Make Haste

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Mar 10, 1904

“Some years ago,” says Dr. Bonar, “when traveling through Palestine, we were nearly benighted. We had left Hebron in the morning, and had come leisurely along, passing through Bethlehem, and visiting the gardens of Solomon on the way. The sun began to get low ere we caught our first glimpse of Jerusalem, and, on reaching the plain of Rephaim, we had to increase our speed. In a little time the sun set, and we saw a man come out from the Jaffa gate and stand upon a hillock, shouting with all his might, as if forewarning of danger, and gesticulating wildly, as if to call our attention to what he was announcing.

“‘What is the man saying?’ we asked our guide. “ ‘He is shouting, “Yellah! Yellah!”’ “ ‘What does that mean?’ “ ‘Come along! Come along!’ “ ‘We now found we were about to be shut out, and this messenger had come to warn us that the gate was about to be closed. We made haste, as we did not at all relish the thought of being kept all night outside the walls. We were just in time, no more. We entered, and the gate closed behind us. ‘The door was shut.’ Matt. 25:10.

“‘The lesson we learned was ‘Make haste!’—a lesson which some of us never forgot. So near being shut out of the earthly Jerusalem! What if it were to be not almost but altogether shut out of the heavenly city! No time to lose. Too much lost already!

“‘A few days after, a similar incident occurred, which furnished another lesson. We had been wandering all the afternoon on the Mount of Olives, not heeding the time. But at last we saw the sun going down. We hastened to the nearest gate, on the east side of the city. It was closed. There was no admittance. We hastened round the walls to the other gate, which we knew to be kept open a little longer. When we reached it, we found ourselves excluded. The gate was shut. We were told, however, that possibly the gate-keeper might relent and let us in. Alas! the keys had gone to the governor.

“‘What were we to do? It was suggested that a piece of silver might soften the guard’s heart, and bring the keys back again. So we thrust a suitable coin in at the keyhole and waited. In a few minutes the gate opened, and we passed in. The bribe had prevailed. But our admission was against law.

“‘The lesson for us was, ‘Be on time.’ The gate stands open. The entrance is free. The way is plain. Lose not a moment. Upon one lost moment eternity hinges; and ‘it is no trifle to lose eternity.’”—Common People.