Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1902-12-26
THE PR ISE D D.I
It Lies Before Every One in the Pos
sibilities Of the New Year. s
Seaoonable Sermon by the "Highway
and Byway'' Preacher ON Caleb's
Brave Appeal and Paurs
Noble Purpose. -
copyright, 1eoe, b. 4, N. Kellogg News
paper Col


Chicago. Dec. Is, 1902.
Texts:-''Let ~ 60 up at once and pos
sess Il (the land; for we are well able
to overcome it"-Numbers 1880.
This one thing I do, forgetting those
things which are behind. and reaching
forth unto those things which are before.
/ press toward tho mark for the prize OF
the high calling Of Gsa in Christ Jesus
Philippians 3:1s-4
The world loves a hero. 1t has the
profoundest admiration for the brave,
manly man. II is ever ready to ap-
plaud the man of conviction who
courageously stands up in the face of
opposition and declares for the right.
1t is willing to step aside and give
place to the man of noble purpose.
who is persistently pushing toward
high ideal. 1t 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 tex:
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, steadfac*
leader, that untiring preacher All:
writer. They stand before us in II!
of their overtowering manhood: God's
noblemen, their feet resting on t"e
eternal purposes of the Divine
will, and their hearts as true as ete*''
and as uncompromising for the ric''+
as the mountain that feels unm>veI
the breath of the tempest. Cal"b
with the black looks of cowardly fear
cast upon him by the other ten Snies.
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 c1anE
of the chains sounding in his ear.
and with the form of the powerful
Praetorian guard overshadowin" him
as he wrote to his beloved Phi!ioHian
church, sees beyond his prison w"l1
and the limitations of his surr'nnd-
ings. and exclaims: "Fhis one thing 7
do, forgetting those things which are
behind, and reaching forth unto those
xxyhi hot T
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 command: :"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 acknowledgements, 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 different record, but in
the Promised Land of the New Year
your feet may follow a straighter
and a 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 go up and pos
sess the Promised Land of new on.
| pcrtunities.
AS the fading days of the Old Yea1
| grow less and less, and the dawnine
of new calendar year begins tc
redden and glow on the horizon. OF
Time, it seems most natural for the
human heart to. be impressed with
the thought of closing of old &C.
counts and the. opening of new. Each
year, as it comes and goes. marks
| more or less distinctly in every life
endings and beginnings. It is the
mile stone. that is. set by the road
side of life to indicate certain dis
lance. in the Journey covered. and q