Come Now | AdventAI

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 24, 1863

Come Now.

PERHAPS you think it will be as easy to repent at any future time as to-day. This is a most dangerous delusion. Impressions of all kinds wear away by repetition, unless they're made permanent by being acted upon. If you ever lived near a noisy mill, a roaring river, or the sea, you have found that the sound, which at first disturbed you, was afterwards scarcely noticed. Just so the truths of religion may deeply impress the mind; but if those impressions are not cherished, by acting in accordance with them, those truths will affect the mind less and less, till they are heard with total indifference. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock." He knocks by sermons, books, conversations, conscience, solemn warnings. The sound startles you; but if you do not rise and open the door, it will startle you less to-morrow, till at length you will not hear it at all. How many who once felt deeply about religion, now feel nothing, and are quickly and quietly traveling down to hell. On the narrow ledges of the steep cliffs of Yorkshire coast multitudes of sea-fowls lay their eggs, by gathering

which some persons obtain a perilous livelihood. It once happened that a man, having fixed in the ground his iron bar, and having lowered himself down by the rope which was fastened to it, found that, in consequence of the edge of the cliff bending over the part below, he could not reach the narrow ledge where the eggs were deposited, without swinging himself backwards and forwards. By this means he at last placed his foot on the rock, but in so-doing lost his hold of the rope. His situation was most dreadful. The sea roared hundreds of feet below. It was impossible to climb either up or down. He must soon perish from want, or fall and be dashed to pieces on the rocks. The rope was his only way of escape. It was still swinging to and fro; but, when it settled, it would be out of reach. Every time it approached him it was farther off than before. Every moment he waited his danger increased. He made up his mind. The next time the rope swung towards him he sprang forward, seized it, and reached the top in safety. Sinner, your salvation is farther off every moment you wait. But Jesus is near to save you. He invites you to lay hold on him. It is your only hope. Grasp him by faith. You cannot miss your hold. He will hold you, and draw you up to heaven. But the difficulty and danger are greater every moment you delay. Come to Jesus now.—Sel.