IT WILL NOT STOP by W. C. Mathewson

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 1, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 40.

IT WILL NOT STOP.

By W. C. Mathewson

A CARAVAN is crossing a desert. The tropical sun above, the hot sand beneath, are no longer endurable. With their water-supply exhausted, their mouths dry and parched, and their tongues swollen, cracked, and bleeding, the intensity of their suffering baffles description. How they long to rest in the shade of some desert palm, and to drink refreshing draughts of pure, cold water.

At a short distance to their right, they unexpectedly discover a beautiful oasis, where trees of luxuriant foliage are watered by an exhaustless spring, cool and refreshing. Do they, with all possible speed, dismount from their camels to relieve their intense thirst, and to shelter themselves from the noonday sun? Strange to say, unwilling thus to exert themselves, they remove their eyes from that pleasant scene and continue their journey to reach some imaginary oasis farther on, which they can enter with less trouble to themselves. Lured on by false hopes, they perish one by one.

Foolish! crazy! do I hear you say? If you were with that caravan, would you do as they do? You answer most emphatically, No.

That caravan is the people of this world; sin is the desert. You are with this caravan. The heavenly oasis of living green is in sight. The “Fountain of Life” is there. Look at that signboard: “Whosoever Will, Let Him Take the Water of Life Freely.”

The suffering travelers look, read, but heeding not the invitation, are passing by the sheltering wood, the living fountain, to suffer—to die. Surprisingly foolish! strangely insane! Still on they pass. Will they not stop?—No; “As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man.” Luke 17:26. Only eight of the antediluvian caravan chose the part of wisdom; and there is a prophecy for this particular time which reads that “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse.” 2 Tim. 3:13.

No the caravan will not stop. If you enter the gates of heaven, you must dismount, forsake forever many dear relatives and friends, to enter, with the “few,” that straight and narrow way that “leadeth unto life.” The caravan contains its millions of the most talented and learned people of the world. But you must leave them; for they obstinately refuse to stop, to drink—to live. “Come out from among them, and be ye separate;” “Escape for thy life,” are warnings loud and clear. 2 Cor. 6:17; Gen. 19:17. W. C. MATHEWSON.