44 The Close of the Year

The Close of the Year "The end of all things is at hand." 1 Peter 4:7

Eleven months have rolled away; the last month has now arrived. They have told their tale before the throne of God; this month comes to admonish and exhort us. The long-suffering of God continues. He is still plenteous in mercy. Our day is lengthened out; but the shadows of evening are stretching out. Time flies with the utmost rapidity. Eternity approaches with rapid strides. "The end of all things is at hand." Let us therefore be sober, and watch unto prayer. The end of the present year is at hand. It will soon close upon us forever. It will make its report to our Judge. It will record a testimony for or against us. It found us — what? It will leave us — what? Did it find us enemies to God? If so, will it leave us friends? Did it find us impenitent? If so, has it witnessed to our sorrowing to repentance? Did it find us out of Christ? If so, will it leave us in vital union to his person? Did it find us undecided? If so, will it leave us the active, devoted professors of the religion of Christ?

What were we at the beginning of the year? What are we now? What were we doing then? What have we done since? What are we doing now? These inquiries are solemn, and, if used aright, they will be beneficial. Twelve months of our short life will soon be gone. Fifty-two weeks will have fled forever. Three hundred and sixty-five days will have passed away. If we have only sinned once in every twenty-four hours, three hundred and sixty five sins have been committed. If we have sinned twelve times in the day (and who has not?), then we shall have been found guilty of crime against God, four thousand three hundred and eighty times! Who can understand the number or the desert of his errors? May the Lord cleanse us from secret and unobserved faults! Oh, the patience of God which has borne with us! The end of life will soon be here. We may not finish this year, which is now so near its close. Perhaps the eye that is now passing over this page, will on the 31st of December be sightless, and the hand that now holds this volume, may be cold in death. But if so, where will the soul be? If so, what will be the eternal state of the reader?

Life is hurrying past — it is hastening away. Oh, that we were wise, that we understood this; that we were rightly affected by it, and did consider our latter end! Soon we shall take the last look at our friends and relatives. Soon we shall heave the last sigh in the land of hope. Soon we shall leave the body, and leave it a prey to worms. The end is at hand. It is near. It may be very near. Be therefore ready. The end of our opportunities is at hand. The last sermon we are to hear, will soon be preached. The last prayer-meeting we may attend, will soon be held. The last opportunity to visit the sick, to speak a word for God, to save a soul from death, or to circulate the Christian tract — will soon present itself. Let us work while it is day, for the night comes when no man can work. The day is far spent; the night is at hand. The voice of the Master will soon be heard, saying, "Give an account of your stewardship; for you may be no longer steward!"

Oh, to be found ready! Now is the time for improvement. We may inform the mind, correct the conduct, increase the zeal, enlarge the efforts. The present is the season of usefulness. It is spring time — sowing time. Let us plough up the fallow ground. Let us cast in the good seed. Let us watch against the foe. Let us get the vessels filled with oil. Trim the lamp. Gird up the loins. Look out for the Master’s appearing; and rejoice at every intimation of his coming.

If the end of all things is at hand, we should be sober. We should think soberly, speak soberly, act soberly. Let us not be drunk with wine, wherein is excess — but be filled with the Spirit.

If the end of all things is at hand, we should be thoughtful. Many professors are very thoughtless. Others spends their thoughts principally on temporal things. Let us think . . .
of time, and its responsibilities;
of eternity, and its solemnities;
of sin, and its consequences;
of Jesus, and his glories;
of God, and his rights over us;
of death, and the awful realities connected with it.

If the end of all things is at hand, we should be watchful. Satan is watchful. The world is watchful. Let us watch against levity, indifference, lukewarmness, worldly conformity, evil-speaking — and our besetting sins. Let us watch . . .
the workings of our own evil hearts,
the movements of the world,
the progress of error,
the devices of Satan, and
the snares by which we are surrounded.

Let us watch . . .
the hand of Divine Providence,
the operations of the Holy Spirit in our souls,
the opportunities that offer for usefulness,
and the constant attempts that are being made to entrap and mislead us.

If the end of all things is at hand, we should be active. The present is no time for sleep. Everything around is awake. A thousand voices call upon us to be diligent, devoted, and determined for God. Let us, then, consecrate afresh our energies, devote our talents, set about our work, and co-operate, as far as we consistently can, with our fellow-servants in the Lord’s cause. The end is near. The Judge stands before the door. The laborers will soon be called to receive their wages, and loiterers will be punished with many stripes.

Lost sinner! you will soon hear the last solemn warning. You will soon receive the last gracious invitation. The accepted time is flying. The day of salvation is hastening away. This is "your day." You are even now treading on the margin of time. Only open your eyes, and you will see eternity just before you. Today God speaks to you. Today he speaks to you in mercy. Today he calls you to repentance. Today he invites you to his throne, to his bosom. Today he waits to be gracious. Tomorrow he may rise up and "shut to the door." Tomorrow he may say, "He is joined to idols, let him alone!" Tomorrow he may declare, "Therefore, this is what the Lord God Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Listen! I am going to bring on them every disaster I pronounced against them. I spoke to them, but they did not listen; I called to them, but they did not answer." (Jeremiah 35:17). May the last month find us reconciled to God — justified before God — walking in close and holy fellowship with God — conformed to the moral image of God — and diligently employing all our talents for the promotion of the cause and glory of God.

Brethren, farewell. May the new year open upon us in mercy; may it find us in peace with God, bring us special blessings from God, and may we spend it as those who must give an account!