Evening, April 1, edited from Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening

“It is time to seek the Lord.” — Hosea 10:12

This month of April is said to derive its name from the Latin verb “aperio,” which means to open, because all the buds and blossoms are now opening, and we have arrived at the flowery gates of the year. Reader, if you are yet unsaved, may your heart, in accord with the universal awakening of nature, be opened to receive the Lord. Every blossoming flower warns you that it is time to seek the Lord; do not be out of tune with nature, but let your heart bud and bloom with a desire for holiness. Do you tell me that the warm blood of youth leaps in your veins? Then, I implore you, give your vigor to the Lord. It was my indescribable happiness to be called in early youth, and I could gladly praise the Lord every day for it. Salvation is priceless; let it come when it may, but oh, an early salvation has a double value in it! Young men and women, since you may perish before you reach your prime, “It is time to seek the Lord.” You who feel the first signs of decay, quicken your pace: that hollow cough, that reoccurring fever, are warnings which you must not trifle with; with you it is indeed time to seek the Lord. Did I observe a little grey mingled with your once luxurious tresses? Years are stealing on quickly, and death is drawing nearer by hasty increments; let each return of spring arouse you to set your house in order. Dear reader, if you are now advanced in life, let me entreat and implore you to delay no longer. There is a day of grace for you now—be thankful for that, but it is a limited season and grows shorter every time that the clock ticks. Here in this silent room, on this first night of another month, I speak to you as best I can by paper and ink, and from my innermost soul, as God’s servant, I lay before you this warning, “It is time to seek the Lord.” Do not belittle that work; it may be your last call from destruction, the final syllable from the lip of grace.