Ready or not!
(John Fawcett, "The Important Journey from this World to the Next" 1774)
This is a journey which may be near at hand.
"I am this day going the way of all the earth."
For anything we know, the journey
may be just before us--
there may be but a step
between us and death!
We have perpetual admonitions respecting
the shortness and uncertainty of life.
The Word and the ministers of GOD
unitedly call our attention to those subjects,
and we ought earnestly to pray that the LORD
would teach us to number our days, that
we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
"Show me, O LORD, my life's end and
the number of my days; let me know
how fleeting is my life." Psalm 39:4
Our days are but a span, a hand-
breadth, an inch or two of time.
Life is but a vapor that appears for
a little season, and then vanishes away.
Life is but like a flower of the field, which
quickly fades, withers and dies away.
Our breath is in our nostrils, ever ready
to depart, and any motion of our lungs
may be the last.
While the man is vainly dreaming of years
of felicity on earth, GOD says unto him,
"You foolish mortal, this night shall
your soul be required of you!"
(Luke 12:20)
Thus the words of inspiration are verified:
"In an hour when you think not,
the SON of man will come."
(Matthew 24:44)
The living know that they must die.
All men are sensible that they must go
on this journey sooner or later, but
the general part of mankind consider
it as at a considerable distance.
What numbers do we hear of who are
cut off by sudden death! Many are called
to set out on this journey at a moment's
warning. The darksome messenger comes,
and they must go, whether they are
prepared or not. Ready or not, the summons
must be obeyed; whether they are busy
or indolent, active or negligent--
they must immediately set out
on this important journey. The call
is often given at an unexpected moment.
You must soon leave all the pleasures,
endearments, and advantages
of your present state--
and launch forth into an unknown eternity!
Oh that every one in this assembly may
leave here under a deep conviction that
his journey of death may be very near!
Then he will begin to be seriously
attentive to everlasting things, and will
no longer trifle with GOD and with
the eternal interests of his own soul.
If we are the children of GOD--
then it is a journey to Heaven,
to the regions of immortal light and
felicity; to "a house not made with
hands, eternal in the heavens."
But if we are the children of the wicked one--
then it is a journey to Hell, to the abodes
of darkness, horror, and black despair,
"prepared for the devil, and his angels."
The broad way of self-indulgence,
folly and wickedness--
most certainly leads to eternal
damnation. Can we conceive
anything more dreadful than
the doom of a dying sinner?
To be driven from the presence of
CHRIST as accursed, and to be
consigned to everlasting misery--
who can for one moment bear the thought!
If a man knows himself to be in danger
of this, in danger every hour, every moment--
should he not eagerly and earnestly cry out,
"What must I do to be saved!"
(Acts 16:30b)
Oh what a solemn journey is that which
we have before us! A journey to eternity,
a journey which will bring us where we
must be, not for an age only, but for
millions of ages, more millions of ages
than there are sands on the sea shore;
more millions of ages than there are blades
of grass on the surface of the earth; more
millions of ages than there are atoms
in the universe!
May our hearts be dead to all earthly
good. May our affections be set on things
above, and our thoughts be in Heaven--
that better country to which we are going,
and where we will dwell forever.
~ ~ ~ ~
GraceGems has published John Fawcett's helpful 15 page article,
No comments:
Post a Comment