Shortness of Life
Nation after nation has arisen, they have occupied the earth for a while and then fell from the face of the earth and all that is left of them besides a few ruins is the faithful records of history. Generation after generation comes upon the earth, they seem like such a strong or great generation, who live on the world for a while, but then fall in death and pass into eternity.
On the average, 69.6 years is the whole inhabitants of the earth at any one time and billions upon billions of souls have been carried beyond the reach of all Christians, all missionary efforts, beyond the reach of all repentance, beyond the reach of all Gospel invitations and so many are not saved. So many are beyond all possibility of salvation (Heb. 9:27). During this same short period, preachers, missionaries, writers, evangelist and professors of religion of one generation are all born where no mistakes of the past can be corrected, and no amendment for wrongs done or time that has been wasted away can ever be made right.
From the 18 years of childhood, we are only left with 51.6 years for the vast work of personal preparation and for that state of duration in the pure and holy society of just men made perfect (Heb. 12:23), where the angels of God, Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant (Heb. 12:24) and God, the Judge of all dwell (Psa. 7:11). During these brief years, we are left the same length of time for the good and virtuous (2 Pet. 1:5), for those with the love of God in their hearts (Matt. 22:37), and for those who love mankind to make an effort to save our race (Matt. 28:19-20). Knowing this, it must be perceived by us that whatever we do, must be done quickly. For those who do anything for mankind, must engage in the work immediately and with energy. For all who intend to lay up a good foundation against the time to come (1 Tim. 6:19), who are laying up treasures in heaven to which they can go (Matt. 6:20), and upon which we can rely upon when on.
Therefore, there must not be any delay for there is simply time enough to do what must be done immediately, if done at all. And, for those who are never prepared to meet God, have still greater reason to enter at once upon the examination of how short human life is. With them, everything to secure their eternal happiness is left undone.
O great God in heaven, how short the time, in view of the amount to be done and how carefully every moment should be employed by every person who has not been reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:18-22). What vast multitudes, what great gatherings there are on our streets and in lanes and highways, who have never seriously thought upon, much less taken the elementary steps, to come to God, and who will remain in their present condition unless they are made to stop in their thoughtless careers, by those who have already tasted the good word of God and felt the power of the world to come (Heb. 6:5). What an everlasting reason we aind here for the most energetic, preserving, and godly efforts to rescue them and bring them to God.