IT was a shock to many people to receive last Saturday morning the news that Sir Henry Irving, England's greatest actor, was dead. He had passed away at 11:30 the previous evening, a few minutes after reaching his hotel and within half-an-hour of his leaving the stage. Before the curtain fell he had said with much feeling, "I do commend my cause to God.... Into Thy hands, O Lord; into Thy hands." These, the last words of Becket, were the last to be spoken on the stage by the great actor. A few minutes later and the curtain of death had fallen, and so ended the earthly life of a remarkable man.
Thousands mourn his loss. The stage has lost its most prominent ornament and the theater-going public an old favorite. How full of real tragedy such an event is! And how it brings home to each one of us the fact that we are one and all mere players of a part in the great drama of life. We pass in and out amid rapidly changing scenes, and very soon the drop scene of death will fall and hide all from view.
The players are made up of two classes only, saved and unsaved. Many eyes are intently watching the acting from three worlds: Heaven, Earth, Hell. The various parts are being daily and nightly performed under the gaze of these anxious onlookers. The results of the acting will be known very quickly; to those who are saved by grace, when they appear before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:1010For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10)); to those who die impenitent and unforgiven, at the great White Throne. (Rev. 20:1212And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (Revelation 20:12).)
These two gatherings may be called the examination days of life's doings for the whole of humanity. What a wonderful change would take place in the lives of the actors if only these two days were kept in view! It is a tremendous fact that we are all shaping our characters for eternity. It is impossible to think, say, or act without impressions being made upon the life, which must tell in after days. If a believer leads a selfish life and does not move here at the impulse of the Holy Spirit, he will certainly suffer loss at the judgment seat of Christ.
The mass of unbelievers will be terribly awakened at the Great White Throne, for there each life, as lived on earth, will pass rapidly before the soul's vision like a living, moving panorama. Notice the words which describe the scene: "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God: and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." (Rev. 20:1212And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (Revelation 20:12)) Be it ever remembered that God is an accurate book-keeper and will not make a single mistake.
Why was man brought into being? Surely that he might know and love God, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom He has sent. (John 17:33And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (John 17:3).) The salvation of man is bound up in the Lord Jesus Christ, inasmuch as there is "None other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:1212Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12).) It is awfully solemn to think that those who die unprepared to meet God have missed the great end of life. To live and die without Christ will cause millions to wish that they had never been born. There will be no pleasures in a lost eternity.
Most certainly Sir Henry Irving will never charm and attract an audience again as he was wont to do on earth. In perdition no such pastimes will be known, and, assuredly, they will not be wanted in glory. The things that have distinguished men here are unknown there. I have often thought how the fanciful dreams of multitudes will be disappointed. These dreams present a soul-deceptive picture of a good time coming, when friends, relatives, and associates of earth will again mingle in everlasting union and pleasure. Alas! alas!! how delusive is the picture! The truth is that heaven and all its blessedness is the very opposite of hell and its torments. In the former is light, joy, gladness, singing, pleasures for evermore; in the latter, darkness, misery, despair, woe, weeping, and gnashing of teeth.
It is a fact that no living artiste has been more successful than Madame Patti. If she dies a Christless death, which may God forbid, she will never sing again. Thousands in all parts of the world have listened to her charming voice with breathless attention. But in the lost world there is no singing, and in hell all melody will be hushed forever.
Reader, are you ready to meet God? If not, halt! pause! consider! The old saying is true: "Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people." There cannot possibly be any happiness or heaven for anyone who is not fitted for them here. Unless you have Christ as your soul's portion now you cannot know Him, much less be with Him, after your life is taken from the earth.
“There are no pardons in the tomb,
And brief is mercy's day.”
Permit me a last word. Are you saved? If not, flee at once to the open arms of love. Jesus waits to save and bless you. Tarry not. This is salvation's glorious day. Come to Him. He will in no wise (by no manner of means) cast you out. His own word says it.
E. M.