Close Of The Year
ANOTHER year has rolled its ample round,
Its joys and sorrows all are in the past;
And shall the record of its deeds be found
In favor, or against us each, at last?
Thy coming, Lord, is hastening on apace;
The heavens will soon reveal thy lovely form;
Then we shall meet and see thee face to face,
And find sweet refuge from the fiery storm.
0, help us so to live the coming year
That not one act or thought we shall regret,
And draw us nearer to thee, Father dear,
And help us thy commands to ne'er forget,
That when the Lord in glory shall appear,
Thy weary saints in readiness may be
To hail with joy the closing of that year
Which shall precede the year of jubilee.
"Choose you This Day Whom you Will Serve."
MY DEAR YOUNG FRIENDS: We must consider
the above admonition as addressed to
us. And as we are influenced by motives
in our choice between different objects, we
should weigh well the objects and influences
presented before us, not only in their present
bearing, but in view of their probable future
result, that we may choose wisely.
If we should approach a place where two
roads separate, and knew that one led to certain
death, and that we could travel the
other in safety, which would we choose?
If we were hungry and thirsty, and two tables
were spread before us, and we were
assured that the food upon one was prepared
by an enemy and contained a deadly poison,
while the other was prepared by the kind
hand of a dear friend, containing nothing
that would harm us, but was composed of
materials best adapted to our wants, of which
should we partake?
We have two roads diverging before us.
One is broad, gradually descending, and its
appearance, so far as the view opens before
the natural eye, is inviting. But a kind
friend has informed us that it is beset with
dangers, and leads to certain destruction.
A constantly increasing gloom and darkness
settles down as we go forward. At its end,
over a terrible precipice, is seen the dark and
gloomy abode of the giant, despair. There
is no other way that those who have entered
upon this road can avoid going over that
precipice, to certain death not only to share
the first, but the second death but to retrace
their steps to where the roads separate,
and take the other way.
That is narrow, and appears rough and difficult.
But as we gaze up the ascent, the
mellow, cheerful light seems to increase in
brightness. And that dear Friend, who has
more than an earthly father's or brother's
affection for us, has assured us that it is the
path of safety. He has told us that the light
shall shine more and more, till all darkness
disappears, and the bright, beautiful day
continues on, on forever.
By traveling in this straight and narrow
way, we shall secure the friendship and favor
of Him who has power to save from death
Such have the promise of the life that now
is, and that which is to come all that is
worth anything in this world, and eternal
life in the world to come.
We are unsatisfied, hungry, and thirsty
There is spread before us the world, its riches
pleasures, and honors. We are told that
these will satisfy our hunger and quench our
thirst. He who tells us this once told a lie,
and even now "there is no truth in him."
It is not safe to believe and trust him. He
told our first parents that, even if they disobeyed
God, they should not die. That this
was a falsehood is proved by the pain
we suffer, the pale faces upon which we gaze,
the badge of mourning, the funeral train, the
white tombstones we see upon almost every
plain and hillside, and by that wail of anguish
that goes up from thousands of homes,
where the living mourn for those whom death
has claimed for his victims.
Ah! An enemy presides at that table.
There is poison there the poison of sin
deadly as the bite of the serpent sent among
the Israelites. " The wages of sin is death."
Rom. 6:23.
Another table is spread before us. On it
is bread that will satisfy, " water springing
up into everlasting life." If we eat of that
spread, we shall never hunger. If we drink
of that water, we shall never thirst. At the
head of this table sits One who has proved
himself our friend. It is safe to sup with
Him.
If we strive to satisfy our cravings for
the world, the more we partake of its riches,
honors, or pleasures, the more we crave;
ever unsatisfied, ever hungering. If, on the
other hand, we accept the invitation given
through the prophet Isaiah, "Ho, every one
that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and
he that hath no money; come ye, buy and
eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without
money, and without price. Wherefore do ye
spend money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which satisfieth not?
Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that
which is good, and let your soul delight
itself in fatness." Isaiah 55: 1, 2.
If we hunger and thirst after righteousness,
we shall be filled led in green pastures,
and beside the still waters. In the end, we
shall be satisfied when we awake with his
likeness.
Dear readers, which road will you travel?
At which table will you sit? Of what food will
you partake?
Oh! May your choice be like that of Joshua,
through whom came the admonition at the
head of this article.
" Choose you this day whom ye will serve.
. . As for me and my house, we will serve
the LORD."
Joshua 24: 15.
N. ORCUTT.
