A gale was blowing as George Washington rode forth one December morning on his homeward way. His faithful horse had carried him safely through all sorts of conditions, on all kinds of errands, at all hours and seasons. It was no new thing to horse and rider to be caught in a snowstorm; so onward they plowed their way over the countryside, blinded by driving snow and benumbed by the piercing wind and cold. At last, however, after five strenuous hours in the saddle, home was reached.
That same day, with storm unabated, that hardy man must again ride forth, attending to other important business. "In the evening," his friend and secretary records, "excepting for a slight cold, he had been remarkably cheerful."
The general made light of his cold and said, "Let it go as it came."
The next day proved otherwise, for serious complications set in. Washington neglected to take necessary precautions at once, but went on with his manifold pressing duties. The result? On the third day, December 14, the father of his country passed away.
Through attention to a matter of seemingly small importance, this valuable man's life might have been prolonged. How much more he might have been able to accomplish, we shall never know. Through carelessness and neglect he perished, and the young nation lost a valuable leader.
You too, dear reader, are riding forth over the storm-swept scene of life, with all its benumbing blizzards, with all its piercing winds of adversity, of constant dangers and surrounding perils. The road is not always smooth. For the most, life is one long battle. Dangers, temptations, lusts, sins, snares, meet us every day. The biting winds of infidelity blow full in the face and blind many of us to the realities of eternity, of sin, and of our accountability to God for all things done in the body. "So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." Rom. 14:1212So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. (Romans 14:12).
Every day seems a veritable blizzard in some form or other; but onward we plow our way in a determined effort to reach our destination. What destination? Friend, make sure that you are headed the right way, for "there is a way that seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death." Prov. 16:2525There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 16:25).
Good for us all it would be to make that worthwhile resolve, that by God's grace, despite all the difficulties, our faces would be turned heavenward and homeward.
With George Washington, no thought of concern was entertained for a moment; death was not envisioned as possible. The case was simply—neglect. Let us meditate on that last word, viewed in this light, and enforced on our minds so vividly by Hebrews 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): "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?"
This verse proves three great facts. The first is that God has provided salvation for all mankind, without exception. All men need salvation! God in grace has provided and offered it to the highest potentate or president, down to the lowest pauper. His salvation is within reach of all, without money or price.
How solemn it is that this great salvation is NEGLECTED by many! The King of kings, the Lord of all, is ignored and His offer of eternal life and joy utterly neglected by those Christ died to save. Friend, how can you escape the wrath, the doom He must accord to those who neglect so great salvation?