JOHN K— was a large farmer, and like many of his neighbors, made use of his spare moments for many years, by enjoying most of the fleeting pleasures within his reach, that this poor world could give, but going through the outward observance of religious ordinances on Sundays.
A relative, who also had a large farm, some distance off, found one day that some dozens of his lambs had been killed by a large dog, belonging to a neighbor. He sought redress, but finding it was refused, went to law with him, and the case was given in his favor.
The farmer thenceforth made the day, when he gained the case, an occasion to invite several of his friends to a sort of jollification, in the shape of various games, a good dinner, &c. J— K— was amongst the guests on one of these occasions; and late in the evening, as the song, and the glass, and the pipe were alternately having their share of attention, various stories and anecdotes going the round, a doctor who was present, suddenly said jokingly to the rest.
“Here, friends, I will tell you something.”
“What's that?" they rejoined, " let us have it.”
“I will tell you each one how long you have to live.”
And then, beginning with the one next to him, he went from one to the other, setting a time for each, accordingly as he judged of the state of their health, until he came to J— K— when he said:—
“As for J— K—, he can't live for more than twelve years, why he has no breath now.”
The doctor little thought of the effect of his words. J— K— did not answer, but thought all the more. The Spirit of God used them to convict his conscience of sin. “Twelve years, twelve. years," said he to himself," die in twelve years. I thought I should live longer than that. Twelve years! and where shall I be then? Eternity will come then, and where shall I spend that?”
Returning home next day in a gig with a friend, a drive of about twenty miles, J— K— was silent as to what was pressing upon his heart, until they had arrived almost at the end of their journey, when he could keep it in no longer; so turning to his companion, he said:—
“Did you notice what the doctor said last night about me.”
“What do you mean?”
“Why that I could not live above twelve years. I'm not fit to die, I can't die, Robert.
All my sins are on me, thirty years' sins.
What's to be done, Robert, what's to be done?" For although the doctor calculated that he had yet twelve years to live, the conscience being burdened with sin, the time seemed very near, and he thought he might die even long before that.
Robert's theology being about on a par with J— K— he was at a loss altogether how to answer the question.
“Twelve years, twelve years, and then die!”
These words haunted John for months and months, and do what he would, or go where he would, he could not get rid of them. He read the Bible, went more regularly to church, tried all he knew how to be a better man, stopped going to jollifications, &c., and did all he could to please God, hoping that the reformation of the present (vain delusion!) would make up for the sins and shortcomings of the past. Two years of the twelve ran swiftly by, but still there was no peace. The burden of sin grew heavier every day; salvation seemed further off than ever, John was still following the natural man's religion of D—O, do.
One bright summer's morning he started off into his fields about eight o'clock with a heavy heart, the burden of his now more than thirty years' sins pressing upon him, until his sense of guilt in the sight of God seemed almost to overwhelm him. He was filled with despair, and felt if it continued, that he could not bear it; when suddenly, about half way down a meadow, and close by a pit, the words at the opening of Rom. 8 flashed across his soul, as though a voice had spoken them, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.”
The twelve years have long ago run out, and J— K— still lives; but the fear of death, and judgment after, have long since gone (Heb. 25:14-15). For nearly thirty years John has continued a bright and happy Christian, rejoicing in and testifying for the Lord. His heart being full of Christ, it was his delight, as he could not preach himself, to invite the Lord's servants to preach in the old farm brew house, and several others in the neighboring hamlet were brought to the Lord. But Satan always opposes God's work, and so it was in this case.
The landlady, through her steward, being influenced by some who were content with the externals of religion, without Christ, sought to stop the preaching; but John was firm and would not yield. Two years' notice were then given him to quit the farm, where he had lived all his life. Nothing daunted, and esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than worldly benefit (Heb. 11:2626Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. (Hebrews 11:26)), he still continued to have the preaching until he was ejected from the place.
The offense of the cross of Christ has not ceased (Gal. 5:1111And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. (Galatians 5:11)), and where there is faithfulness to Him, the Christian must expect to suffer (2 Tim. 3:1212Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. (2 Timothy 3:12)). But the sufferer now will be rewarded in that day (2 Tim. 4:88Henceforth 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 4:8)), whereas the oppressor, unless he repent, will be judged according to his works (Rev. 20:1313And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. (Revelation 20:13)).
And be ye sure of this, your sin will find you out.
And now, dear reader, how long have you to live? "I don't know," you reply. True, nothing is more uncertain; it may be twelve years; it may not be twelve moments; you might die to day; you might die now. And then where will you be? Are you ready to die? How about your sins? One sin, the smallest that you ever committed in thought, word, or deed, would be enough to sink you into hell. But, “Be it known unto you... that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins, and by him all that believe are justified from all things" (Acts 13:38, 3938Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38‑39)). Are your sins forgiven? Are you justified? Perhaps you reply, "Well, I believe, but I cannot feel it." That is just where you are mistaken. You look into self to feel, instead of looking out at Christ believing.
God does not say through you, but through this man is preached forgiveness; not by you, but by Him all that believe are justified. It is all through and by Hint, Will you have Christ?
And “there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:11There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1)). Rest on this precious word, and you, like J— K—, may go on your way rejoicing.
E. H. C.