The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-01-11
For The Mirror.
Is There a God?

I've met with men that doubted the exist
ence of God and disbelieved His word.
What a question to ask, and how very easy
ing do not wish to impose upon my fellow
man by making them believe that am bet
ter than others. 1 am far from being good,
and am no better than l ought to be, SO l
about what does not concern them in the
least but lies between my God and myself.
Our Savior, Jesus Christ. who died for us
on the cross at Calvary. who fOrgave the
although l am behind the bars of prison.
At least 1 will trust to Him fully for the
remainder of my life and l am certain that
He will remember us all in His own good
time. Is there God? What need of as
king? Let us but gaze upon nature. and
we know that there is God. Look at the
bodies moving in the heavens. and we know
there is a God. Let us but for moment
gaze upon our daily surroundings here.
We observe that this part OF
the earth is covered with its snowy
winter carpet. In few short days God
lifts his hand and changes this cold and
frosty winter into cOngenial and balmy
summer. and lifts the winter carpet to again
cover mother earth with beauty and frag-
rance. Let us observe the heavens. There
shines the golden sun that gives light and
life to this earth and all that is therein.
There we observe the heavenly armament
with its wonders and beauty, the twinkling
stars that brighten the night. each moving
in its space with n regularity that never al
tiers until it is his will. Again, let us OBJ
serve the human being, the greatest OF
Gods wonders, and perfect in everything as
God has made him. Though man is great.
is there one that can in the least initiate
the works Of God? Let us observe the
beautiful sky. 1t is now O'ercast with dark
clouds; the heavens are darkened; the thun-
der rOars, the tempest blows, the lightning
flashes-all the works Of that superior being.
the work of our God. Let us gaze upon
the ocean, its unknown depths. its raging
and tempest-tossed pillows and at other
times its calm and peaceful appearance
Then l ask you. can we doubt the existence
of a God?
Oh man. what are we that we should
presume to doubt? We, the works of H is
hands. and but as the worms that creep
|
one single moment we are crushed out of
existence to stand before His Judgment
seat. We labor day by day and year by
year for that which is not worth gathering,
and seem to be unable TO spare few mo-
mentS each day to labor for that which we
need most. And do we ever think seriously
of the shOrtness of this life; how soon the
days. the months, the years, are passing
that carry us on to our eternal life? Our
existence here is but short One-a moment
granted us to prepare for that life which is
to follow. How many hundreds of thou
sands are at this moment resting on the
brink of eternity without one single thought
OF what is to come. and how clearly does
our every day life teach us that we have
no time to spare; that we cannot put it
aside, and that although our hearts are
hardened that still voice oftimes enters and
tells us to beware? | am not good chris
tian-far, very far from it, but Oftmes in
my lonely cell pray to that God whose
existence some doubt but Of whose reality
l am certain. Although | am one of the
greatest of Sinners He has not forsaken me,
and never will. Many of you will say.
There is another religious hvprocrite -
Ii SO Just examine yourself, and look at
the moments when your better self comes
uppermOSt.
These are my true sentiments believe in
God, the Creator. l believe in His only
Son as our Savior and Redeemer, and
although Eve fallen low in this world and
am still weak, He will give me strength to
overcome those weaknesses and help me- to
make my future life what it ought to be-
God, from my nnermost heart, | ask Thee
to help me to do what is right in Thy sight
and although the whole world should doubt
L VIII still believe. Grant me this and l
care not for prison bars. confinement or
| earthly sufferings. Help me- O Lord
God, grant us Thy pardon and then only
will we be satisfied with our lot. G. A.
Jan. 5, 1883.