The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1886-09-23
Our Evening Sermon
"Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy
bed, and walk. John SIS.

"Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy
bed, and walk. John SIS.
In all the miracles wrought by the Say
ior, in the matter Of healing the sick,
:. there was comprised some voluntary act
towards self-help or assistance in carry
ing out the command of the Savior. The
great central idea seemed to be that the
exercise Of faith alone could bring about
the accomplishment of any miraculous
work. Upon the resurrection of LaZa-
rus, the command "come forth" was Civ
en-, and while the subject was dead when
the command was given, the new life, or
rather the re-establishing of life in the
mortal frame, seemed to be instantane-
Gus, and part Of, the Divine command.
The command as in the text, "arise. take
up thy bed. and walk was d seeming
command to perform an impossibility.
The man could not control his own move
ments, and had been lying at the pool of
Bethesda waiting for some friend to as
sist him into the pool that he might
wash and be healed. He knew his ina
bility to walk, yet at the command of the
Savior the strength came to fulfill the
command. There is no great success
without some effort. The man who is
not willing to strive for success. will ney=
er achieve it. The great Ruler cf the
Universe has placed in each individual
body sufficient store Of strength and in
telligence to enable that body to do some
thing for its own advancement and I'M
provement. The mind, the soul, should
impel the whole being, physical and spir-
itual, forward to grander and grandeT
success. The Father cannot in the ma
ture of things take his children by the
hand and drag them along through life.
The worldly parent rears his children
with great care, prompted by parental
loves gives much thought and atten-
tiou to educating his loved ones and plac-
ing them in possession Of sufficient
knowledge to enable them to combat the
experiences of the world. Yet, after CIV
| ing them an education, he truss 60 theif
ability, natural and acquired, to enable
them to succeed in life. He cannot re-
4
in the near future, they must be cast up
on their own resources. They must take
up the battle of life for themselves. The
| field is broad, and there is plenty of work
to do, and the parent feels just pride
when he turns into that field his new
generation of workmen, thoroughly pre-
| pared by his loving care as successful
| toilers. He expects the evidence of an
| industrious disposition at once. He is
| disappointed if there be an apparent lack
| of industry or ambition. He may urge
| upon each individual the necessity of
i earnest. successful labor, but if there be
in that mind no commendable ambition,
| no desire for improvement or advance
ment, the life will be signal failure.
Thus God has prepared the way for his
children. He has placed mankind upon
earth, surrounded by all the material Op-
portunities necessary for his entire sue
cess. Above and beyond this, he has
placed within his grasp all the great spir-
itual opportunities. He has pointed the
way, through meek, earnest service. to
the salvation of the soul. He has given
reasoning power; he has given the con-
science as monitor to guard the life
against failure; has planted within each
heart Il noble sentiment, yet given to the
life the will power to crush or nurture
that sentiment; he has pointed out to
each individual the line of duty and fur
nished him with chart and compass for
his safe journeying; he has, in fact made
1, III l.
for perfect life, safe the simple fact of
accepting and trusting the Savior; yet he
has given his children power to tear
down or strengthen the spiritual struct-
ure given to them. But there is one
great fact underlying the whole surface
of human life, the fact that there is no
success without effort. Christ does not
say "I will gather thee and thy bed up,
and carry thee" He says, plain, simple,
firm, "Arise, take up thy bed, and walk
True, he gave the impotent man power
to obey him, coupled with the command
to obey. Yet in these days of enlighten-
ment, when the word of God is taught
freely in every community, every man
has power to obey the divine commands
DIS Expressed III UQ6 WrlGlGn NOTQ. IIOQ
finds many of his children lying indolent-
ly in sin, and even near the fountain of
his love, seemingly in waiting for some
agency to gather them up and place them
bodily in the cleansing and healing foun-
tain. They already have the command
and power to arise and walk, spiritually.
The healing fountain is near; they have
the ability to reach it and be cleansed;
there is no need of longer suffering the
tortures or infirmities of sin. The great
question is asked of every life, "do you
want to be saved?" Upon the reply de-
pends all there is of life to that soul. The
power to live and walk, and attain unto
eternal life. 1t is all voluntary with the.
soul. 1t can accept or reject the success
made possible by Divine Providence. |
The child of God can become a dutiful, |
happy, successful child, or wayward, |
lost child. 1t is all volun-
tary. 1t all depends upon the manner of
using the God-given free moral agency.
But it should be remembered every
where, and always, that the soul, to be
successful, must be industrious. With
0ut effort upon our part, we cannot be
saved.