A Better Way | AdventAI

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 11, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 23.

A Better Way.

WHEN Dan Mace, the famous horse jockey and driver of racers, was informed by his physicians a short time previous to his death that all earthly hope was gone, he immediately sent for a clergyman, and addressed himself to his spiritual and eternal relationships. This under the circumstances was, of course, the reasonable and proper thing to do. Nobody will criticise the jockey for endeavoring even at the eleventh hour to take advantage of the last opportunity to repent and obey, but everybody will commend him for it. Better late than never. And yet, there is a wiser, more manly and safer course which all men ought to pursue, and that is to, acknowledge God's claims and to seek the assurance of infinite pardon and peace while they are in the flush of health, and capable of rendering some actual and grateful services to the gracious Being and Redeemer from whom they expect the unspeakable gift of life eternal.

The old colored woman, who thought it a mean thing to burn up the entire candle of life in honor of the devil, and then to offer the smoking wick just ready to be snuffed out, at God's altar, certainly had the correct view. It is the quintessence of selfishness, of presumption, of cowardly baseness, to sneak through life denying our Creator and Saviour his rights, and indulging all evil passions with the hidden mental reservation that just before disease sweeps us into the grave we will come in like the thief on the cross with a petition for all the benefits and supernal joys of paradise. Besides the meanness of such conduct it is exceedingly perilous. The case of the dying thief is often perverted. It is altogether probable that he never heard of the gospel until he was stretched upon the cross in the presence of his suffering Master. This was his first opportunity, and he embraced it with a will—instantly, unreservedly. Whether other hardened wretches after rejecting Christ and his truth deliberately and willfully all their lives, can get as easily into the kingdom when in the article of death has always been a question with serious and cautious minds. There is assuredly little chance of their showing whether the alleged repentance is sincere and worth anything, or mere make-shift and an expression of fear when one is caught in the death-trap. The only right, honorable, just, manly, and safe way is for a man to give himself in the prime of his strength and the full capacities of his soul to righteous actions and to faith in him who alone can save.—Christian at Work.