The cities of refuge (vide Num. 35) were mercifully given by God to the children of Israel, that a place of shelter might be provided for the manslayer who had taken the life of his neighbor inadvertently. Once arrived in the city of refuge he was safe from the pursuit of "the revenger of blood." Within the walls of this place of safety, he was as secure as if he had never shed blood; but, found by the avenger outside the city, his life was forfeited, and the law must take effect. "He that sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed.”
Unbeliever, you are "by nature a child of wrath, even as others." Overtaken by the avenger away from Christ—the true and only city of refuge—you must perish everlastingly. If death find you ere you have fled for refuge to Him who is "mighty to save," the unmitigated judgment of God upon you as an impenitent sinner—an eternal abode in "the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone" must be your portion.
I beseech you, be not deceived by the lie of the devil which would make this judgment limited or uncertain. I beseech you, further, not to give heed to that still more common wile of the arch-deceiver, which would tempt you to reckon on the continuance of life, and to put off coming to Christ till a more "convenient season." What would have been thought of the manslayer who, with the avenger of blood upon his track, should have postponed for an hour his flight to the only place of security for him? His neighbors would have counted him mad. And what shall be said of him, then, who, when it is not a question of the life of the body merely, but of that of the soul, which must exist forever, says (like Felix) to the preacher, "Go thy way at this time, and when I have a convenient season I will send for thee." Where, alas! is that miserable procrastinator now?
But, for thee, dear reader, the gates of the city of refuge stand wide open, and are close at hand. The Lord Jesus still sits on the throne of grace. He sends forth His ambassadors who beseech sinners "in Christ’s stead," "Be ye reconciled to God." There is no salvation in any name but His. There is no life but in Him; but there is life in Him for you if, by faith, you will receive Him in whom it dwells. But, "Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.”
Your eternity of weal or of woe hangs upon your acceptance or rejection of the gospel message. But, once more, I beseech you, delay not—flee for your life,—and flee at once—
"To Jesus may you fly,
Swift as the morning's light;
Lest life's young golden beams should die,
In sudden, endless night.”
J. H. S.