Some time ago I heard of the dangerous illness of a friend, and lost no time in going to see him. He had formerly moved in a good position of life, but had sunk down by degrees through drink, until he was compelled by force of circumstances to become a "sandwich-man," carrying boards through the streets for a scanty livelihood. After a time his health failed him, and being homeless he was obliged to go to the workhouse, where I found him.
He was suffering from heart-disease, and knowing his former life, and seeing his feeble state, I felt I must deal very faithfully with him; and so I said to him, "You don't require me to tell you that you are a lost sinner, and that you will soon be in the presence of a holy God. How are you going to meet Him?”
His reply was, "I hope He will overlook the past.”
To which I replied, "He cannot, because He is holy.”
I gave my friend a little 'time to. consider this, and then I said, "God must punish sin; but if He cannot overlook it He can pardon it;" going on to speak to him of the way of salvation, to which he eagerly listened, and I trust he received Jesus as his Savior. After prayer I left him. The following day he died.
My dear reader, do you know the way of salvation, or, like my friend, are you hoping that when you stand before God, He will overlook the past, and give you to share in the joys of heaven? If so, you are under a delusion. How could it be possible for a sinner and a holy God to dwell together? Listen to the words of Holy Scripture "There shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie, but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.”
In spirit does not heaven begin below? Here it is that the Christian has sweet and blessed foretastes of that home to which he is hastening. Here he delights to commune with God through His word by quiet and patient waiting upon Him in prayer. Here it is that he forms those blessed relationships through Christ with God and His people, which will be renewed in a brighter and better world.
In spirit, too, it may be said, that if heaven begins below, so does hell. Who can tell the anguish of soul those experience who tread the paths of sin?
“The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." Daily experience proves the truth of this.
My dear reader, it now remains for you to make your choice. There are two voices speaking to you— the voice of God, and the voice of Satan.
To the former, it is your imperative duty to give heed to the latter, your bounden duty is to turn a deaf ear. Up to the present, it may be, you have been following the desires of your own heart, heedless of your danger, and of the punishment that awaits the finally impenitent. If such is the case, let me affectionately urge you to lose no time in making sure work for eternity.
Let me therefore earnestly beseech you to make a wise choice, and to make it to-day. As the end of life draws near, you will wish you had done so. Let me remind you of the words of a godless man on his last birthday:—
“My days are in the yellow leaf; the flowers and fruits of love are gone; the worm, the canker, and the grief, are mine alone.”
This may be taken as a fair sample of the experience of those who give themselves up to a life of pleasure. How true are the words of Holy Scripture! "Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap.”
My dear reader, I must leave this matter with you for deep reflection. Fain would I urge you to, come at once as you are, and find rest, and peace, and joy, as you receive Jesus as your Savior, and trust alone in that atoning work which He wrought upon the bitter cross of Calvary. Let the language of your heart be:—
“Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked come to Thee for dress,
Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Guilty to the fountain fly,
Wash me, Savior, or I die,”