Mower County transcript., 1902-12-31
THE PROM ISED Ian D.
It Lies Before Every One in the Pos
zsibilities Of the New Year.

se.sonable Sermon by the t'Hishvvay
and Byvvay" Pren cher ON Caleb's
Brave Appeal and Paul's
Noble Purpose.
copyright, 1902, by A. N. Kellogg News
-, paper Col =
; ! Chicago. Dec. q. 1907.
Texts:-"Let US go. up at once and pos
sess It (the landJ; for we are well able
to overcome it."-Numbers 1880.
This one thing / do, forgetting those
things which are behind, and reaching
forth unto those things which are before;
y press toward the mark for the prize OF
the high calling Of God In Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14. =
The world loves hero. It has the
profoundest admiration for the brave,
manly man. 1t is ever ready to ap-
plaud the man" of conviction who
courageously stands up in the face OF
opposition and declares for the right.
It is willing to step aside and give
place to the man of noble purpose,
who is persistently pushing toward
a high ideal. It is even eager, at
times, to catch the inspiration of a
noble purpose and follow the lead Of
the fearless pioneer as he blazes the
way into the new country of en-
larged possibilities. Such characters
may, perchance, be found in profane
history. Certain it is that they are
found in the sacred history of Gods
Word.
Two such characters step before
us as the words of our double text
fall upon our ears. Caleb, that in
trepid explorer, that fearless fighter,
that true-hearted patriot; and Paul,
that magnificent soldier of the cross
of Jesus Christ, that sure, steadfast
leader, that untiring preacher and
writer. They stand before us in all
of their overtowering manhood; Gods
noblemen, their feet resting on the
eternal purposes of the Divine
will, and their hearts as true as steel
and as uncompromising for the right
as the mountain that feels unmoved
the breath of the tempest. Caleb,
with the black looks of cowardly fear
cast upon him by the other ten spies,
and with the faint-hearted and rebel
lious people surging about him,
stands up and courageously pleads:
''Let us go up at once and possess it
(the land); for we are we'll able to
overcome it, Paul, with the clank
of the chains sounding in his ear,
and with the form of the powerful
Praetorian guard overshadowing him
as he wrote to his beloved Philippian
church, sees beyond his prison wall
and the limitations of his surround
ings, and exclaims: "This one thing I
do, forgetting those things which are
behind, and reaching forth unto those
things which are before, I. press to-
ward the mark for the prize of the
high calling of God in Christ Jesus"
Caleb and Paul stand face to face
with the Promised Land of new pos
sibilities. In the unknown realm
toward which their steadfast gaze
was turned, hope and aspiration paint
an attractive picture of fresh tri-
umphs and enlarged opportunities,
and they are eager to go up and pos
sess the land. Caleb, with his faith
full sword at his side and Gods sure
promise of victory in his heart, is i'm
patient for the commando: Forward,
march," Paul, stripped of every i'm
peding weight, with every muscle set,
and his eye fixed steadfastly on the
goal, listens eagerly for the word
&C.," that will send him speeding
over the course to obtain the coveted
prize.
No less really does everyone who
treads the narrowing border land Of
the Old Year stand face to face with
the Promised Land of the New Year,
than did these two grand Bible he
roes. The long, and sometimes try
ing journey of the Old Year has been
made. The ediscouragements, and dis
appointments, and failures, and mis-
takes of the past are forgotten as
you climb the mountain of hope and
gaze off toward the Promised Land
of the New Year. The pathway of the
journey by which you have come
bears the ineffaceable imprint of your
hurrying feet. Here and there the
footprints lead from the right path
At numerous places along the way
may be seen the quagmires and pit
falls into which you have tumbled.
You may not retrace your steps and
mark out a different record, but in
the Promised Land of the New Year
your feet may follow straighter
and better course. And this is the
message which comes to us out Of
Gods Word. Caleb's brave hand
reaches down through the centuries
and: grasps the strong hand of the
Apostle Paul and they two unite
! their voices In the beautiful harmony
of a single purpose as they plead
with you and me to 60 up and pos
sess the Promised Land Of new op.
portunities. -..
As the fading days Of the Old Year
grow less and less, and the dawning
of q new calendar year begins =. to
- d