“WHY do we grow old?” the writer was asked a short time ago. “Why do the beauty and grace of youth fade away and give place to shriveled, decrepit, and tottering old age? There is nothing beautiful in old age.”
A hard-working man he had been, and most abstemious. He had schemed and plotted with but one object before him, and that to retire at a certain age. His purpose is reached, and now he discovers he has but retired to fade away and die. He has plenty of leisure to stand and view the appalling fact that he is slowly and surely decaying!
Montaigne puts the middle of life’s arch at thirty-five, and speaks of himself as if life for him, at that age, were practically ended, and there was nothing for him now but to decay at leisure―at literary leisure, but still to decay. “If in this life only we have hope... we are of all men most miserable” (1 Cor. 15:1919If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. (1 Corinthians 15:19)).
No doubt the thought of the Psalmist was in Montaigne’s mind, “The days of our years are three score years and ten,” although certain wise ones tell us that the middle of life’s arch has now shifted to fifty, and is apparently likely to rise higher (?).
Time marches over the heads of men and women and leaves his indelible footprints upon all. Man is no sooner born into the scene than he begins to draw nearer and nearer the end of his course. He “is born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward.” His “life is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away.” An object in this world he may have, and “if fortune smiles on him,” as men speak, and the object is gained, the appalling discovery has at last to be made that there was more pleasure in the anticipation of the object than in the realization of it. For there is nothing satisfying “under the sum”
We were not greatly surprised a few days ago to hear of that most successful man of business, Mr. W― , of K. L., having
COMMITTED SUICIDE.
Retiring at the age of forty-nine, in the very zenith of his brain power, as scientists tell us, what an objectless, purposeless existence was before him! His large fortune did not yield him the satisfaction he craved―did not even make his life worth living.
And now he has left his riches for others to get what enjoyment they can out of them. “But he that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver, ... neither is his eye satisfied with riches” (Eccl. 5:1010He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. (Ecclesiastes 5:10)). Oh! that poor Mr. W― had known Christ as his Saviour, together with the joy of living the full length of his days for Him, fully satisfied in His love. But alas! his life, his opportunities are all gone now,
HOPELESSLY LOST FOR EVER!
A hat, a coat and umbrella upon the found all under the sun as “vanity.” “What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?”
Let this stand as a beacon, my reader, to warn you, as you spread the sails of your frail barque to catch the breezes of prosperity, and remember that word, “Fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee” (Luke 12:2020But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? (Luke 12:20)).
But to return, “Why do we grow old?” The answer is simple, yet profound― “Man corrupted by sin is unfit to remain upon the earth which was given With by God.” Hence three things have come upon him―
DECAY, DISEASE, AND DEATH.
And no matter what the natural status, social position, intellectual ability—nothing can avert it: “It is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment.”
The scientist and infidel are alike powerless here. Death’s ruthless hand is laid upon each in his turn, and after this the judgment. Think of every hidden act brought to light, every motive disclosed, and every secret thing laid bare, and the judged one made to face the dreadful fact that having neglected salvation in time, there is no escape for eternity (Heb. 2).
Reader, do let me, as one who loves your soul, beg of you to pause on your downward course and consider this momentous question. Disease may even now be sapping your vitals, Decay, to say the least, is going certainly on, and Death is drawing hourly nearer!!
Go on just as you are, and you will be lost for eternity. Hell, with its anguish, and tears, and woe awaits you! But, thank God, heaven, with its love, and joy, and peace still invites you! “Christ has died, yea, rather is risen again.” His blood can cleanse the foulest stains. Cast yourself as a hell-deserving sinner, repentant at His feet, and He will surely save you, and “God will justify you freely by his grace.” His thought for you is life, not death.
Turn then from Satan, sin, and death, to God for life and glory. This is conversion. “Repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Remember there is no salvation without repentance.
Have you repented? Are you converted?
E. E. C.