The Explorer's Last Words

He was found dead in a lonely hut, with a dish, which he had used for a desk, across his knees. In his skeleton hand was the following letter, which he was evidently writing when death overcame him.

"The sun is shining, Mother, but I feel so cold. I can still walk a little, but that's about all. There is no blood in me, because I have not eaten for so long. I haven't seen another human being for forty days now. There are some magazines here, but the stories are so silly. I have some cards, but I don't care for solitaire. The only thing I worry about is if God will forgive my sins."

Thus ended the career of a young explorer at Long Rapids, Hay River, Alberta, Canada. He was about to leap into the dark as far as his eternity was concerned.

Who can help feeling a throb of sympathy for this young man, perishing alone, afraid of meeting God? Reader, some day you too will have to meet God. Perhaps your deathbed may be much different from that of this young man. You may be surrounded with all the care and comfort your money can buy. You may have the love and tenderness of all your friends, but the last step you must take alone. When you pass into eternity, will it be for you "a leap in the dark," or "a leap in the light"?

I beseech you most affectionately not to put these queries from you. Answer them honestly before God. If you cannot reply, "To me death would be a leap in the light," turn to Jesus now. Trust Him as you read these lines, and all will be light.

"I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on Me should not abide in darkness,"
he says in John 12:46

He tasted death, that we might live; endured the darkness, that we might enjoy the light; and sustained the judgement of God, that we might be freely justified.

"Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God."
1 Peter 3:18.

"But now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement; so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation."
Hebrews 9:26-28.

Trust Him then simply, my reader; and then, when called hence, whether by falling asleep in Jesus or, better, His coming in the air for His own (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), through infinite grace, it will be "a leap in the light."

There is a time, we know not when,
A point, we know not where,
Which marks the destiny of men,
To glory or despair.

There is a line by us unseen,
That crosses every path;
The hidden boundary between
God's mercy and His wrath.

A point of time, a moment's space,
The choice you make will tell,
Will land you in yon Heavenly place,
Or shut you up in Hell!

(BTP #2322)