IN the main we live our little, self-centered, selfish lives till suddenly some great event beyond our control brings us up face to face with circumstances we cannot shape, but which confront us in all their terrible import.
The tragically swift transition from peace to war which, resulting in such a widespread conflagration of Europe, putting into the shade everything that has ever taken place in history, has just astounded and appalled the world, affords an illustration of our opening remark.
By the time these lines reach the reader’s eyes what tremendous events will have taken place? Will it still be the unutterable horrors of war, or will it be thrice-welcome peace by then? No one can foretell.
We are assured God is speaking to the nations by these terrible happenings. Like Pharaoh of old, our tendency is to soften our heart as we feel the stress of the trial, and harden it as soon as it is removed. May I plead with the reader—whether it is still war or, happily, peace—not to allow the general indifference towards eternal things to paralyze his conscience, but to allow these still deeper questions to assent themselves. Whether these lines are read in camp by a young fellow far from horrid and friends, awaiting the terrible ordeal of a bloody battle, or in the quietness and security of peace; whether read by the young or the aged, by the living or the dying, let me beseech the reader to think about
Eternity!
Word of solemn import! Word of tremendous possibilities! Is your future to be with Christ in glory, of with the devil and his angels in hell? One of the two it must be. Which?
Perhaps recent experiences of the writer may enable him to bring these matters home in a very personal way. Allow him the freedom of addressing the reader directly.
When this terrible European war broke out, I was in Christiania, the beautiful capital of Norway. A panic set in. Banks were run on. Prices were mounting up. Postal communications were cut off. The newspapers were supplying hourly to a frantic public the wildest rumors. The inability to obtain money by the ordinary routes of commerce rendered the position almost untenable for any length of time.
A friend and I had pitched a gospel tent in the city. Large and increasing numbers were coming. It was deeply interesting to see the people entering that tent, their minds full of what was going on in Europe: yet the Holy Spirit caused matters of deeper and more abiding interest to take complete possession of their minds. God’s power swept to one side for the moment these truly serious and terrible matters relating to the conflagration of Europe, and raised questions of far more infinite importance. Aye, and souls, thank God, faced these questions, and settled them in the light of eternity, according to His imperishable and unchanging Word.
May I urge you to face these matters? Terrible as the war is, it is as nothing compared to the matter of your soul’s salvation. The war will be a matter of weeks, or months, or years at the most, and then peace. Salvation or damnation is a matter of eternity. God’s punishment on sin is everlasting. How intensely solemn are the words of Scripture: “He that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36).)
I caught the night train from Christiania to Bergen, determined to get back to Great Britain, if possible. The short Scandinavian night soon passed, and for long hours before breakfast we feasted our eyes upon the splendid scenery—the mountains, the snow, the glaciers, the rivers, the fjords.
We ran into Bergen at 12:20 p.m., and by 1:20, exactly an hour later, I was steaming out of the harbor bound for British shores. What a supreme effort I made in that brief hour! How earnest I was in my efforts to get away!
At 12:55 I found myself on the deck of the S.S. “Pollux,” the Iceland mail steamer. I said to the purser, “Can you take me?”
“Yes,” he replied, to my intense relief, “yes, if you will sleep on the deck.”
“I’ll go,” I replied, glad to sleep anywhere or nowhere. “When do you sail?”
“At one o’clock we are due to start.”
Then I asked, “Where are you bound for?”
“Wick,” was the astounding reply—Wick, the northernmost port in Scotland, 43½ miles south of John o’ Groats!
There was a measure of risk in the journey. Mines had been sown in the North Sea. There were disquieting rumors of German warships swarming off the coast of Denmark. The sound of firing was reported from the Orkney Islands.
Hour after hour we scanned the horizon. We saw nothing but the sea all around. Night fell, and we retired to rest.
Friday morning came. Smoke was seen in the distance. Telescopes were pointed in the direction in which it was seen. A squadron of eight cruisers was steaming towards us. Were they British or German ships? To our relief they were British. We saw a slight reminder of war in the taking off of the crews from German trawlers, presumably minelayers: then the British cruisers put on half-steam, rammed and sank them.
Later on in the day a torpedo boat swept down upon us at the rate of 35 knots an hour, and ordered us to stop. At last we were allowed to reach the shores of Scotland, to our great joy.
Friend, if an unbeliever, your position is unspeakably more terrible than mine was. But, thank God, the Bible tells you there is room for you in the gospel ship. Not only so: the destination is glorious—heaven, an eternal home of peace. And, further, there is nothing to pay, and no fear of capture on the road.
The S.S. “Pollux” waited exactly thirteen hours and twenty minutes for her passengers. She had accommodation for forty—one hundred and twenty crowded into her, and yet hundreds were unwillingly left behind.
But the gospel ship has been waiting long for you. I urged my suit for a passage on the Bergen boat. I should have been very surprised if the captain had urged me to take a passage, and had offered to wait for me.
What can we think, then, of the amazing mercy and goodness of God? “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” (2 Cor. 5:2020Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:20))
What an offer! “Yet there is room.” “Without money and without price.” “Behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation.” These are the gospel terms.
Reader, the choice lies before you. The issue is tremendous. What shall it be? Would that you realized the importance of decision!
A. J. P.