John Nelson Darby, a remarkable and devoted servant of Christ, passed away in 1882. He was one of the greatest scholars of his day. As a young man he had taken "holy orders" and had set himself the great task of the translation of the Scriptures. Son of an Irish clergyman, he traveled in various countries over hill and dale, mostly on foot, and wrote books of which there are many volumes.
But did this gain for him fame or a name among the sons of men? No! His last words prove otherwise. Soliloquizing to himself, he said, "Well, it will be strange to find myself in heaven: but it will not be a strange Christ He I have known these many years. How little I know of Him! I am glad He knows me, for He said: 'I know My sheep.'
To one person he said, "I am not a demonstrative man. But I have a deep, deep peace which you know." In answer to his question: "What is the justice of God?" some one replied, "I suppose His placing you on this sick bed.”
"Oh, no, no, no," he said. "That is the love of God." The following lines taken from one of his beautiful hymns fitly express what he felt at the close:
Light divine surrounds thy going,
God Himself shall mark thy way;
Secret blessings richly flowing,
Lead to everlasting day.
Though thy way be long and dreary,
Eagle strength He'll still renew;
Garments fresh and foot unwary
Tell how God path brought thee through.
There no stranger-God shall meet thee!—
Stranger thou in courts above?
He who to His rest shall greet thee,
Greets thee with a well-known love!
All students of Scripture are greatly indebted to Mr. Darby for his excellent exposition of the books of the Bible and for his well-known Synopsis.
On a tombstone in Bournemouth cemetery, England, where he was laid to rest, the following lines are carved in the stone:
Lord, let me live to Thee alone,
My life be only this:
To serve Thee here on earth unknown,
Then share Thy heavenly bliss.
Perhaps you who read these lines are absorbed in all the world affords in the way of learning. Your education may have secured for you a place among the great ones of earth. You may have aspired to reach the pinnacle of fame. But what is your gain, if void of the knowledge of God?
He "hath measured the water in the hollow of His hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance." He took no counsel with men, no one taught Him knowledge, or showed Him the way of understanding. (See Isa. 40.)
On this basis we would venture to approach the well-thinking men of the day and ask, What are your aims in life? What are your prospects for eternity?
This devoted servant of Christ could undoubtedly have claimed a place among the inner circle of men of knowledge. But he chose, like Moses, to suffer affliction with the people of God, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt.
Reader, what is your choice?