“DO you never think of the future?” was the question put to a bright and intellectual young lady who had just left school, and “gone out” to the world.
“Never,” she replied.
“But the end must come, and you must meet God.”
At this statement, which must have sounded most unpleasant, she tossed her young head and capered away. She was not going to give up the world for many a day, nor allow its brightness to be clouded by dull thoughts of death, and God and eternity.
Yes, the world (whatever it may mean) can and does present vast attractions to the heart. How it can win and command both young and old! How it is able to vary its charms to the different tastes of all. It has pleasure for some, money for others, then fame, position, dignity, and so forth, just as the mind is bent. It is a veritable “Vanity Fair.” And how easily we are caught in its toils!
Then when that special part of the world may have been won, is the heart satisfied?
Most assuredly not. You never yet met a man, from Solomon downwards, who succeeded in getting satisfaction out of the world-never.
That wealthy monarch of Israel said that all was “vanity and vexation of spirit,” which latter clause may be translated, with equal accuracy, “pursuit of the wind”! That was all it was to him. And that is really all it is to any one else. “He that drinketh of this water shall thirst again.”
Such is the world in all its ten thousand shapes and phases, ―and thirst unslaked is the portion of all its votaries.
And the end must come! Now, just think, a sinful life of a few brief years spent in nothing better than pursuit of a passing breeze, for that is the worth of any earthly object, and then the end!
At the head of my paper I have given but three words of a verse in Deuteronomy 32:29,29O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end! (Deuteronomy 32:29) which I will now quote in full: ― “O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!”
The first desire for them is, “that they were wise.”
What greater folly than living for time alone, and not for eternity. True wisdom consists in making time subserve eternity.
The second desire is, “that they understood this.” “With all thy getting, get understanding,” say the Proverbs.
Understanding signifies a clear and certain grasp of a subject. And thus to grasp the meaning of life on earth―its brevity, its privilege, what should engage its activities―is truest wisdom.
The third desire is, “that they would consider their latter end.”
All leads up to this―the latter end. But such consideration is, alas, just the universal lack―the one thing wanting. “My people doth not consider.”
No, you will provide for everything but the end. That which demands by far the most attention is neglected, and made to give place to what is at best but secondary. You secure the middle―you neglect the end! You arrange for life, you omit the claims of death! You provide for time, you ignore eternity!
Are you ever asked to go to the deathbed of a worldling? Perhaps not. Personally I would rather go anywhere else. It is always an awful experience—so absolutely hopeless, cheerless, and perhaps infinitely worse. The end has not been considered, and now the effect is seen!
For the end of time is the dawn of eternity, and to be absent from man is to be present before God.
The end must come, and you must meet God! Should you never meet God till then, you will meet Him in judgment, eternal judgment. But you may meet Him now, and that in grace, and saving power.
Then your end will be glorious, and instead of losing joy and gladness, why, your whole life, whether long or short, will be a perfect sunbeam of truest pleasure, if only you follow Jesus.
J. W. S.