Things That We All Know by Dudley Marvin Canright

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jul 30, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 29.

Things That We All Know.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

THERE are some things which we all well know, and about which there can be no dispute. These are things which it will be well for us to carefully consider, to see if we are doing in regard to them as we will wish we had done when we stand in the Judgment.

1. We know that life is short. The time we are to stay on this earth is not long at the best, but if we were to live the allotted threescore and ten years, even that will soon end. Notice the forcible illustrations of the shortness of life as given by the word of God.

James says, "For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." James 4:14. See the dew on the grass in the morning. How quickly it vanishes, and is gone forever! So with our lives; to-day we are alive and well, we move about among men, and talk with them; but to-morrow we are dead; life is over.

Peter says: "For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away." 1 Peter 1:24. How fresh the green grass looks; it seems as though it might live forever, but just a few setting suns and it dies. So it is with man; his days are few, and they pass, as Job says, "swifter than a weaver's shuttle." Think of ten years to come; it seems like a long time; but ten years in the past, how short it is! How long a year to come seems, but when it is past it seems only like a dream. The generations that lived before us, fathers and grandfathers, are all dead and gone, but they were once well, and strong, and full of hope and life, as we are to-day, but now their life is over, their race is run. So it will be with all of us in a short time. We all know that if ever we gain eternal life, it must be done in this short life. How has life passed with us so far?

2. We all know that death is certain to every one of us, unless the Lord should come; and this will terminate our probation, and our life on this earth.

Paul says: "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the Judgment." Heb. 9:27. Yes, death is appointed unto every man, and from the teeming millions that have lived upon the earth only two, thus far, have ever escaped death.

How shall we feel, then, when we know that we have reached our last day? How vain then will seem the most of things which now appear to be so dear to us! The question then will not be, how much money we have made, how many broad acres we have owned, what men have thought of us, how much fun we have had, but, how do we stand with God? Are our sins pardoned? Have we a hope for the world to come? The solemn hour cannot be long delayed; it is just as sure to come as the sun is to rise. How foolish it is to come up to that hour all unprepared; to come up with such regrets as we know we shall if unprepared. How much wiser it is to prepare for that while we have time.

3. We all know that death often comes instantly. Look around a moment, and think over the list of your friends that have died. Have not a large proportion of them died when they least anticipated it? Most men are taken off suddenly. Perhaps only two or three days, or a week, in which to prepare; and many, very many, are cut off in an instant without so much as a moment to prepare. Every day furnishes us examples of this. It is not simply the old and the sick who are thus cut down, but the young and strong are taken as well as others. We do not think it will be ourselves that will go this way, but we know it may be. How important it is that we should be prepared, when we are not sure of another hour. It is like lying down to sleep right upon the very verge of a yawning precipice; the slightest move may precipitate us into instant death. And then all is lost,—Heaven, God, our souls, and all hope for the future.

4. We know that the only time we have in which to prepare for eternity is the present,—during this life. If this shall slip from our grasp, and we pass to the Judgment unsaved, then we never shall be saved. There is no repentance beyond the grave. If ever our names are to be in the book of life, and our sins pardoned, that must be done in this life; and yet we dally on in sin, and live without repentance, presuming on some more favorable time. Ah! be careful! that presumption may cost you even the loss of your soul.

5. We all very well know that life in the kingdom of God will be glorious beyond all conception. How frequently the inspired writer refers to the glorious world to come, which every soul will have who is so happy as to be saved. That life is to be unending. It will not terminate with a hundred years, nor a thousand years. When a soul has been in the kingdom of God ten thousand, yea a hundred thousand years, he will still have eternity before him.

The word of God expressly says that they shall live "forever," John 6:51; they shall have "everlasting life," John 3:16; they shall be given "eternal life," Rom. 6:23; they shall possess "immortality," 1 Cor. 15:53; they shall have "endless life," Heb. 7:16; "neither can they die any more," Luke 20:36; "and there shall be no more death," Rev. 21:4.

Is it possible that such infinite glory lies within our reach, and we neglect to gain it? Oh, how sin deadens the hearts of men, and blinds them to the best interests of their own souls.

6. We know beyond all doubt that if we do give our hearts to God, we shall never regret it. Did you ever hear of a person that regretted having lived a holy and devout life? No; I have talked with hundreds upon this subject, and not a single one have I ever heard say that they regretted having lived a Christian. But I have heard many say, with tears in their eyes, that they deeply regretted having put off so long giving their hearts to God.

Now, as we know these things, why not start to-day? why not turn to God now? why not take up the cross we see? why not accept salvation this hour? why not take hold of a truth so glorious? why not do it now?

7. We know that if we start to become a Christian it will be just as hard, just as difficult, to do it in the future as it will be to do it now. In fact, the longer it is put off the harder it becomes. Your habits become more fixed, and your character harder to change, and circumstances round you will be more difficult to alter. Then if you have not lost hope of Heaven, all reason will say, Grasp it now, break away from your chains before they become so strong that you cannot do it.

8. We know that we can become Christians if we will. We sometimes say that we cannot do it, but we know better, for there is a way provided. Christ has died, pardon is offered full and free, help is offered; many have been saved through this, and we can be. The greatest sinners have been saved; thieves, murderers, and adulterers have been saved, and our cases are not worse than theirs. If we will only submit our wills, and give up our sins, we can be saved. This we know very well.

Let us then make a start, and do it now. There may be things that we do not understand, but there are enough that we do know, which, if acted upon, will insure our salvation. Take up the first cross you see; make a start somewhere. God will make your path plain as you walk in the light. D. M. CANRIGHT.