I HAD taken my seat in the train, and just as it was about to move, a lady entered. Speaking to a passenger who sat opposite, she said it was now several hours beyond the time at which she hoped to have arrived at her destination; but she had got into a wrong train, and had only discovered her mistake after she had gone a considerable distance in a different direction from that which she desired. She had asked some one that she supposed ought to know, but evidently did not, for he had directed her to take a wrong train.
After hearing the lady’s story, my thoughts were led to the journey of life. How many persons there are who take the word of someone they suppose ought to know—the word of man—in reference to the way by which to reach heaven, without ever examining the Word of God, the true and only guide, from which they would know with certainty whether they were traveling in the right direction or not. The Scriptures are plain on the subject. All men are by nature on the wrong road. Reader, if you are unconverted, you are speeding on to eternal perdition. It matters not what man may tell you; if resting on the word of man, sooner or later you will find out your mistake. Would to God you might see it now, for it will be too late if you do not discover it before the end of the journey. It will be useless, then, to think of pleading that you had taken the word of one you looked upon as a person who ought to know, and that you had trusted his assurance that you were all right.
Solemn indeed will it be for those who point in a wrong direction those who come to them to learn the right one. It is vain to go by man’s thoughts when it is a question of the soul’s eternal destiny. If a passenger gets into a wrong train, and continues in it till the terminus is reached, he may be able to return; but it is not so in the case of life’s journey. If once you reach the terminus of that, there is no return; you will have to face the eternal consequences of having continued on the wrong line and in the wrong train.
How important, then, that you should see to the matter at once. God Himself, in the Scriptures of truth, warns you as to what the end will be of those who remain in nature, the respectable and religious, as well as those who are not, for we read, “There is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:22, 2322Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:22‑23)), and the end is very solemn. “What shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” “Everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord” (2 Thess. 1:99Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; (2 Thessalonians 1:9)).
But God, in His Word, has given directions, so that none need fail to know the right way. The Lord Jesus Christ said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me” (John 14:66Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)). And in Acts 4 we read, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (ver. 12).
Let me press on you, dear unconverted reader, the necessity of your seeing to the matter at once. You know not how soon you may reach the end of the journey; you may be nearer the terminus than you think. Do not delay. Trifle not in a matter so momentous. Now there is opportunity to get right. As one who has been on the wrong line, turn to God and own it; acknowledge that only He can direct you aright. Be guided by His Word. “Salvation is of the Lord.” He will save you, if you simply trust Him.
“Receive this free mercy, receive it;
No money, no price He demands;
The God of all grace loves to give it;
Accept, then, the gift at His hands.”
R. K.