They only think of amusements
and entertainment. —J.R. Miller Some people seem
never to have any serious thoughts of life. They only think of amusements
and entertainments and never get beyond the airy surface of
things. But to one who thinks deeply,
life is not all a round of selfish and empty pleasures. A traveller,
who tarried several days at Antwerp, describes the effect which the
bells in the great tower had upon him. Every quarter hour
they rang out on the air their sweet notes in soft melody, which
fell like a delicious rain of music dropping from the heavens,
as tender and holy as the song of angels. Then, at the full
hour, amid their shower of liquid notes of silver, rang out the
solemn strokes of the great bell, with iron tongue, deep and heavy,
and these heavy tones inspired him with a feeling of awe. As he listened, hour after hour,
to the chime, the tender melody of the smaller, sweeter bells
reminded him of the mercy and love of God, and the solemn undertones
that broke on his ear at the end of each full hour spoke of
the solemn themes of justice, judgment, eternity. So it is,
that every thoughtful person is impressed in reading the Scriptures. Their usual tone is mercy. Love
rings everywhere, like the notes of angels' songs. But here and
there, amid the words of divine tenderness, comes some deep note,
telling of justice, of wrath against sin, of the dreadful
Judgment Day. It is the same in life. The flow
of the common days is gladness. There is music everywhere, flowers
bloom, love lights its lamp in our path. Then, suddenly, there
breaks in, amidst the merry laughter, a deep and solemn tone, which
fills us with awe. Life is not all gaiety. Even now its undertone is serious. We should be thoughtful. Eternity
lies close to time. The momentous things of judgment
are hidden only by a thin veil of mist. It is appointed for
man to die once, and after that comes judgment. Hebrews 9.27
Prepare to meet your God. Amos 4.12.