DEAR READER, have you ever thought of this world as a dark, morally dark world, where in the midst of its social and religious make-up, so much is wrong and wanting in reality; a world of wickedness and suffering and far away from God; have you, I say, thought seriously of it as such?
Perhaps you may not be prepared with a ready answer to this question, and think it a hard saying, and cannot hear it. But the object of this little book is to help you to consider it, that you may give a willing ear to God's word upon this serious 'subject; for if unsaved you belong to this world which lieth in wickedness (1 John 5:1919And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. (1 John 5:19)) and under the sentence of judgment. For just as the believer, the child of God, is saved out of the world, and belongs to the new creation (2 Cor. 5:1717Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)) with all its privileges and safety, equally true does the unbeliever belong to the world, and is far removed from Christian blessing.
But your thoughts of the world may be entirely out of agreement with what has been said, and you choose to think of it as a pleasant world, in which you find comparative satisfaction, and (as some say) intend to make the best of it. It may be natural and easier for you to think and reason in this way, and, with the pleasing occupations and pleasures of life, to go on in disregard of the eternal realities before you. (Matt. 6:3333But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33).)
Never mind about your own thoughts of the world, and the pleasant prospects which open out before you in life, with all the attractions offered you, and the pleasures within your reach. All this is vanishing; al! will pass away. Not that we should speak slightingly of, or be unthankful for, the mercies which surround us here. These things proclaim the goodness of God, and manifest His: wisdom, power and glory in creation; but all is passing away. (1 John 2:1717And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1 John 2:17).)
Your thoughts may be wrong. “Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth; and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes; but know thou that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment." (Eccl. 11:99Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. (Ecclesiastes 11:9).)
And you are passing onward, and whither going? It may be to you the morning of life, when everything looks bright and fair and prosperous; when cares rest lightly, and evil seems far from thy path. Remember, "the night cometh”
Or it may be mid-day, when the sun is high up in the heavens, and half thy life spent and gone. And for what? "The night cometh”
Or, perhaps gray hairs are here and there upon you, and you know it not; and the shadows of evening are falling around you, and night wears on apace; and how quickly does the darkness of night succeed the twilight of evening! Yet for all this you are living the same manner of life, to self and pleasure, perhaps; “walking according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience." (Eph. 2:22Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: (Ephesians 2:2)), unreconciled to God, your soul not saved, no certainty of heaven; but rather without hope and without God in the world. (Ephes. 2:1212That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: (Ephesians 2:12).) Oh remember "the night cometh”
The night steals on! it is the watchman's cry;
Life's happy morn is gone, its visions fled;
Its hopes, like rainbows painted in the sky,
Are quenched in darkness; all its pleasures dead.”
The words that form the title of this little book, although having reference to the Lord Jesus Christ and His works, yet are words of admonition, of warning to all, and seem to urge upon our notice the seriousness of delay, and the importance of making the most of the present time.
The Lord Jesus Christ had just noticed the condition of a poor blind man, blind from his birth
(a picture of the spiritual blindness of the people of Israel as a whole, and yours also, if not a believer in Jesus), and in all the grace and love which He ever manifested proceeded to heal the poor afflicted one, to give him sight. And in connection with this work of love He spoke these words: " I must work the works of Him that sent Me while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work." He would fulfill the will of God in every detail in His pathway to the cross; and there He finished the work His Father gave Him to do. (John 17:44I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. (John 17:4).)
We all know the advantage of day. When any work of importance has to be done, day-time is chosen in order to successfully accomplish the work. If this is true in things natural, how strange that the solemn, searching and important question of the soul's salvation should be deferred and put off during the day-time of life, and treated as if it can be safely left till "the night cometh”
Oh! be warned in time, for " the night cometh when no man can work.”
Listen to God's word, “For there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest." (Eccl. 9:1010Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. (Ecclesiastes 9:10).) And again, " Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." (2 Cor. 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2).) To-morrow may prove too late. “The night cometh "!
Yes, salvation, to-day and now, is offered you, without money, without price, without works of your own doing. Jesus has finished the work where by free salvation comes to poor lost sinners; and you must believe the record that God has given of His Son, the testimony of finished redemption on Calvary's cross. Receive it as God's gift. “For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” (Eph. 2:88For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8).)
Let there be no misunderstanding. If unsaved, you need salvation, and you can get it in no other way than by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. “Neither is there salvation in any other; for 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).) Not of works, no!" For by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight."(Rom. 3:2020Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:20).)
“How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?” (Heb. 2:33How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (Hebrews 2:3).) No escape from the dark night that looms before the careless and unbelieving, unsaved soul. No escape from the “outer darkness" which God's word forewarns as the portion of those who despise His love and grace made known in Jesus. (Matt. 22:1313Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 22:13); Matt. 22:25-3025Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: 26Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. 27And last of all the woman died also. 28Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. 29Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. (Matthew 22:25‑30).) No escape from the sure judgment that awaits you if you die unrepentant and in your sins, unpardoned, without the sheltering blood of Jesus to screen your soul; for after death the judgment. (Heb. 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27).)
But you may escape, fully escape. And why risk so much? Hearken to God's word: "For He hath made Him [Jesus] to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Cor. 5:2121For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)) The question of righteousness is raised, the righteousness of God. Do you stand in this? Jesus, the sinless One, was made sin for us upon the cross, there suffered for sins, He the just One for us the unjust, that we might be brought to God. (1 Peter 3:1818For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1 Peter 3:18).)
Where are you, my reader? Do you believe God's word concerning the finished work of salvation wrought by Jesus on Calvary's cross for lost and undone sinners? Do you believe He died for you, suffered for your sins when on the cross of dark Calvary, and now lives in heavenly glory? This is the only way of escape. "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).)
Farewell, reader. Remember, “the night cometh "I G. M.
“All things are ready," come;
God calls you by His grace.
Oh, turn not from His offered love,
But seek e'en now His face.