KNOWING YOUR DUTY, YE DID IT NOT.
By C. L. B. Aurner
Every way we turn our eyes, we see the necessity of having the whole life and its energies devoted to God’s service and accepted by him; and from none would it be more pleasing, than from those who have been born and bred “under the droppings of the sanctuary.” Did you ever know a settlement so small but that it had representatives of this class? or a large one but that had many of them? They are children of godly parents who have grown to manhood and womanhood, “having no hope, and without God in the world,” though they have been the subjects of hearty prayer since their infancy; they are wives of Christian husbands, husbands of Christian wives, or the dear friends of a lifetime,—for all of whom petitions are constantly ascending from earnest and consecrated hearts. Dear friends, for what are you waiting? To know God’s will? Why, the whole plan of salvation is as plain to you as your alphabet, as familiar as your mother’s face. You know that you are sinners; that Jesus died that you might have possible access to the throne of God; and that his is the only name given to man whereby he must be saved. “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me.” One says, “I am waiting for the call of the Spirit.” My friend, it has called you from your earliest years, by admonishing you when you were straying into forbidden courses, by those sudden fears in moments of alarm, in hours of serious illness. You have acknowledged its call, too, by those spasmodic promises you made to reform when you should get better or the danger be past,—promises which you forgot to put in practice when health and safety were attained. Do you not believe in the religion of our Lord Jesus Christ? “To be sure we do,” chorus the voices of a multitude of this class. Then you believe that this earth is but a place in which mankind are now permitted to remain on trial; that this trial is to show whether man will or will not attain unto a life of blessedness; that this blessed life depends upon the acceptance of Christ and obedience to the commands of God? “Certainly.” You also believe that this continuance of life is so very uncertain that an accident, an hour’s sickness, or an undue exposure may terminate it? and if you die in your present condition, you have within you the conviction that you are lost? Silence in the great company, whose faces pale with emotion which they strive in vain to conceal. And if any of these causes should come across your path and summon you away, have you any consciousness within you of acceptance with God? “We don’t intend to die this way,” comes in indignant tones from the crowd, as from one voice. “We know religion is a good thing, and we intend to have it.” Dear ones, your theory is all right till you come to the application, where it fails to tally with the divine plan in the most essential point—time. Does God make any provision for delay? Does he say next week? after you get your debts paid? at any future time? No; hear him: “To-day if ye will hear my voice.” “My son, give me thy heart.” “Choose ye this day whom ye will serve.” Through Christ he says, “Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.” “Let the dead bury their dead; but come thou and follow me.” Will you longer delay in acknowledging God’s claims upon you for obedience and love? Can anything else compare in dignity, in value, with his compassionate mercy toward you? “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” But God so loved us while we were rebels and at enmity toward him, that he gave his only Son to die, that he might show compassion to us and yet be just. Some gladly avail themselves of this love, and declare, while so doing, that they never found in any other service such recompense of reward. Will you not also accept Christ and join their band? Will you not put your correct theory into beautiful practice? You know how safe your life will then be. “Your life is hid with Christ in God.” Do you want any safer place than this? The army who are now under orders say, Come, do not longer delay. Every hour is replete with danger. Temptations lurk in every corner. The longer you delay, the harder it will be to come; the more excuses you make, the more occasion you find to make them, and the less strength do they need to satisfy you. We know your position and thoughts, for very many of us have been like you; but we can say by experience, It is good to serve the Lord. Swan Lake, Turner Co., Dakota, June 2.