The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1903-01-02
THE PROMISED LAND.
It Lies Before Every One in the Pos,
sibiIities of the New Year.
Sc casonabIe Sermon by the ''Highway
and Bywny" Prea cher on CaIeb's
Brave Appeal and PauFs
Noble Purpose.
copyright, 1902, by A. N. kellogg News
paper Col

Chicago, Dec. 2s 1862.
Texts:-"Let us go up at once and pos
cess il (the land); for We are well able
to overcome it."-Numbers 1880.
This one thing 1 do, forgetting those
things which are behind, and reaching
forth unto those things which are before
L press toward the mark for the prize of
the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-4
The world loves a hero. 1t has the
prOfOundest admire. .tion 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.
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 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 ali
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 cowar1ly 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
fthe 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 ]
do, forgetting those things which are
behind, and reaching forth unto those
things which are before, 1 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
sihilitieS. 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
ful 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
reding weight, with every muscle set,
and his eye fixed steadfastly on the
goal. listeus eagerly for the word
"Go," tn will send him speeding
over the curse 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 discouragements, 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 a straighter
and a better course. And this is the
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 single purpose as they plead
with you and me to go 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 a new calendar year begins to
redden and glow on the horizon of
Time, it seems most natural for the
human heart to be impressed with
the thought of a closing of old ac-
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
tance in the journey covered, and a
new stretch begun. With the begin
ming of the New Year, more than any
other time, are beginnings made,
hopes revived, and new grip on life
and its possibilities taken. 1t is
season of grave digging and garden
making. With a sigh of relief the
past is laid away and covered over
with the fresh soil of new purposes
and desires, and in this productive
coil tho finu caod Of bona iS