Times-promoter., 1903-01-02
THE PROMISED LAND.
L. Lies Before every One in the Pos
sibilities Of the New Year.
Seasonable sermon by the "Highway
and Dyway'' Preacher on Calcb's
brave appeal and PauPs
Noble Purpose.
tCopyr!ght, 1902, by A. N. kellogg News
paper Col

sess il (the LAID; for we are well alb
TO overcome it.",-Numbers 1890
This one thiag I do, forgetting thos
tElnss which are behind, and reaChin
fcrth unto those things which are before
press toward the mark for the prize c
the high calling of God in Christ Jesus
philippians S:13-14.
The world loves a hero. 1t has tn
profoundest admiration for the brave
manly man. 1t is ever ready to ap
plaud the man of conviction VIII,
courageously stands up in the face o
opposition and declares for the right
1t is willing to step aside and giv'
place to the man of noble purpose
who is persistently pushing toward
a high ideal. 1t is even eager, al
times, to catch the inspirat tion of q
noble purpose and follow the lead OF
She fearless pioneer as he blazes the
way into the new country of en-
larged possibilities. Such characters
mny, 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
1all upon our ears. Caleb, that in
trepld explorer, that fearless fighter,
that true-hearted patriot; and Paul,
chat magnificent soldier of the cross
OF Jesus Christ, that sure, steadfast
leader, that untiring preacher and
writer. They stand before us in all
or 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 cowardlv fear
cast upon him by the other ten spies,
and with the faint-hearted and rebel
hous people surging about him,
stands up and courageously pleads;
Let us 60 up at once and possess il
{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 overshadowino him
as he wrote to his beloved Philippian
church, sees beyond his prison wall
and the limitations of his surround
ings, and eXclaims: "Thi5 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 DOS
'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 ard 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
60" 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
ng journey of the Old Year has been
made. The discouragements, and dis
appointments, and failures, and mis-
axes of the past are forgotten as ,
you climb the mountain of hope and !
yaze off toward the Promised Land
If the New Year. The pathway of the !
Quincy by which you have come :
'ears the ineffaccable imprint of your ,
feet. Here and there the =
footprints lead from the right path. :
1t numerous places along the way !
nay be seen the ouagmires and pit
alls into which you have tumbied. !
lou may not retrace your steps and y
mark out a different record. but in ,
he Promised Land of the New Year >
our feet may follow a straighter I
nd better course. And this is the
Message which comes to us out of =
iod's Word. Caleb's brave hand /;
caches down through the centuries
nd grasps the strong hand of the
.postle Paul and they two unite \
heir voices in the beautiful harmony i!
f a single purpose as they plead h
nth you and me to go up and pos G
ess the Promised Land of new op- g
d
AS the fading days of the Old Year S
row less and less, and the dawnino f;
new calendar year begins to t,
sdden and glow on the horizon of q
ime, it seems most natural for the o
uman heart to be impressed with t,
le thought of closing of old ac. W
11lnfS and the oDanino Of ro.., RI | l.,