REASONS WHY CHILDREN SHOULD SEEK THE LORD EARLY

THE late Countess of Huntingdon was not only rich in this world, but rich in faith, and an heir of the kingdom. When she was about nine years of age she saw the dead body of a little child of her own age carried to the grave. She followed the funeral; and it was there that the Holy Spirit first opened her heart to convince of sin and that she needed a Savior. Dear children, may the Holy Spirit bring you to the same conviction; may the still voice say in your heart, Flee now from the wrath to come. Fly to the Lord Jesus without delay. “Escape for thy life : look not behind thee.”

1. Because life is very short.

“The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow, for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” Even those who live longest, when they come to die, look back in their life as upon a dream. “It is like a sleep.” The hours pass rapidly away during sleep; and when you awake you hardly know that any time is passed. Such is life. It is like “a tale that is told.” When you are listening to an entertaining tale it fills up the time, and makes the hours steal swiftly by, even so “we spend our years as a tale that is told.”

Some of you have seen how short life is in those around you. Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? How many friends have you lying in the grave? Some of you have more friends in the grave than in this world. They were carried away “as a flood,” and we are fast hastening after them.” It is an absolute certainty that, in a few years, all of you who read this will be lying in the grave. Oh, what need, then, to fly to Christ without delay! You have to be born again, to receive the Holy Ghost, to come to Christ and flee from the wrath to come! Seek conviction of sin and an interest in Christ. “Oh, satisfy me early with Thy mercy, that I may rejoice and be glad all my days.”

2. Because life is very uncertain.

Men are like grass. “In the morning, it groweth up and flourisheth : in the evening, it is cut down and withereth.” Most men are cut down while they are green. More than one-half of the human race die before they reach manhood. Of most men it may be said: “He cometh forth as a flower, and is cut down.” Death is very certain, but the time is uncertain. Some may think they shall not die because they are in good health, but you forget that many die in good health, by accidents, and other causes. Again, riches and ease and comforts, good food and good clothing, are no safeguards against dying. It is written: “The rich man also died, and was buried.”

Some of you may think you shall not die because you are young. You forget that so many die before they reach manhood. Oh, if you had to stand as often as I have beside the dying bed of little children, to see their wild looks and outstretched hands, and to hear their dying cries, you would see how needful it is to fly to Christ now. It may be your turn next. Are you prepared to die? Have you fled, by grace, for refuge to Jesus? Have you found forgiveness? “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.”

3. Most that are ever saved receive that blessing when young.

The Lord Jesus once said: “I thank, Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Thy sight.” “He gathers the lambs with His arm, and carries them in His bosom.” So it has been in almost all times of the revival of religion. If you ask aged Christians, the most of them will tell you that they were made anxious about their souls when young.

Oh, what a reason is here for seeking an early in-bringing to Christ ! There are times which may be called converting times. All holy times are peculiarly converting times. The Sabbath is the great day for gathering in souls — it is Christ’s market-day. It is the great harvest-day of souls. I know there is a generation rising up that would fain trample the Sabbath beneath their feet; but prize you the Sabbath-day.

The time of affliction is converting time. The time of the striving of the Holy Spirit is converting time. If you feel your heart pricked in reading the Bible, or in hearing your teacher, “quench not the Spirit;” “resist not the Holy Ghost;” “grieve not the Holy Spirit of God.” Youth is converting time. “Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not.”

4. Because it is happier to be in Christ than out of Christ.

Many that read these words are saying in their heart, It is a dull thing to be religious. Youth is the time for pleasure — the time to eat, drink, and be merry — to rise up to play. Now, I know, that youth is the time for pleasure: the foot is more elastic then — the eye is more full of life — the heart more full of gladness. But that is the very reason why I say youth is the time to fly to Christ. O, may He draw your soul to Him! It is far happier to be in Chirst than to be out of Christ.

1. It satisfies the heart.

I will never deny that there are pleasures to be found out of Christ. The song and dance, and the exciting game, are most engaging to young hearts. But ah ! think a moment. Is it not an awful thing to be happy when you are unsaved? Would it not be dreadful to see a man sleeping in a house all on fire? And is it not enough to make one shudder to see you dancing and making merry when God is angry with you every day?

Think again. Are there not infinitely sweeter pleasures to be had in Christ? “Whoso drinketh of this water shall thirst again ; but whoso drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst.” “In Thy presence is fulness of joy: at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore.” To be forgiven, to be at peace with God, to have Him for a Father, to, have Him loving us and smiling on us, to have the Holy Spirit coming into our hearts, and making us holy, this is worth a whole eternity of your pleasures. “A day in Thy courts is better than a thousand.” Oh to be “satisfied with favor, and full with the blessing of the Lord!” Your daily bread becomes sweeter. You eat your meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God. Your foot is more light and bounding, for it bears a ransomed body. Your sleep is sweeter at night for “so He giveth His beloved sleep.” The sun shines more lovingly, and the earth wears a pleasanter smile, because you can say: “My Creator made them all.”

2. It makes you glad all your days.

The pleasures of sin are only “for a season;” they do not last. But to be brought to Christ is like the dawning of an eternal day: it spreads the serenity of heaven over all the days of our pilgrimage. In suffering days, what will the world do for you? “Like vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.” Believe me, there are days at hand when you will “say of laughter, It is mad; and of mirth, What doth it?” But if you may fly to Jesus now, He will cheer you in the days of darkness. When the winds are contrary and the waves are high, Jesus will draw near and say,” Be not afraid ; it is I.” That voice stills the heart in the stormiest hour. When the world reproaches you, and casts out your name as evil, when the doors are shut, Jesus will come in and say, “Peace be unto you.” Who can tell the sweetness and the peace which Jesus gives in such an hour? One little girl that was early brought to Christ felt this when long confined to a sickbed. “I am not weary of my bed,” she said, “for my bed is green; and all that I meet with is perfumed with love to me. The time, night and day, is made sweet to me by the Lord. When it is evening, it is pleasant; and when it is morning I am refreshed.”

Last of all, in a dying day, what will the world do for you? The dance and the song and the merry companion will then lose all their power to cheer you. Not one jest more. Not one smile more. “Oh that you were wise, that you would understand this, and consider your latter end.” But that may be the very time when the soul of one in Christ rejoices with a joy unspeakable and full of glory. Jesus can make a dying bed softer than downy pillows are. You remember when Stephen came to die, they battered his gentle breast with cruel stones; but he kneeled down and said, “Lord Jesus receive my spirit.” John Newton tells us of a Christian girl who, on her dying day, said, “If this be dying, it is a pleasant thing to die.” Another little Christian, eight years of age, came home ill of the malady of which he died. His mother asked him if he were afraid to die? “No”, said he, “I wish to die, if it be God’s will : that sweet word, Sleep in Jesus, makes me happy when I think on the grave.”

“My little children, of whom I travail in birth till Christ be formed in you,” if you would live happy and die happy, it is needful to be drawn and to come to Christ. The door of the Ark is wide open. May Christ be your Teacher and Leader.

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