A GRAND business man was Mr.―. He carried on a very lucrative business in the North of England, which by dint of his perseverance and business abilities developed into a large concern.
Mr.―, like many thousands more, and, maybe, like you, dear reader, did not take time to consider this question of questions asked by the Lord in Mark 8:36,36For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Mark 8:36) “What shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and lose HIS OWN SOUL?” Mark well these words, friend, for it is your own soul that is in question here. Yes, your very own. Supposing you had gone into Mr.― ‘s place of business one morning, and asked him how business was going along, most probably he would have let you know, also he might have told you that he was expecting to do a good day’s business. Ay, like many more, he had great expectations for time.
If you had spoken to him about his soul, and asked him what were his expectations for eternity, he very curtly would have told you that he had no time to think of these things, as his business required all his time.
“Poor dupe of the devil,
Who dangles daily ‘fore the eyes of men,
Those gilded baubles―Power, Gold, and Fame:
Will-o’-the-Wisp, that lures the sinner on
Until God’s day of grace is past and gone.”
Mr.―was absorbed in his business to the exclusion of eternal realities. He left God out of his thoughts, like that very successful business man in Luke 12:20,20But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? (Luke 12:20) who had much goods laid up in store for many years, and who said to HIS SOUL, ― “Soul, take thine ease,” &c, but God said, “THOU FOOL, this night shalt it be required of thee.”
“To lose one’s wealth is much;
To lose one’s health is more:
To lose one’s soul, is such a loss
As no man can restore.”
One morning Mr.― was at business as usual, to all appearance in good health, and doubtless looking forward to a good day’s business.
In the course of the forenoon he had occasion to go into his private room. Being exceptionally long in coming out, and having something to ask him, one of his assistants knocked at his door. Getting no response, he opened the door, and there, to his horror, he saw his master sitting in his chair. DEAD! The doctors attributed his death to heart disease.
“He was laid in a Christless tomb,
Now bound in death’s dark chain,
To wait the terror of his doom,
The Judgment and the pain.
Oh! Christless shroud, how cold!
How dark, oh Christless tomb!
Oh, grief that never can grow old!
Oh, endless, hopeless doom!”
“How sudden!” you may exclaim. Yes! but how solemn too; for “it is appointed unto men once to die, but AFTER THIS THE JUDGMENT” (Heb. 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)).
Fellow-traveler to Eternity, let this be a loud voice to thy soul. It may be your time next. “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth” (Prov. 27:11Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. (Proverbs 27:1)).
What would the lost in hell give for one moment of time? Said a wealthy worldly lady on her deathbed, just with her last breath, ― “A million of money for a moment of time!”
Reader, Time is flying; with lightning like rapidity, Eternity draweth nigh.
I beseech you to honestly think―
“Where will you spend Eternity―
In heaven, or in hell?
Wilt thou among the blest be found,
Or with the lost ones dwell?”
May you, by God’s grace, take your true place before God, owning, like that poor man in Luke 18:12,12I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. (Luke 18:12) what you are, and accept God’s salvation. Then you can sing―
“Death and judgment are behind me,
Peace and glory are before.”
Ere you lay aside this paper, rest your precious soul on the living, unchanging word of the living God, which says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)).
“Salvation, now this moment!
Then why, oh why delay?
You may not see tomorrow, ―
NOW is Salvation’s Day.”
J. A. D.