“ONE THING LACKEST THOU YET.”
By H. F. Farnum
I have met those, who were liberally gifted with intelligence, and whose conversation and deportment evinced cultivation, and refinement of mind and manners. To the casual observer they might appear the embodiment of all that could be desired or expected in members of our frail race. But ah! there was one thing lacking. The Sun of righteousness had not illuminated the soul. The “pearl of great price” had not been sought. Youthful reader, turn not carelessly away, soliloquizing that this one lack was a little thing. Let us see. “What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” What though he be honored never so highly by men, though his brow be laden with laurels, and all the world proclaim his praise? The honors like those who bestow them, will quickly pass down to an oblivious grave, and he who wears them, will not linger. The form so noble and proud, to-day, may be given to the earth-worm, for a banquet to-morrow. This you will admit is not visionary and unreal, but a solemn reality, which is too often exemplified before our eyes. The gaudy insect that sports in the sunshine, only to perish in the storm, we deem a foolish thing. But does man display less folly than the vain ephemera? See him toiling, struggling, grasping for honor, or wealth, as though that were the highest attainable good—while he neglects real wisdom and true riches, and spurns that which will make him genuinely great. Does religion appear gloomy to you? While the world looks beautiful and presents a thousand avenues to pleasure, wealth or fame? Let us reason awhile together and see if you are not laboring under a great mistake.293 The butterfly flaunts in the sunshine, forgetful of the storm. Thus, you may pass on for a brief time, drink at the fountain of pleasure, and perhaps reach the acme of your ambition; but death’s agonies, or the advent of Christ, will unveil to your mind a different scene, and teach you that your whole life has been a fatal error. Think not to let worldly ambition and sinful pleasure occupy the attention of your youthful and healthful days, and then offer to God the soiled and broken remnant of a misspent life. Will He, who anciently demanded a blameless sacrifice, accept this? Be not deceived. God is not mocked. As you live, so will you, probably, die. “After the joys of earth,
After its songs and mirth,
After its hours of light,
After its dreams so bright,
What then?
“Only an empty name,
Only a weary frame,
Only a conscious smart,
Only an aching heart.
“After this empty name,
After this weary frame,
After this conscious smart,
After this aching heart,
What then?
“Only a sad farewell,
To a world loved too well,
Only a silent bed,
With the forgotten dead.” But oh! there is a way laid open to happiness, to wealth, to fame; will you not walk in it? You may reach an elevation, from which you will never fall. You may acquire a name which will not pass to oblivion. You may wear an untarnished crown, and laurels that never wither; yea, more, you may drink unending pleasures, where death cannot touch you, or the sight of suffering or graves make you sad. Oh! will it not be honor enough to become sons and daughters of the Eternal King—in whose sight, the pompous kings, thrones, and nations of the earth are but as the small dust of the balance? Will it not be wealth enough to become joint-heirs with his Son, and inherit a crown and kingdom which supplants all others—and passeth not from one generation to another but stands forever, when all others have become as chaff? Will it not be happiness enough to quaff, through endless ages, pleasures which so far surpass anything that we have ever tasted, that the word of God witnesseth, “Neither hath it entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for those that love him?” Do you say, “Before I can become possessor of all this I must sacrifice, I must renounce many things, to which my natural heart cleaves?” This is true. But you can make no sacrifice for which you will not be amply repaid, even in this life, by the blessed assurance that your name is written in Heaven, and that He who rules the universe so loves his praying ones, that he sends a strong angel to guard them always. And even if it were not thus, should we shrink from sacrifice? When our race had rebelled against God, broken his law, and for them awaited only its penalty, a dying life, and then a death that had no hope of life again, did Jesus shrink from sacrifice then? Did he think the leaving of his Father’s beautiful mansions and his glory there, for a life of woe and cruel death, too great a sacrifice to make that we might live? Oh! let our faces be mantled with shame at the thought of our own selfishness. Are you still doubtful? Do you still hesitate? Oh! that you might kneel before God, and receive his sweet Spirit, like dew upon the new mown grass. Then would worldly allurements sink into nothingness, when compared with the happiness of a pardoned soul. Then would you not think it a small lack to be destitute of the Christian’s hope. Then could you see, however high your worldly attainments, or mental accomplishments, your utter destitution without it. Perhaps you still further urge, “I am as good as those who profess Christianity. Indeed, professed Christians do that which I will not.” This may be. Christianity is often abused by its professed followers; but because we find much that is false shall we conclude there is nothing genuine? The author of evil often stalks abroad in a religious garb, but is this any excuse for you? Do you think to hide yourself behind the faults of professors? The way is plain, the perfect law of God our rule, Jesus Christ our only pattern. You will find faults in all others; view them with a generous heart, remembering that you are also erring. Others are not amenable to you but to the great Judge before whose tribunal you must also appear. We are living in the last days, near the close of this world’s history; and this fact alone should furnish an irresistible incentive to action in reference to your eternal salvation. You may say that we know nothing about the times and seasons, &c. But God has assured us that we should not be in darkness in regard to these things. In merciful condescension he has given us his written word. If we neglect to avail ourselves of the means thus kindly placed within our reach how can we expect to become enlightened? If you really seek for truth and wish to know whether these things are so, you can trace the fulfillment of the prophecies on the historic page, and satisfy yourself that we have reached the last link in the prophetic chain. Or you may shut your eyes and close your ears, fearing to investigate, lest you become convinced of these unpopular truths. But you will not be guiltless. Again, you may be so occupied with the things of the world that you defer this matter to some “convenient time,” thus fulfilling the parable of our Lord. But remember that he says, “Not one of them that were hidden,” and so occupied that they could not come, “shall taste my supper.” You may think it immaterial whether we understand these things or not, if we are only prepared for death, &c. Perhaps the Jews reasoned thus in regard to the first advent of our Saviour; but we hear him condemning that nation, because, said he, “thou knowest not the time of thy visitation.” The Omnipotent Ruler kindly gives us information and warning of the judgments which he brings upon the world. Is it not preposterous to suppose that we can turn a deaf ear to the warning and remain justified before him? How was it before the flood? Did ignorance of the approaching storm save them? Does not Christ teach us that it would be thus in the last days? If we have reached that time, is it not important that we know it? What event has ever transpired in our world, so replete with interest to its inhabitants, as that which finally closes the history of this sinful state, and fixes irretrievably the destiny of all? How strange that even professed Christians should grow angry at the mention of our Lord’s return, and join with infidels in the ridicule of those who watch for the close of time’s dark night, and the ushering in of the morning! Speaking of that event, Paul assures us that crowns will be given to all those who “love his appearing.” The Christian’s hope will soon reach its fruition. Then will its happy possessors shine as the stars forever. “Beyond this life of hopes and fears,
Beyond this world of joys and tears,
There is a region fair;
It knows no change, and no decay,
No night, but one unending day,
O say, will you be there?
“No suffering form, no tearful eye,
No hoary head, no weary sigh;
No pain, no grief, no care;
But joys that mortals may not know,
Like a calm river ever flow,
O say, will you be there?”