HE was a young man living in a far north of Scotland fishing village. A remarkable work of God broke out in the place a few months ago. Young fishermen especially were reached by the grace of God and converted. But this gracious movement left this young man unmoved and untouched.
He came to the meetings, but left as he came. One day a gentleman from the West of England visiting the place, gave him a gospel book entitled "The Journey and its End." He kept it in his pocket, but he did not read it.
A few days after he left the fishing village for Leith. As the train entered upon the Tay Bridge he pulled the book out of his pocket, meaning to beguile the time by reading.
The title struck him:—
“THE JOURNEY AND ITS END.”
He remembered the Tay Bridge disaster, when on a wild stormy night—December 20th, 1879—the night train crept upon the bridge, fated never to reach the other side. The whole country was appalled when next morning the news was spread that in the height of the awful gale thirteen spans of the bridge, crossing the navigable part of the river, had collapsed, and that the passenger train with its living freight at the same time was precipitated into the angry water beneath.
All this came powerfully before his mind as the train ran over that awe-inspiring bridge, over two miles long with its eighty-five spans.
“THE JOURNEY AND ITS END.”
“The Journey and its End" repeated the young man again and again; "I have started my journey, but suppose I never get to the other end of the bridge, I’m not ready.”
This so pressed upon his mind that before the train reached the southern banks of the Tay the young man had trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior, and was at rest.
Some days after he wrote to the writer as the compiler of "The Journey and its End," to tell him his happy story, and right cheering it was to read.
My reader, you are on your journey—the journey of life—and you will assuredly reach the end. Are you ready? You may not reach it for many years, you may reach it today, but reach it you will. Are you ready?
This is not a matter you can afford to play with.
Years ago the writer was on the top of a tramcar with overhead trolleys. The live wire broke and fell with a blinding flash across the tram, and bounced off and fell into the road. If the wire had struck any of the passengers it would probably have been fatal.
Never will the writer forget the scared look on the faces of two young men, nor their agility in getting clear of the danger. Evidently they did not relish the end of the journey coming that moment.
Is there not an overhead danger for every unconverted person in the world? Is there not such a thing as the judgment from God upon sin? Can you contemplate the end of your journey with satisfaction? Remember the end of your journey determines your eternity of bliss or woe. Which shall it be? Be in earnest.
The Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross to atone for sin in order that this overhead danger might not fall on you. He took the overhead danger on the cross. He suffered the judgment of God for sin in order that salvation might be offered freely and righteously to the unsaved. Will you accept this offer? Only thus can the end of your life's journey be blessed.
“Passing onward, quickly passing,
Time its course will quickly run;
Sinner, hear the fond entreaty
Of the ever gracious One—
‘Come and welcome!
'Tis by Me that life is won.'”
THE EDITOR
THE EDITOR.