says, Be in earnest; death says, Be in earnest; eternity says, Be in earnest; heaven says, Be in earnest; hell says, Be in earnest; your passing years say, Be in earnest; your gray hairs say, Be in earnest; your increasing infirmities say, Be in earnest; the graveyard says, Be in earnest; your dying neighbor says, Be in earnest; the question of your salvation says, Be in earnest; the tremendous question, Where shall I spend eternity? in heaven or hell? says, Be in earnest. And lastly, the blessed Son of God, whose love no one can question, says, “Strive with earnestness to enter in at the strait gate.” And why? “For many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know ye not whence ye are.”
Instead of being curious to know how many are to be saved, thus seeking to satisfy man’s curiosity, we are to “strive with earnestness to enter in at the strait gate” ourselves, test, awful thought! that gate should be closed against us, and closed forever.
We may rest assured that “once the master of the house has risen up and shut to the door,” there will be no possibility of entering. “The gate is shut; that settles it.” Knocking, and pleading past privileges, and even that of His presence, will not avail, for just then will His master say, “I tell you I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity” (Luke 13).
Now, then, is the time to enter; now is the time to be converted to God; now is the time to be saved; “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2).
Now is God’s word. By-and-by is Satan’s word. Which are you going to act upon? Which are you going to believe―God or Satan? The one who desires your salvation, or the one who seeks your damnation? Oh, friend, be wise, consider your latter end, now enter the open gate and be saved. Be up-to-date in this matter. Be a rational, earnest man, and decide to be saved this very day; and while thousands choose the wrong, do thou choose the right; and while the multitude barter away their soul for some trifles on earth, do thou accept the salvation that has been obtained for thee at the infinite cost of the Saviour’s blood shed upon the cross of Calvary.
Across the river of death, in the eternal world, where our condition is fixed forever, there is either joy or sorrow, pain or pleasure, “weeping and gnashing of teeth,” or the eternal sunshine of God’s love and presence. Listen, oh, listen, to the Saviour’s words: “There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and ye yourselves (appalling thought!) thrust out. And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last” (Luke 13:23-30).
Friend, which is it to be? God or Satan, now or never, salvation or damnation, heaven or hell, weeping and gnashing of teeth or the joy of His blessed presence forever?
“Into the depths of endless woe
Rejecters of the Saviour go;
Forbid the thought that you, who read,
Should Ion ger have no sense of need
Of th’ only way to realms of bliss—
O sinner! hast thou thought of this?”
E. A.