CHAPTER XLIII. OPPORTUNITY
BEING THOUGHTS FOR THE NEW YEAR.
ON NEW YEAR’S EVE.
We have heard a story told of a celebrated
sculptor who had a statue in his studio of a beautiful
veiled figure with winged feet; when asked what he
called it, he said “Opportunity.”
“But why is it veiled? And why has it
wings on its feet?” “Because,” said
he, “it is not recognised, and never stays long.”
How true this is! The New Year,
which comes to-morrow, brings with it opportunities
for becoming better, and being of greater use than
we have ever been. But, alas! how few of us
will recognise the good chance till it has passed
for ever.
Some of us have special opportunities
for growing better with age. We live with those
who have always shewn us a good example, and have the
privilege of listening every Sabbath Day to those who
explain the Book of God, so as to feed our souls with
bread Divine. Those of us who are not so fortunate,
who, it may be, have our lot cast among the ungodly;
yet we, though at Patmos, may have revelations which
some do not enjoy who have more help from friends
and good influences.
But does not the past admonish those
of us who are Preachers and Teachers? How many
opportunities are past, to return no more! How
much more useful we should have been had we made use
of them! How we might have preached Christ instead
of our own selves! How we might have encouraged
and stimulated our hearers, if only we had caught more
of the spirit of Jesus! How much power from
above there would have been in our addresses, if we
had spent more time alone; and how many more souls
would have been converted, if we had not restrained
prayer!
But the past is past. The future
dawns, and in its kindling light let us re-consecrate
ourselves to the work God has set us to do. We
shall have appointments to preach. Shall we
not look on each appointment, however distant the
place, or small the congregation, as
A HEAVEN-SENT OPPORTUNITY?
Let us make the most of it.
Shall not the new opening for usefulness find us prepared
to enter in? Must it ever be said again that
the pulpit was open to us, but we were not ready to
fill it as it ought to be filled? Could an angel
from heaven desire anything better than the opportunity
which will come to so many, next Sunday, of preaching,
or it may be, of teaching a class of young people
out of the Word of God?
If we need a stimulus, let us ask
ourselves the question, How shall I feel,
looking at my past chances of usefulness from the observatory
of the sick room and dying bed? Are we to fill
our dying pillows with thorns, as we remember Sabbaths
when we gave way to indolence and self-indulgence,
instead of crowding them with well-aimed efforts after
usefulness, and diligently employed occasions for study
and teaching.
To the unconverted reader we say, Beware,
lest this New Year be wasted as its predecessors were.
Is it to be like all the rest? Is that which
comes to thee as a friend, wishing to give thee space
for repentance and faith, to become another lash in
the scourge which is to punish thy soul for ever?
Is God’s ledger still to chronicle thy unforgiven
debts; unforgiven, not because there was no mercy,
but because thou wast too indolent to pray.
Rouse thyself, sinner, lest these very opportunities
should add to thy doom! They fly past thee, but
where do they go? They are on their way to the
bar of God, to witness against thee. What a
crowd of them to testify! Wouldst thou silence
them? Come, ere this year closes, and the new
one begins, to the feet of Jesus, where thou shalt
find pardon and peace, and where thou mayst receive
power to live a life of devotion and holy labour thus
making opportunity thy willing and true yoke-fellow.
PRAYER A VITAL NEED.
A Poet has said, that Prayer is the
Christian’s native air. It seems as if
some Christians who are doomed to die of soul decline,
might live if they would go back to their native air.
Reader, do you need this prescription?