The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1903-10-24


Nn@ truth OF our text?
~ We cannot con-
r, ceiye OF one who
Is truly a child OF God by the proc
~ss OF regeneration through faitn
in the cleansing and saving power
of Jesus blood who does not pe-
iieve that God careth for him In a
peculiar and intimate way AS surely
as the Lord knowetn them that are MS
50 surely does He extend to them spe-
cial care and protection. The Chris
tian believes that God cares for him.
and yet that belief is perhaps more OH
en- theoretical than practical; II Is
more of an abstract conception than II
NJ concrete: Il Is more general In lis re-
Iation TO the affairs Of life than IL is
specific. II is good Christian doctrine.
and affords fruitful topic for prayer
meeting talks. but It Is more difncult
and rare to have the truth lived out In
a practical way In the daily life. When
the way is smooth. and the sun shines;
when the worshipful and devotional
spirit floods our souls with thoughts oil
God. we say: God careth for us"
but when the hard places are encoun-
tered and the suns face Is hid behind
the cloud of adversely; when instead OF
the exultation of the mountain top, we
feel the depression OF the valley OF de-
spondency. then our troubled souls cry
out: Lord, carest Thou not? And
yet God never intended that this text
should be chiefly fair-weather text;
that IL should flash forth its light and
mingie II only with the sunshine; that It
should be the sweet strain of the soul
only when the way was smooth and
easy; but God has hung this blessed
truth on the bright pages OF His Book
so that the Christian might rest upon
IT when all else seemed 10 fail; that
il might be to him a bright star OF
hope shining through the dark clouds
Of adversely: that 1t might be sweet
music swelling In the soul during the
black night of deep sorrow. 1t should
displace doubt with confidence. fear
with calm trust. encouragement with
encouragement.
IN THE latter part OF the fourth chap
| ter of Marks gospel we find an incl
dent which illustrates most clearly
and forcibly this common Christian
weakness. Jesus with His disciples is
sailing over the lake OF Galilee. Dur
ing the night. the storm suddenly
sweeps down upon them. With that
quickness which Is peculiar to the lake
al Galilee. the waters are soon dashed to
raging foam. and the great waves roll
in upon the boat. SO that even those
hardy fishermen feared for the safety
of the boat, and believed that they
were all about to perish. Jesus, weary
after long. hard day of teaching the
multitudes. has sought rest In sleep in
the stern of the boat. All unconscious
Of the storm and the distress of the
disciples. trusting in God. His Father.
lie calmly lies in deep sleep. With fear
and doubt filling their hearts they has
ten to the Masters side and awaken
Him. Then with Impotence. and hall
petuIantly. they exclaim: Master
carest Thou not that we perish" "And
He arose. and rebuked the wind. and
said unto the sea. Peace. be STILL -
And the bowling wind fell until II was
but gentle whispering breeze tanning
their pale and affrighted faces. and the
great dashing waves dropped to rest in
the bosom Of the placid sea. There
was a great calm. broken only by the
tender, Gliding tones of the Master. as
lie said unto them: why are ye SC
fearful? How is II that We have nc
faith?" And a new Kind of fear seized
held upon the hearts OF the disciples
Instead of the human fear in the face
OF physical peril. there came the ex.
cceding fear Of the sinful heart as II
realizes that 1t Is In the presence OF
God. And there is much In this Incl.
dent To instruct and help the Christian
WI HO Is this God whose thought 1.
w towards man and Who cares fol
every detail and circumstance which
affects him? II was failure to recog
niZe who Jesus was; 1t was failure I,
remember what was His power owe
all human conditions. and His faithful
ass towards them. which caused tb,
disciples TO fall into the terrible fea
OF that hour of storm and danger. I
was because faiths eye was dim. an,
their sinful hearts hard and unrespon
sive 10 the Divine presence. that the,
dared To chide Jesus with the cry
.Mastes. carest Thou not that we per
ish?" And II Is failure always on III,
part OF the Christian TO realize VIII,
and what God Is that makes him for
get that God careth for him. II 4
blindness OF unbclicf and hardness O
heart which bring the Christian 3,
dare 10 question and doubt God. an,
10 charge Him with lack Of care fo
Tiie children. How often is forced from
Christian lips the cry: Master. car
est Thou not that I perish?" witt
the storm comes the doubt that Goo
cares Advcrsity. a.iliction. difficulty
troable. shu: God cut OF the horizon OF
life. and VIC fail 10 remember that III
carcs. II Is becar5c so do rot know
our God. The One Who or text de.
clares cares for ps II tie All-Knowine
f;cd. Ne is the AIl-PowerfuI God. re Z.
Itt Fver-Pressnf Cod. He IL the All.