HE was an old man, and full of years. The snows of eighty-three winters had whitened his spare locks, and told us all plainly that the cold wintry blast of death was fast corning on. His sun was about setting, and he knew it, for his strength was ebbing away, clearly proving that “as the shadows lengthen the sinews decay." I visited him upon several occasions during his last illness, and I always came away comforted. He was basking in the sunlight of God's presence, without a cloud between. Many doubts and fears had clouded his pathway during his long pilgrimage journey, which often troubled his mind.
I called upon him once, and in company with his dear wife and their son conversed with him for a short time upon eternal realities. He enjoyed the conversation very much, but said his great difficulty was to get quit of the dark clouds that ever came in between his soul and God; and as he read John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16), he said, "That gives me comfort when everything else fails; for," said he," I firmly believe that God so loved the world that He gave His Son for me." The last time I called, after conversing and praying with him, I said, "Now, Mr. G., I am going to say farewell, perhaps for the last time, but remember I'll meet you in the morning.”
“Yes," said the dear aged saint, as he held up his two hands, and his eyes as it were penetrating the veil of that borderland upon which he stood ready to enter in to be forever with the Lord; "Yes," said he, "and that will be a glorious morning,” I replied, "Thank God, that will be a glorious morning." I never saw him in life again.
The second day after he fell asleep in Jesus; but it was the testimony of all those who saw and conversed with him, that the Lord had given him an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He realized that death was deprived of his sting, and the grave robbed of its victory, through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And now, my dear reader, what are your silent thoughts concerning these last moments you have just been reading about? Realities seem just to strike some people at the very last moment. Why not at an earlier period in life? Dear old Mr. G., notwithstanding his many dark clouds during his lifetime, I have reason to believe, kept going on with God. Have you entered upon this pathway yet? Or have you just made up your mind to go on as you are, and leave the eternal issues with God? My friend, beware! it is a solemn thing to trifle with these matters. "Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Possibly you will never live to reach a ripe old age; and if cut away now, would you not be taken away in your sins? “Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke, then a great ransom cannot deliver thee" (Job 36:1818Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. (Job 36:18)).
Oh, my friend, the things of God are solemn realities; you have just to stand by the bedside of a saint of God who is about to enter in, and hear the language of such an one to convince you on this point. You have been warned often perhaps, prayed for, and entreated to yield your heart to Christ, and still indifference characterizes every step you take. But remember the last day, and the last hour, and the last moment will come, and then—well, what then? The Master, ere that moment arrives, may have risen up and shut to the door. Alas grace has been despised; now mercy is clean gone forever. His long suffering has been set at naught; now the door is shut. His pleadings have all been in vain; now He pleads no more.
But hearken to this never-to-be-forgotten sentence which now drops from those lips that once breathed mercy, grace, and love. “Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded. But ye have set at naught all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; when your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me; for that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord: they would none of my counsel, they despised all my reproof; therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices " (Prov. 1:24-3124Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 29For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord: 30They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 31Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. (Proverbs 1:24‑31)). But, my friend, mercy's door is still open, and the voice is calling to you now, “Today, if ye will hear his voice," "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation;”
“If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.