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A NEW YEAR’S THOUGHT UNCERTAINTY OF LIFE

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A NEW YEAR’S THOUGHT UNCERTAINTY OF LIFE

7 minuten leestijd Arcering uitzetten

We read in Proverbs 1:28: “Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me”; saith the Lord! Who shall call upon and seek after God early? Sinners, they shall then call upon God—when will they call upon God? When calamities and fear and the horrors of a guilty conscience comes upon them. When fear of death and judgment comes upon them as desolation and their sure and certain destruction cometh upon them as a whirlwind. When deep distress of soul and anguish of heart cometh upon sinners because of their folly and obstinate persisting in it; taking pleasure in their own deceitfulness, and especially scorners who have delighted in scorning and in their wickedness. Hearken and hear; but they speak not aright as Jeremiah writes: “No man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle,” Jer. 8:6. When God brings the day of visitation upon them then they shall call upon Him and seek Him early in that day but He will not answer them neither shall they then find Him. Why not? Because “they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord,” neither would they take heed to His counsel but despised all of His reproofs.

Are not these words applicable to each one of us as we stand upon the threshold of another year? Since the former year has hastened so swiftly away are we not guilty before God? And as our life is passing so swiftly by is it not a dying life or a kind of living death? Daily sins of our thought, word and deed; daily cares, toils, and pains; daily strife, bitterness, hatred, envy, murders within us; daily hating God and loving sin by nature; these indeed prove that our prolonged breath from year to year makes our life but a living death. And, when we think upon the many friends or even our own beloved ones who began the past year with us but now lie silent in their graves, let us pause and consider how soon, perhaps even this very year, a grave may be opened for us. We may be called by death to go alone into a world unknown and leave behind all we love. This proves our life is most uncertain and the truth of the psalmist in Psalm 89:47, and may those words become our daily prayer, “Remember how short my time is” and verse 48: “What man is he that liveth and shall not see death?”

Since our life then is so uncertain let us hearken unto the voice of God while it is yet the day of grace. May He grant us to consider that death is common to all men: rich or poor; none can ever be too busy but death snatches him away like a thief in the night. Some people die in their wedding garments either the bride or the groom, and it has even happened to both of them. Death is appointed unto all men. And it is a fearful thing to all who see it approaching. It causes heavy sighing and the cold chills to go through us. And indeed it might be so because death actually separates the soul from the body, and from every friend and from all thy goods: “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Death is indeed a fearful thing because of our sin and transgression of which we must render an account unto God our Judge. And if we die in our sins as a sinner without the knowledge of God in our soul then death for us means eternal death which is true cause for us to dread and fear it. Ah, “then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer,” saith God, and “they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me.”

Beloved, ought not these words be as a thunderbolt unto each and everyone of us? Does not Jesus, who is the greater than Solomon, who indeed is the greater son of David, does not He again call loudly unto us to awaken us out of our sleep of death not to sin anymore but rather to repent and turn unto Him by faith? “How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.”

Are we still among those who refuse God’s counsel and despise His reproof? How shalt thou be able to die and appear before God? Is it nothing to you that you have enjoyed the greater light of the New Testament? Are you postponing the day of your death or putting it far from you? What if our lot be as that of the rich man: thou fool, this night thou shalt die! Are you one of those who will neither call nor seek after God? Do you give one-half of thine heart to God and the other half to the world? Oh that we might be granted to know and seek after the things which belong to our peace while it is still the day of grace.

May we be favored to use the appointed means of grace unto our salvation begging—”Teach us, henceforth, how to live, with eternity in view,” as a dear saint once wrote. Seek the Lord while He is to be found; call upon Him while He is near.

Children of God, how blessed thou art! for thou art indeed seekers and finders by the grace of God. Prayer has indeed become a constant necessity to thy soul, and thy whole life is now one continual desire after and longing to meet God. In fact, is it not grievous for thy soul to experience, “I sought him, but I found him not?” And on the other hand, is it not the joy of thy soul to experience, “It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth!” Seek and thou shalt find. The Lord will most certainly and assuredly fulfill every promise according to His faithful Word.—Selected.

See! another year is gone!
Quickly have the seasons passed!
This we enter now upon
May to many prove their last:
Mercy hitherto has spared,
But have mercies been improved?
Let us ask, Am I prepared,
Should I be this year removed?

Some we now no longer see,
Who their mortal race have run,
Seemed as fair for life as we,
When the former year begun:
Some, but who God only knows,
Who are here assembled now,
Ere the present year shall close,
To the stroke of death must bow.

Life a field of battle is,
Thousands f all within our view;
And the next death-bolt that flies,
May be sent to me or you:
While we preach, and while we hear,
Help us, Lord, each one to think,
Vast eternity is near,
I am standing on the brink.
If from guilt and sin set free,

By the knowledge of thy grace,
Welcome then, the call will be
To depart and see thy face:
To thy saints, while here below,
With new years new mercies come;
But the happiest year they know
Is their last, which leads them home.

—J. N.

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Bekijk de hele uitgave van zaterdag 1 januari 1949

The Banner of Truth | 16 Pagina's

A NEW YEAR’S THOUGHT UNCERTAINTY OF LIFE

Bekijk de hele uitgave van zaterdag 1 januari 1949

The Banner of Truth | 16 Pagina's