Too Late | AdventAI

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jun 24, 1875

Too Late.

SOME people are accustomed to be a little too late in almost everything. Late in going to bed and in getting up, in going to work, to their meals, and to their appointments. In short, they are habitually behind time everywhere, and that often greatly to their disadvantage. Business of importance is to be attended to, where thousands of dollars are at stake, and still they wait until the last train, and then barely come in sight of the station to see it leave without him. Only a little too late!

Being a little too late is often followed by fatal results. The up train is only a little too late. It is hurrying to reach the depot before the down train leaves; but the last moment expires, it leaves, and both trains meet with inevitable destruction. Wood and iron and human bodies are scattered abroad promiscuously. It is said that Napoleon lost the battle of Waterloo just because one of his marshals, who was to reinforce him, was a little too late, and the consequence was, the great general became a prisoner, an exile the rest of his days, living and dying on the lonely isle of St. Helena.

A murderer is arrested, tried, and convicted and sentenced to be hung; but mitigating circumstances influence the governor and a pardon is written and given to a messenger. The hour appointed for the execution arrives, and the prisoner is led forth and placed upon the drop, the rope is adjusted, the last moment expires, and the drop falls, when lo! the messenger appears with the governor's pardon, only just a little too late.

Worse than this! a certain man is convicted of sin, and convinced of the indispensible necessity of salvation. He understands what he must do to be saved, and he intends to do it, but not now. He has other ends in view for the present, and he imagines that there is time enough yet. To be sure, the Bible says, “Seek first the kingdom of God,” and he means to seek, but not first. He promises himself that he will be ready in a short time. But time glides imperceptibly, and he forgets that the soul is of priceless value—that he can give nothing in exchange for it, that he cannot afford to risk its salvation a single moment, and yet he defers, and before he is aware his probation terminates in some unforeseen manner, and it is too late.

This is not a mere fancy sketch. It has its counterpart frequently illustrated. It has been, and will be repeated. Multitudes are now trifling with the most vital interests of their souls. They are not saved and they will not be because they will not seek salvation in time. As they are living they will continue to live, and thus they will die, and be compelled to take up the sad lamentation, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved!” —Morning Star.