TWENTY years since, an aged gentleman and his wife, accompanied by a young lady, paid a visit to a small bay, near the seaport of B—. The tide was rising, and the sea being very rough, the waves rushed into the narrow inlet with great force.
They were so interested in the sight, that they stayed a considerable while, and, upon the young lady remarking that it was time to leave, the old gentleman said, “We will watch one more wave, and then go.”
The next wave, fiercer and stronger than any of the previous, dashed much further up the beach, and sweeping the aged couple off their feet, carried them out to sea, and they were drowned before assistance could be obtained.
The young lady, being a little further up the beach, was left to mourn the untimely death of her friends.
Solemn warning, indeed! How many souls have been launched into eternity, with their sins unforgiven, using the very same plea. Many a young man, and young woman, says, “Time enough yet to think about my sins; I will go and enjoy one more pleasure, one more gaiety, and then, perhaps, I will.”
Listening to the enemy’s voice, and heeding his counsel, they plunge into a round of frivolities, and, perhaps, in the midst, are called away to bear throughout an eternity of woe the wrath of a righteous God against sin.
Heed not then the devil’s counsel, for, as the Scriptures tell us, “He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:4444Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. (John 8:44).)
Sinners, old and young alike, are still spending day after day heedless of the divine voice of mercy, which proclaims a Saviour, which tells of God’s love manifested in the gift of His only Son? (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).) “The long-suffering of our Lord is salvation.” He is “not willing that any should perish,” and the Gospel comes today in tenderest tones of entreaty, pleading with you to accept the proffered salvation, telling you of a way through the person and work of His own Son on Calvary’s cross, by which a vile and guilty sinner can have his sins forgiven; and more than this, be enabled through the value of that finished work, to enter into the fulness of blessing God gives the believer, for He says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My Word and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24).)
Once more, I urge upon you the necessity of accepting this salvation today.
“Behold, now is the accepted time, behold, now is the day of salvation.”
ML 05/14/1916