One year nearer to Heaven--or nearer to Hell!

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(Arthur Pink, "Studies in the Scriptures" January, 1926)

Another year has passed away--gone into eternity with all its sad and glad records.

Sad, because of our sins and our failures--all of which have been observed and recorded by the All-seeing eye!

Sad, because numbers who "did run well"--do so no longer.

Glad, because of the "goodness and mercy" which have surely followed us day by day.

Glad, because . . .

  weak ones have been strengthened,

  sorrowing ones have been comforted, and

  hungry ones have been fed with the Bread of Life.

How is it with you--progression or regression?

One thing is certain--January, 1926 finds you one year nearer to Heaven--or nearer to Hell!

Reader! You have entered this New Year, either accepted in God's Beloved--or under God's holy wrath! How unspeakably solemn are the alternatives!

To any unsaved reader who scans these lines, we would say: You have commenced this year on earth--and you may end it in Hell, where a ray of hope never enters. "Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace. Thereby good will come to you." Job 22:21

To the Christian--not to the professing one, but the the genuine believer--we would say: What a bright hope is yours! How precious is the thought, that before 1926 ends, you may be "forever with the Lord!" The bud of promise--may burst into the full fruit of unspeakable bliss! The springtime of faith and hope--may give place to the unending summertime of blessedness and eternal glory.

Since this is the case, let us be reminded of our solemn responsibility at the dawn of another year . . .

  to yield ourselves afresh to God,

  to seek His face with full purpose of heart,

  to supplicate Him for new supplies of grace--

that we may serve Him as never before!

"The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light." Romans 13:11-12

"So teach us to number our days aright--that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12

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