| Strength and Beauty |
Chapter 25 |
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But it is not a friendly darkness to which our Lord refers. The figure his words suggest is that of a wild beast coming upon the traveler, pursuing him, overtaking him, pouncing upon him, devouring him. Thus it was that Jesus urged his disciples to walk in the light while they had it, to be quick to use the few moments of the day that remained, before the devouring darkness should swoop down upon them.
The lesson is for us. Most of us live as if we had a thousand years to stay here. We loiter in the golden hours of our little days as if the days were never to end. We do not see how swiftly the sun is whirling toward his setting while our work is but half done, our task perhaps scarcely begun. We fritter away days, weeks, months, not noticing how our one little opportunity of living in this world is being worn off, as the sea eats away a crumbling bank till its last shred is gone. We set slight value on time, forgetting that we have only a handbreadth of it, and then comes eternity. What did you do yesterday that will brighten and glorify that day forever? What record of blessing in other lives did you give it to carry to God’s judgment? What burden did you lift off another heart? What tear did you wipe away? On what soul did you leave a mark of beauty? Where is your yesterday?
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