Third Point.
"Walk while ye have the light." (S. John xii. 35.) We must walk in. the way of the Lord during life, even now that we have the light; for this light will be lost in death. The time of death is not the time to prepare, but to find ourselves prepared. " Be ye ready." When death comes, nothing can be done; what is then done is done. O God, if any one were to be told that before long a trial should take place upon which his life and all his property should depend, would he not hasten to obtain able counsel to plead his cause, and to find means to obtain favour! And what are we doing? We know for certain, that within a short time, and it may happen at any hour, the most important trial that we can undergo will take place, which will be the trial of our eternal salvation; and shall we lose time?
Some will say, but I am young, after some years I will give myself to God. But I answer, You know that the Lord cursed the fig-tree that He found without any fruit, although it was not the time for fruit, as is noticed in the Gospel. " For the time of figs was not yet." (S. Mark xi. 13.) By this Jesus Christ wished to show us, that man at every time even at the time of youth, ought to yield the fruits of good works, otherwise he will be cursed, and for the future will yield no fruit. " No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever." Thus did the Redeemer speak to that tree; and even thus does He curse that one whom He calls, but who resists His call. The devil considers the time of our life to be but short, and for that reason he loses no time in tempting us. " The devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth he hath but a short time." (Rev. xii. 12.) The enemy loses no time in tempting us, so that we may be lost; and shall we lose any time in seeking to be saved?
Others will say, "But what harm can I be doing?" O God, is it not doing harm, to waste time in play, or in useless conversations, which can bring no profit to the soul? Perhaps God grants this time to you, so that you may waste it? Holy Scripture tells us no; for " defraud not thyself of the good day." (Ecclus. xiv. 14.) Those labourers, of whom S. Matthew writes, did not do evil, but they wasted their time; and for this they
