The poem below was found among the papers of a man who had lived only for honor and fame in this world. The lines speak for themselves, as they stand as a solemn warning to all those who put the world first and walk in ambition's pathway.
"Why labor for honor? Why seek after fame?
Why toil to establish a popular name?
Fame! aye, what is fame? a bubble—a word,
A sound that's worth nothing, a hope that's deferred;
A heart-sickening hope that's too often denied
Or withheld from the worthy, to pander to pride.
"Then out upon fame! let her guerdon be riven,
Nay—hold—let me strive as I always have striven.
Out, out upon fame! too late will she come;
Her wreath mocks my brow; will it hang on my tomb?
Too much have I labored, too willingly gave
My thoughts to the world, AND HAVE
EARNED BUT A GRAVE."
Such lines need no comment and we would turn from them to an extract from the last writing of one who had renounced the most ambitious tamer in order to take up the cross and to follow the Lord Jesus in a path of rejection.
At the end of a trial and suffering such as few are called upon to endure, he was cast into a Roman dungeon. Almost all his earthly friends had forsaken him; he had appeared once before that cruel tyrant Nero, and before him lay the lions or perhaps some other fiendish torture. Truly it was a "latter end" to be naturally dreaded.
But what a reward he had earned! No thoughts of the grave filled his soul when he wrote to his young friend, Timothy.
"For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing." 2 Tim. 4:6-86For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:6‑8).
God wants you to be wise. "Hear counsel... that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end." Prov. 19:2020Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. (Proverbs 19:20). "Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death." Jer. 21:88And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death. (Jeremiah 21:8). "I have set before you life and death... therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live." Deut. 30:1919I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: (Deuteronomy 30:19).