Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-09-29
--ssINe THE MARK.
The ,tcst Failure One Can Make
L. st Implied In the Little
Word .stn,o

Testament word signifying literally
the missing of a mark. This sug-
gests that other familiar word, of
Latin derivation, transgression, which
denotes a stepping over bound or
limit, somewhat in the manner of a
trespasser, says the New York OBJ
server.
1t il perfectly evident that there is
in me world a great deal of missing
% me mark. The marks are of all
kinds, and they are set by various
hands at various stages in the de
velopment of the race, and for very
various purposes. So soon as print
tive man energies from a condition of
absolute savagery up to a plane of
semi-intelligence he begins to estab-
lish marks or standards, rude and
clumsy though they may be, which
his fellows are supposed to regard
in their warning, hunting or feasting.
In this are observable the crude be-
ginnings of human society. AS men
rise in intelligence these norms or
standards, imposed by master-spirits
who have seized the reins of power,
or tacitly agreed to by common con-
sent, increase in number and variety,
and may also perhaps improve in
moral quality. And in a highly de-
veloped, civilized society the marks
OF social or political regulation, or of
commercial usage, are so many as to
be bewildering. The members of such
a society cannot move in any direc-
ton without running up against
bounds and restrictions and regula-
tions curbing zeal or defining duty
in very intricate fashion.
Man therefore has his little marks
everywhere. Many of these are the
mere arbitrary chalk-lines drawn
! arbitrary within, but some are goals
| and bounds that are set at the far
| Their end of hfe's race courses to in
| cite the ardent runner to utmost eff
| forts to obtain the coveted prizes
there to be bestowed. Many, alasl
quite miss the mark in life, stumble
| and fall in the race, or wander of
from the arena altogether. Failures
are numerous, misfits are observable
| everywhere. Humanity finds difficul
ty in keeping itself up to regulation
standard, even when the norm is sim
ply that of a social etiquette, con
ventional morality, or of current eth
| les.
There is moreover a mark which
vastly transcends these pretty by
laws and DOS" and "Don'tS' OF men
though it may include some OF them
and THAI il the law of Sinaitio hoIi
ness. the pure prescription Of the alb
solutely righteous commandment o
Jehovah. When now it is mans lit
tie mark that Is missed we call
bad FORM" or great mistake" o.
perhaps . INTERCHANGEABLE is tn,
word of the statute books. But whel
IL II Gods great mark of holmes
that IL missed there is no term To-
It but that little, awful monosyllable
"sin." compact with infinite terrors
fraught with endless consequences
which In tho word of the Bible. ST.
brings In the idea OF n wrong com
mitted against God, OF an offens
which is not n contempt of court Il
the earthly sense. but which strike
at Heaven, a crime against the Gre
ator, a failure to attain the goal o
that perfection on which God RICH;
fully insists.
There are many earthly marks an
, standards of which II O man fail n
great harm is done. There are NOR
necessary" things in the world whic
after all could be dispensed with tina
: men think. Many a man has faile
in a social or political sense, who ha
succeeded as regards the essential II
terests of life; many a man has bee
disappointed in commercial quests c
educational enterprises who has We
retrieved himself by attaining til
great moral ends of existence. II
emphasis after all is not on man
mark and mans prizes but on God
high, shining mark of holiness. Nor
f, can afford TO miss that mark. I
miss that mark is sin. To continI
5 TO miss it is eternal condemnatio
/ No life can be failure that NEE
the demands of the divine la
r through the merits and grace of IL
Son of God, but human speech cal
: not describe the terror of disappoin
ment and remorse which is certai
to pursue those who, in presence
all Gods pleas and promises, delibe
a taely and steadily miss the mark
His will. Moreover, this terror dee
ems into keenest anguish as he wi
l misses the mark of the Divine w
realizes that not only does God NJ
e will his failure, but rather desir
: his success in reaching the mar
d Does He not, indeed, stand ready
give him power to become a child
: God? While it is true that G,
e warned Israel that the SHINING so
q must die, He also told Israel VIII,
d he persisted in SHINING that he W
L self-destroyed.
: GEMS OF THOUGHT.