James Smith, 1859
 

The other day, as a lad was leaving a shop, the shopkeeper called after him, "Are you sure you are right?" I know not what the subject was to which the shopkeeper referred, but the inquiry has suggested some very serious thoughts to my mind.

Ah, it is of very great importance to be right on many points, to know that we are right; yes, to be sure that we are right. Many people take things for granted, which need to be proved; and many imagine that they are right, without any good evidence. Hence many are unhappy now — and many, it is to be feared, will be lost forever. Friend, let us not be deceived, let us not be satisfied with slight evidences — but let us make sure that we are right with God.

Thomas Wilde has made a profession of religion, and joined himself to a church — and imagines that he is all right. But there is much lightness and levity about him. He seems to love carnal amusements, and appears to feel quite at home in the society of the ungodly. The other night he went to the concert, and has been heard pleading in defense of novel reading. He thinks, as he says, that we should not needlessly offend the world, but conform ourselves to their ideas of what a Christian ought to be, as near as we can. He thinks, that the way to win them — is to mix with them, and show that we are not gloomy, or unnecessarily precise.

Thomas, Thomas! Are you sure that you are right? Your Bible tells you to come out from among them, and be separate from them, and not even touch the unclean thing. Your God says, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world; for if any man loves the world — the love of the Father is not in him." And the Apostle James asks you this question, "Don't you know that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?" If these portions of God's Word are right — then you are wrong, Thomas!

It is to be feared that many are wrong beside you — though they imagine that they are right. Are you sure, my friend, that you possess genuine religion, as well as profess it?

Have you ever had a broken heart for sin?
Have you really fled, as a poor lost sinner, to the Savior?
Have you obtained peace with God, through faith in the blood of Jesus?
Is Christ formed in your heart, the hope of glory?
Have you experienced union and communion with Christ?

Or are you satisfied with a few slight convictions, and a few pleasurable impressions? You profess Christ, Thomas — but do you possess Christ? Your name is in the church-book — but is your name in the Lamb's book of life? Are you sure that you are right?

The Apostle Peter would admonish you to "make your calling and election sure," or make sure, on Scripture grounds, that you are right; and to so walk as to convince everybody about you that you are right.

Sarah Slater has just given up her class in the Sunday-school, for though she does not like to confess it, she has got tired of teaching, and would rather take a walk, have a nap, or go out to tea, on the Lord's day afternoon — than be shut up with a bunch of poor children in a Sunday-school room. Very likely she has made out some more plausible case to silence, if not satisfy, her conscience.

But, Sarah — Are you sure that you are right? You still profess to be a servant of Christ. Sunday-school teaching is His work; you voluntarily engaged in it, professedly out of love to His name. Are you sure you are right in leaving it? Can you glorify Christ more out of the school, than in it? Can you do more good to your fellow creatures out of the school, than in it?

If not, I am by no means sure that you are right in leaving it. It is very likely that you are quite wrong in doing so. It may be from pride, from self-love, from idleness, or from some carnal motive that you have withdrawn — and if so, you are decidedly wrong.

Let me request you seriously to examine into the matter, and closely investigate the case. Do not be satisfied with slight grounds, but be quite sure that you are right. The thing will not end where it is, you know, for "every one of us shall give account of himself to God!"

And as things often look very different, when viewed from a sick-bed, on a dying pillow, to what they do in health — so it is very probable that they will look very different to what they do now, when we stand before the judgment-seat of Christ. If you should win but one of those girls for Jesus — she would be a star in your crown forever, and you would eternally rejoice in her salvation by your means. But leaving the school, and giving up your proper work, you may perhaps live a useless life on earth; and if saved, wear a starless crown in Heaven. Sarah, Sarah, "Are you sure that you are right?"

Susan Brown says she does not intend to be a mope, she is for a short life and a merry one. Give her a good dance, or a jolly party, or a lively song, to sing dull care away — and you may keep religion to yourself. She has no idea of young people making mopes of themselves, and losing all the pleasures of life. Religion may perhaps be all very well for the old folks — but she don't like to see them have too much of it. No, no, the best thing she knows is to live and be jolly!

Susan, "Are you sure that you are right?" Many have died at your age, and you may die soon, and suddenly. And if you should, death will remove you from this world — but where will it land you? There is a dreadful Hell, and there is a glorious Heaven — and to one of these, death will introduce you. Into Heaven it cannot — unless you are prepared for it. Therefore, as there is no alternative, into eternal Hell you must go!

How will your present conduct appear to you — when you are in Hell? Will the song, the dance, the jovial party alleviate the pains of Hell? Will you not think that you have paid dearly for them, when you find that you are to be tormented forever in Hell, because you knew not the time of your visitation on earth.

One passage of Scripture just meets your case — it is addressed to young men, but is just as applicable to young women, "Be happy, young man, while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment!" Ecclesiastes 11:9

Then you must answer why you preferred dancing, to praying; singing foolish songs, to praising God your Maker; and preferred the pleasures of sin, which are but for a season — to the joys of Heaven, which are forever and ever. How will you be able to face the God whom you have so insulted? How can you stand before the Savior whom you have so despised? How will you bear to be mixed up with devils and lost souls, and hear the Lord Jesus say to you and them, "Depart from Me, you who are cursed — into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels!"

Susan Brown, Susan Brown — "Are you sure that you are right?" Look into the matter at once, for it is quite time, and if upon examination you conclude that you are right — then, by all means go on in your present course; but if upon investigation, you discover that you are wrong, then, "Seek the Lord while he may be found, and call upon him while he is near. Forsake, O forsake your present way, and turn unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon you, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon you."