A man lay dying.........

A man lay dying many years ago. He had lived a Christian life and was esteemed by all who knew him. His sons stood round his bed, hanging upon their father's lips, and prepared to treasure the last words which he should speak to them in this life. They all, and the aged man himself, knew that he must soon cross the black river of death, so it was no shock when one of his sons asked, "Father, father, are you not afraid to die?" There was a pause as if the dying man turned his mental gaze in upon himself, and then slowly he replied, "No, no! I am not afraid to die, but," and he lifted his wasted hand, "I am almost ashamed to die when I look back upon my years wasted, that might have been spent in more active service for my Lord." If we have done a little for Christ, how little it is! How half-hearted have been our efforts! While not afraid to meet our God, we are almost ashamed to meet Him bearing "nothing but leaves" instead of "sheaves of gathered grain."
(J. Elder Cumming, D. D.)

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