Sunday, April 7, 2013

LORD, Help Us To Know That Life is Not All A Round Of Selfish And Empty Pleasures.

They only think of amusements 
and entertainments
(J.R. Miller)

Some people seem never to have
any serious thoughts of life. They only 
think of amusements and entertainments,
and never get beyond the airy surface of things.
But to one who thinks deeply, life is not all
a round of selfish and empty pleasures.

A traveler who tarried several days
at Antwerp, describes the effect
which the bells in the great tower
had upon him. Every quarter hour
they rang out on the air their sweet
notes, in soft melody, which fell like
a delicious rain of music dropping
from the heavens, as tender and
holy as the song of angels.

Then at the full hour, amid their
shower of liquid notes of silver--
rang out the solemn strokes
of the great bell, with iron tongue,
deep and heavy; and these heavy
tones inspired him with a feeling of awe.

As he listened, hour after 
hour, to the chime--
the tender melody of the smaller, 
sweeter bells reminded him 
of the mercy and love of GOD; 
and the solemn undertones that 
broke on his ear at the end 
of each full hour, spoke 
of the solemn themes 
of justice, judgment, eternity.

So it is, that every thoughtful 
person is impressed in reading 
the Scriptures. Their usual tone 
is mercy. Love rings everywhere, 
like the notes of angels' songs. 

But here and there, amid 
the words of divine tenderness--
comes some deep note, telling 
of justice, of wrath against sin, 
of the dreadful judgment day.

It is the same in life. The flow of 
the common days, is gladness. 
There is music everywhere. 
Flowers' bloom. Love lights 
its lamp in our path. Then 
suddenly there breaks in, 
amid the merry laughter--
a deep and solemn tone, 
which fills us with awe.

Life is not all gaiety
Even now, its undertone 
is serious. We should be 
thoughtful. Eternity lies close 
to time. The momentous things 
of judgment, are hidden only 
by a thin veil of mist.

"It is appointed for man to die once, 
and after that comes judgment!" 
Hebrews 9:27

"Prepare to meet your GOD!" 
Amos 4:12

     ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

GraceGems has published Timothy Shay Arthur's superb article, 
"The Hypochondriac". Must reading for those who have frequent unexplained ailments! 

Feel free to forward this helpful article to your spouse.

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