The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-13

The story from which the text IS taken
Is aimed at those who expect 10 win heav-
n without complying with the conditions
ettached-who fancy some especial mercy
will be granted them in the last moments
OF life; who, though immersed in selfish
ness and covered with wickedness, trust
that they may be TRANSPORTED in the hour
of death, and find the white garment OF the
saints cast about them.
Let us get this firmly fixed in our
thought-the only heaven possible on earth
or in the skies. is in learning Gods laws
and obeying them. The gospel invitation is
to a life of joyousness and companionship
with God-but certain conditions are at
tached which IL omitted annul the contract
We find these conditions barring every
avenue to success. The farmer may have
full graneries-but he must first follow the
pillow, swing the cradle, and win the har-
vest by the sweat Of his brow. He cannot
have full bins by going into his closet and
praying for il. To the young enthusiast
fame paints the skies in glowing colors'
and holds out inviting arms-but long life
of application and drill. alternate conquest
and defeat, lies like a desert between him
and his goal The portal 10 every attain
ment is guarded by the angel with the
flaming sword I'm his hand. Unworthy feet
may not press into the sacred Enclosure
reserved for the faithful No man has
reached eminence in business, profession or
character at slight cost.
No. he who wears the white robe has
come out of great tribuIation. The laurels
of this world and the next belong only to
the victor. The gospel invitation is as
broad as the dome OF the sky above us-it
embraces all nations, all sects. all hues-
yet there are memorable conditions at
tached to it. If there were not IL would be
worthless It's very nature makes struggle
imperative glory that may be obtained
for a song would soon lose its attraction
and cease to be glorious.
AN INCONSISTENCY.
There is a fatal inconsistency among us.
We realize that art yields her secrets only
10 the tireless and the constant. That in
concentration lies the power of pre-emi-
nence in these rushing times. That there
IS no royal road to learning. or to prof.
cheney in any calling. Yet we trust that
the qualifications of a heavenly pre-emi-
nence are radically different. We dream of
golden harvests in the future Worthwhile
we sow here the seed Of negligence and in
virtues will somehow blossom out miracu-
lousy under more favorable climatic con-
ditions.
A God lives, this will never happen until
we awaken and apply our slumbering ener-
gies to the task of wedding out the evils
and cultivating the excellencies. One
might as well wait for some angel to paint
his house. bring him food or induce Gus
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wait for a knowledge of the Hebrew Ian
zuage to suddenly flash upon his intellect.
And the longer he waits the worse off he
is. VIII the young man find it easer in
later years to lay the foundations of char
acter or business ability? Even a day lost
Is irreparable. There are things that can
be done easier now than at any later date.
Idleness in youth, when the mind is most
plastic, is more than so much time lost.
Each day and season has it's own lessons
that must be learned then or never. If we
neglect the studies of the first year in
school they crowd out those of the second,
and so on forever. And this is equally true
in character. We win or lose heaven by
neglect or answering loyalty to the laws
that govern character
This invitation to the heavenly banquet
meets with almost universal excuse, as we
read. lone went to his farm and another
TO his merchandise" The Indifference Is
at first thought matter of wonder. Al
most everybody enjoys banquet-it is not
usually difficult to get people to a royal
good dinner. Every chair is filled, and the
excuses are from those who are either i'll
or prevented by previous engagement.
Now why do not all hasten TO the banquet
of God when the welcome is so broad and
the feast so delightful? question or two
will. perhaps. make the answer clear.
Why are not all sitting at the banquet
OF exalted attainment to-day? Why are
we not all eminent in our business or pro-
fession2 MANY are called, but few are
chosen" We are called to become great
artists, great lawyers, great business men,
pure statesmen exquisite musicians, loving
and great-hearted citizens-why do we not
accept the invitation? Simply because of
the conditions attached. This is why we
are not all pressing up the shining ways
that lie before US. We want these things,
but we do not care TO pay the price When
James and John asked for places at the
right hand and the left. Christ replied:
"Can you pay the price. can you drink the
cup?"
NOT GROUND OF EXCUSE.
Lack of opportunity cannot be our ex-
cuse. for If we were in dead earnest we
should create opportunities. Nothing
stands in the way of the genuine enthusiast.
The mountain ranges dwindle into mole
hills before him. When they told Napoleon
that the impossible Alps lay between him
and the territory of his enemies, he re-
piled. NTnere snail De no AlpS-forWard!''
The stammering Demosthenes practiced
oratory with pebbles in his mouth by the
sounding sea until he electrified his gen.
Grafton with his eloquence. Ii is because
the requirements have seemed too much
for US that we are not sitting at the feast
to-day.
The heaven of the future-and the only
one there isles in attainment to the like
ness of the ideal man-Christ Dishonesty,
fmpurfty, seIfshness-even though they be
accompanied with millions OF money-will
never make US happy. We may only reach
that. here or hereafter by banishing these
from our lives.
Another difficulty is that this kind of a
heaven does not seem the desirable one TO
many-just as in childhood we do not
realize the value OF an education II is
when We reach mature years that we see
what we have lost. We live too much in
the present-and are too content with eat
Ing and drinking. wearing fine clothes and
making money. We forget that these ere
OF value only as they contribute TO our
manhood. These are TO pass away very
soon. We psay not take dollar with US
through the tomb. nor a garment, nor a
house. nor diamond-not even our bodies.
We shall stand in the white light OF the i'm
mortal land robed only in our character.
These are the two vital reasons why
do not hasten 10 the banquet of God-either
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