WHILE two men were crossing a river together in a row boat they were engaged in a conversation somewhat as follows. One of the men, who was a passenger and well educated, addressed his fellow at the oars, an uneducated man, thus:
“Well, kind sir, what do you know about the wonders of astronomy?”
“The wonders of what?” inquired the ignorant man.
“Astronomy, astronomy. What do you know about it?” returned the instructed passenger.
“Why, I know nothing about it at all.”
“Ah, what a pity,” said the other, “then I must tell you that one fourth of your life is lost.”
“But perhaps you can tell me something about philosophy?”
“No, I know nothing about philosophy either.”
“Well, you have missed a great deal, and another fourth of your life is lost.”
“I will now ask you, if you have ever learned about the marvels of geology?”
“Geology? I do not know what you mean, sir.”
“Well, well, it now appears that three fourths of your life is lost.”
At this point the ferryman noticed that the boat, which was yet far distant from the desired shore, had suddenly sprung a leak, and in a few moments would be filled with water and sink. He dropped the oars, and began hurriedly to strip himself of his clothing, at the same time inquiring of his passenger, “Can you swim?”
Alas! it was found that the man with all his education had neglected to learn the simple art of swimming, which was now necessary for the saving of his life.
“Then,” remarked the ferryman, “the whole of your life is lost.”
Dear children, we see that the ferryman possessed the one thing needful to preserve his life, while his passenger must lose his life because he did not possess the one thing.
Now, I may ask you what is the great need of our souls, if we would live forever and never die. I judge the most of the readers would correctly reply by saying our great need is Christ. Yes, it is just CHRIST.
But do you FEEL your need of Him? Do you know that without Him you never can be truly happy?
Oh, it is wonderful to know that we may possess Christ, and the life He gives, even in this world, by faith. “He that believeth on the Son HATH everlasting life.” 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). “He that HATH the Son HATH life.” John 5:1212Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk? (John 5:12). Now if we put these two passages together, we see that it is by simply believing on the Son that we have both Him, and also the life that He imparts.
Could anything be more simple than this? A child will believe, when a grown person will doubt, and every child may believe just what God says about Jesus.
People all around us make everything of the present life without Christ. They are of the world, and do not know God. But while they may live here in the world prosperously, and receive blessings while they live, yet, when the frail bark that bears their precious souls across life’s waters gives way, they shall awake to find that all that is before them is a Christ less death and a Christ less eternity.
But how different it is with those who know the Lord Jesus and serve Him. They are willing, as Jesus said, to lose the present life that they may preserve it unto life eternal.
If they be poor and ignorant, then they know that they have untold wealth and wisdom in Jesus. And should they possess this world’s wealth and education, their desire is to use all these things for the glory of the Lord in His service. They can truthfully say,
“Were the vast world our own,
With all its varied store,
And, Thou, Lord Jeans wert unknown,
We still were poor.”
They who serve Jesus in this world know what true happiness is; and in eternity, when they shall dwell with Jesus, their joy will be full forever.
ML 08/03/1902