The Last Time!

Francis Bourdillon, 1873

 

"He didn't think it was the last time!" said the weeping widow of a laboring man who had met with sudden death the day before; "he had his breakfast as usual, and went out to his work; he didn't think it was the last time!"

No, poor widow, he did not think so; nor did you or the neighbors or the men he worked with. There was nothing to make anyone think his end was so near, for he was in the prime of life, and was as strong and healthy as most men.

Yet so it was! A few hours after the husband and wife parted at the cottage door — he was brought home to die. A heavy stone had slipped; the plank on which it rested broke in the middle; one part flew up and struck him on the forehead; in an instant he lay senseless on the ground and never spoke ten words again.

Such things make a sensation, as well they may. The change is so great (greatest of all to the poor man himself, but great also to wife and children and all belonging to him) that neighbors and work-mates for the time can talk of nothing else, and much real feeling is drawn forth. But the thing that chiefly strikes all is that it was so unexpected: "He didn't think it was the last time," they say.

Yet how often do such unexpected things happen! You cannot take up a newspaper without reading of them. Just before writing this I saw an account of five people killed by a railway accident. How little they thought, when they stepped into the train, that they were doing so for the last time!

A fire happened lately in London, and eight of the people in the house were burned to death. Little did they think, as they lay down in bed that night, that it was the last time!

A fishing-boat went out one fine morning from one of the ports on the eastern coast of Scotland. Before night a squall came on, and the boat was never heard of again. The poor men, who had been used to fishing all their lives, little thought when they set sail, that that was the last day's fishing they would ever have!

These however are what are called accidents — rare and unexpected things which happen only now and then and surprise all who hear of them. This is not the usual course of things.

But does it ever strike you that there will be a last time for every one of the common things which you do day by day? It may not come suddenly, as it did in the cases before mentioned — but come it will. You will rise some morning and go to your work for the last time. Some evening you will go to rest for the last time. The day will come when you will eat your last meal, take your last walk, read your last book. There is not a thing you are doing now — which you will not some day do for the last time! 

And this, whether the things are good or bad. Do you frequent the house of God? Some day you will go there for the last time. Do you neglect the house of God? Some Lord's Day you will hear the bell ringing and, as usual, pay no attention to it — and never hear it again. Are you a drinker? The day will come when your foot will cross the threshold of the ale-house for the last time. Do you swear? Some day a curse will pass your lips — and, little as you may think so, it will be your last.

Would that these words might come true in another way! That you might be changed, and so never swear again, never more set foot in an ale-house, never again neglect God's house! But remember, should no change take place — should you go on drinking or swearing — still you will some day do each of these things for the last time!

Now, reader, you know all this. Everybody knows it. But many forget it — perhaps you do. There is much to make us forget it. Things generally go on in a very even course. One day is much like another; what you did yesterday — you are doing today, and are very likely to do tomorrow.

This is what made those people scoff, of whom the apostle Peter writes: "Where," said they, "is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." Turn to your Bible, and see how the apostle answers them: "With the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some [those very scoffers themselves] count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night!" etc. (2 Peter 3:4-10).

Yes! However appearances may be against it, "The day of the Lord will come," and equally sure it is that, though you may have done the very things you are now doing a thousand times before — yet you will some day do them all for the last time. It is very likely that you will not know it is the last time — just as it happened in the cases before mentioned. But whether you know it when it comes or not, the last time will come. May God give you grace to be ready.

Oh, reader, when you have slept and risen and eaten and drank for the last time — when you have looked your last and breathed your last — then where shall you be? Have you thought of that? Do you think of it every day and make it your first concern?

Ah! Do not live as though you were never to die. Do not let day after day slip by, as if your days were never to end.

Remember that solemn parable of our Lord: "A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, 'Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?' But he answered and said to him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down'" (Luke 13:6-9). 

Perhaps you have been like that fig tree, without fruit; and perhaps another year's trial has been allowed you — and this, it may be, is that last time of grace, and when this is gone, then no more will be granted.

Instead of imagining that, because things go on as usual, the end will never come — thank God that it has not come while you were unprepared. It was mercy that kept it back, His mercy who "is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." But for this, where might you have been now?

But what if it should all be in vain? What if this should be your last time of grace, and you should neglect it? What if the end should be close at hand — and you should remain careless and hard, impenitent, unpardoned? I beseech you, whoever you are, I beseech you by the mercies of God, do not turn away from these thoughts, but think now of the last time. Think now while you may, for the end may be very near. He who has borne with you so long, still waits to be gracious; the Savior who died for sinners, still is knocking at the door of your heart. "Behold," says He, "I stand at the door and knock" (Revelation 3:20). But it may be the last time. Open and let Him in. Hearken to this gracious and loving Savior! He is a loving Savior. He still sends you still so many kind messages, warning you of danger, telling you of mercy, inviting you to look unto Him and be saved. These very words of mine come to you with a message from Him.

But, oh! Let there be no more delay! "What you do, do quickly." You have slighted God's messages enough. You have long enough tried the patience and love of Jesus. Try Him no longer. Open and let Him in, at once, without delay; or He may never knock again. And then, at peace with God through Christ, joined to the Savior by a living faith, sprinkled with His blood, pardoned, accepted, justified, and, by the Spirit's help, walking in the way of everlasting life — then you need not fear to think of the last time, for even if the Lord Jesus come suddenly, He will not find you sleeping.