MANY years ago a dear little English boy was sent home from India for his health and education, and when, after the weary sea voyage of six months, and the dreary coach journey of many days, he arrived in Edinburgh, and was being put to bed by his kind aunt, he turned to her and said, "Are there any jackals here?”
(They used to howl in packs round his Indian home at night).
“No, dear," she answered, "there are no jackals in Scotland.”
“Are there no snakes, and no tigers?”
“No, dear, no snakes, and no tigers.”
“Oh!" he exclaimed, "what a blessed country I”
Dear little fellow, he was only six years old, and wild beasts and reptiles were all his dread, for he knew of nothing more deadly or dangerous. But the country with which he had fallen in love was not so exempt from terrible things as he thought, as you and I know full well.
If we have not the tigers, jackals, and snakes which he so much dreaded, lurking round our dwellings in England, there is the "roaring lion" of which scripture speaks, seeking whom he may devour, who cannot be kept out by bolts and bars.
And then there is the "king of terrors,"—death— from whom no one can escape.
There is, however, a blessed country where there is no devil to tempt, nor death to destroy, and that is where Jesus is, and where He has gone to prepare a place for those who belong to Him.
The little boy I have been telling you of returned to India, and God in His goodness made him a light for the Lord Jesus amidst the surrounding darkness. But he had found out that it was not being in England which was blessed, but having his name written in the "Lamb's book of life.”
Now, dear one, is your name in that book? It must be there, or you cannot be with the Lord Jesus. Remember it will be your own fault if it is not. You have heard many, many times of Jesus and His love; you know quite well He came to die that you might live; and He is now knocking at your little heart; will you not open the door?
Every time a school-fellow dies, or some dear friend is taken, it is the Lord Jesus knocking and saying, "Be ye also ready.”
The king of terrors is no respecter of persons, for there are wee graves in a churchyard as well as large ones. It is a fearful thing to be putting off coming to the Lord Jesus till you are ill. It is as good as saying, "The dregs are enough for Christ," though you would hardly dare to put it into such words, when you remember He gave His life for you.