| The Secrets of a Beautiful Life |
Chapter 17 |
Page 6 |
The pathway of the righteous is compared to the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. A good life ought to grow more and more beautiful every day. The task of sweet, useful living is no less a duty when one has gotten through the years of midlife into the borders of old age than it was in the days of strength. A man should not slacken his diligence, earnestness, faithfulness, prayerfulness, or his faith in Christ until he has come to the very gate of eternity.
One of the perils of old age is just at this point. A man feels that his work is done, his character is matured, his reputation is established, and he is tempted to grow careless, as if it could not now mater much what he does or what he leaves undone. This is an error which sometimes proves very costly. There have been old men who in their very last years, for lack of the accustomed wisdom or restraint, have marred the beauty which through all their life their hands have been diligently and painstakingly fashioning. Sometimes the fabric of a whole life-work is torn down in a few days or months of foolishness, when the watch is taken off the life and discipline is relaxed.
We are not done with life in this world until the hands have been folded on the breast in their final repose; therefore we should not slacken our diligence for an instant. We should make the last moments beautiful with trust and faith, and sweet patience, and quiet peace, and earnest usefulness, dying beautifully. Robert Browning says in “Rabbi Ben Ezra”:
“Grow old along with me!
The best is yet to be,
The last of life, for which the first was made:
Our times are in His hand
Who saith, ‘A whole I planned,’
Youth shows but half; trust God: see all, nor be afraid.”
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