The Tupelo journal., 1903-01-02
THE PROMISED LAND.
It Lies Before Every One in the Pos
sibilities of the New Year.
SeasonabIe sermon by the "Highway
and Byway" Preacher On CRIeb's
Brave Appeal and PauI's
Noble Purpose.
copyright, 1902, by A. N. Kellogg News
paper Col

copyright, 1902, by A. N. Kellogg News
paper Col
Chicago, Dec. IS, 1902.
TeXts:-'Let us go up at once and pos
sess II (the land); for we are well able
to overcome it."-Numbers 1890.
This one thing l do, forgetting those
things which are behind, and reaching
forth unto those things which are before.
/ press toward the mark for the prize of
the high calling of God in Christ Jesus"
3:13-14.
The world loves a hero. 1t has the
profoundest admiration for the brave,
manly man 1t is ever ready to APP
plaud the mar 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
d 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 hat they are
found in the sacred history of Gods
Word.
Two such characters step before
US as the words of our double text
tall upon our ears. Caleb, that in
rrepid 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 all
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 Che black looks of ~cowardly 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 is go up at once and possess il
(the land); for we are well 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
~-, ,~ $500. a.TNI. $500
do, forgetting those things which are
behind. and reaching forth unto those
things which are before, | 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
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 commands: 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
"Go,' 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 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 in~effaceable imprint of your
hurrying feet. Here and there the
footprints lead from the right path.
At numerous places along the wa
may be seer 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 curse. And this is the
message which IN to us out of
Gods Word. Caleb's brave hand
reaches down through the centuries
apd 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 op-
portunities.
AS the fading days of the Old Year
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. 1t is the
mile stone that is set by the road
side of life to Indicate a 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, + beginnings made,
hopes revived, and a new grip on life
and it's possibilities taken. It is a