Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-03-21


who is. and was, and is to be, there is
no yesterday and no tomorrow. But
we are creatures of time. hundred
years ago we were not; in another
hundred years we shall not be-not, at
least, in the visible world, taking part
in its social or political affairs, nor
in the visible church, sharing her
struggles and aspirations. We look
before and after. Our past may
kindle inspiration or remorse, accord
ing as we have been faithful or unfaith-
fuI TO the, best that we knew. Our
future may fill us with hope or despair
according to our temper of mind, and
to our use or misuse of the past. But of
the past and of the future we are not
| masters; we command nothing but the
present. The past is past, the future
! is Gods, the present alone is ours. We
cannot choose in the past; it is gone,
and with it all power of modifying it
by the free exercise of our will We
cannot choose in the future; we may
never see the day to which we post
pone our decisions; some future GER
tainly we shall never see. The pres
ent only is the time of choice.
1t is often said that most men live
IN the present. In one sense, that is
true; In another sense, it would be
nearer the truth to say that few men
really live in the present in any pro-
found sense of the word ''live" at all.
The old man lives proverbially in the
past, with its memories of the good old
times; the young man lives in the fu-
ture, when the tolls and hardships of
the present have won for him means
and leisure. We live in any day and
every day but the day that is ours, the
day that is passing-to-day.
| 1t is so hard to realize the infinite
value of the present day. The past,
which we think to be so fair, as it lies
in the golden light of memory, was
once the present. Did we think it fair
then? The future, whose rosy bril-
lance beckons us across the years,
Will one day be the present. Shall we
think it so radiant then? No sane
man would dream of despising the
pleasures of memory or hope; but the
present, with its claimant opportuni-
ties and its solemn responsibilities,
ought to be as inspiring force in our
lives as the past with its memories, or
the future with its hopes. The pres
ent, which we think so commonplace,
viii some day be a past, which we shall
probably think beautiful. Why should
we not think it beautiful now? This
day holds in its bosom the memories
of the past and the hopes of the future.
But 1T is greater than the future and
the past, for we have it, but we have
not them. We, then, who are alive
this day, breathing Gods air, looking
up to His Heaven, have still the pres
ent in our hands, therefore let us
choose. 1t is to-day that is the accept
ed time-to-day, and no other day.
Day by day God is pouring upon His
thoughtless children His treasure of
golden hours. They will pass all too
soon away-and then?
We are yet in the enjoyment of
health and strength and unclouded
mental vision. Whether our brain
Will be clear tomorrow, and our DOW
ers of resolution unimpaired, we do
not know. Reserves come like a thief
In the night. The INDIGESTION of to-day
oripples the resolution of tomorrow.
ut is always to-day with God" said
Origen-but it is not always to-day
with us. Therefore, while it is called
to-day, let us harden not our hearts.
but choose. If we refuse to enter now
into the beautiful house in which
Christ is longing to spread His table
before us, there may come q time
when the door will be shut
The Importance of choice is obvious.
the time no choose is to-day. But
what are we to choose? The path of
service. 1--WE will serve the Lord
The noblest and the rarest choice is
the choice of service, and the wisest
service is the service of the highest
and best. The only choice on which
anything really vital ever depends is
the choice of that which we shall
serve. Serve something we must. We
were born to serve. Day by day we
have humbly to serve Natures great
and unerring laws, or she would sweep
us out of existence; and hour by hour.
in the problems that cross our path,
we are serving Cod and Christ or our
selves-if not God or Christ, then our
selves. No man is so profoundly the
slave of himself as the man who
thinks he is his own master. Jesus
choice was the choice of service. ''He
was in the form of God" sharing His
ineffable glory; but ''He made Him
self of no reputation, and took upon
Him the form of a servant, and was
made in the likeness of man, and
humbled Himself, and became obedi-
ent unto death" That was the hard
rough path that Jesus deliberately
chose for us men and for our saliva
ton; and, as the Father sent Him, so
He sends us on a mission of service TO
all whom we can help. 1t is this that
gives unity to His life. ST am among
you as he that doth serve" And it
was He Himself who taught us that
we serve Him by serving those who
need our service. "Inasmuch as We
have done it unto one of the least of
these my brethren, We have done it
unto me-"