The Next Train

Listen from:
ENTERING the station some time before the hour at which I expected my friend, I was able to watch the passengers passing to and fro. The train was just about to leave, when a man and woman hurried to the platform, the man leading a large dog, the woman carrying a large bundle. The man had time to jump into the express car with his dog, and the woman was about to step into a coach, when the train moved, and she was left behind. She called to her companion,
“I’ll come on the next train.”
The incident made me think of a time now fast approaching, when those who are “too late” will have no hope of “coming on the next train.” Perhaps tonight the signal may be given, the Lord Himself may come into the air, and all who are ready will go to meet Him. What of those who are left behind? There is no hope for them, no other chance if they have rejected Christ now, no “next train” to take them to glory.
“Ah,” you may say, “I shall be like the man who just caught the train; I will come to Christ on my death-bed; there is no hurry now.” Well, there are some people who like to run to the station, and jump into the train just as it starts; they know the hour of its departure, and reckon accordingly, and catch their train as certainly as those who have been waiting a quarter of an hour. But suppose you did not know when the train would start; you were told it might go at any time in the quarter of an hour. If your journey was one of importance, would you wait till the last minute, and run the chance of catching it then? Most likely you would be too late. No, you would be early at the station, so that whenever the train might come, you would be ready.
The Lord may come at any time. His coming is more certain than death. Are you ready for Him? “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump.” How those who are ready and waiting for Him long for that moment. Do you long for it? Are your sins washed away in His precious blood?
“For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” That was written over 1900 years ago; the “little while” is nearly over, but still the door of mercy is open, and you may now enter in.
“Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28).
That loving invitation will not much longer be given—now it is addressed to you. Will you accept it?
ML 01/23/1927