(…continued) And now people, I will come closer home to you still. Death has given its warnings to all of us. What about those lungs that are so soon exhausted of their breathing if you travel up a flight of stairs to your bed? And why is it you need those glasses for your eyes? And why that trouble hearing? Why that failure of the voice, and that weakening of the entire body? What are all these but stabs from the hand of Death? They are death’s warrants which he presents to you, summoning you to meet him in a little while. We bear Death’s signs and tokens in every part of our body.
But if these suffice not, Death can give us a more thundering sermon. It is but a little while ago with me since Death with his axe seemed to be felling my tree. After such an illness, it is a marvel that I am still here. Brought to Death’s door, and yet I am recovered. You may have had a fever, perhaps cholera. But then to recover, and continue in sin and unbelief, as do so many, being just as careless and unconcerned as before! How can that be after such a warning? But remember, if you will not hear Death’s tongue you shall feel his dart. If you will not think of God when he gives you a warning from a distance, you shall be made to feel God’s wrath.
Imagine this morning, Death fitting his arrow to the bow. He is drawing it, pulling it tighter, and tighter still. “Shall I let it fly at that wretch’s heart?” says Death; “he will not repent; let me cut him off, and send him to his destruction.” But the Lord says, “Spare him yet a little longer.” But, alas, Death’s fingers are itching. He says, “My Lord, I have bent my bow, and made it ready. Oh, let me take him; let him die.” “No,” cries the longsuffering voice of God; “spare him, spare him, spare him yet a little longer.” But sooner or later, the time will arrive when it shall be said in heaven, “It is time!” And then shall Death let fly, and his arrow shall reach your heart. And you shall then appear before the Judge and receive your final sentence. And what then will become of you, O careless sinner, if you are unprepared to die?
So now, if there is any impression upon your minds, any serious thought, let me send you away with this one sentence. The way of salvation is plain: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; he that believeth not shall be damned.” Believe — that is, trust — trust the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved. May God the Holy Spirit enable you to trust him now, for with some of you —and mark this last sentence —with some of you it is NOW or NEVER.
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Hebrews 9:27-28 — Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Romans 6:23 — For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
II Peter 3:9-11 — The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives.
Colossians 1:2-3 — Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
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Eternal Father, you alone can control the days that are gone and the deeds that are done; remove from my burdened memory the weight of past years, that being freed from both complacency and remorse, I may set my heart on things above, and press on towards the gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus. Amen.
–Charles Henry Brent (1862-1929), Episcopal Bishop of the Philippines
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