The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-06-17
What zaccheus's Story Teaches.


II one of our politicians whose. shady in.
tegrty is an open secret should one day
happen to go abroad where some followers
OF Jesus were holding an open-air service,
and should idly stop and listen, and there
in the press of the crowd should come face
to face with the Master, and should hear
with startled surprise the voice of his
Lord speaking to him alone out of all that
crowd-as many heart does to-day feel
the. Lords Call-and should answer Him
with glad thrill of joyful welcome. and
should come down surprised and willing
from his tree Of curiosity TO the actual
taking Of Jesus into his home and life, he
would be confronted with much such q
problem as Iaccheus had to face.
In the first place. Iaccheus's business was
against. him. He was 4 publican. And
tax collector in those DAYS was as shrewd
and unscrupulous as any city ring. Dis.
tricts were farmed out or sold to the high.
est, bidder, and everything that could be
collected above the required amount for
the government went into the pocket OF
the tax collector. The temptation. there.
fore, to eXtort'ou was almost irresistible.
All appeals had to be made TO the Roman
courts. The publicans had the backing OF
the government. Circumstances laid n bar.
rier wide and high across the path of non.
cstv.
Then the standard of right and wrong in
his busiress world was lamentably low.
II a publican cheated \ man he uuieted his
conscience by assuring himself that it was
all in the way OF business. We are helped
or hiuiered more than we know by the
moral atmosphere that We breathe. 1t is
fcnliuiy hard thing for man TO be good
when he knows that everybody sets him
down as rascal Xaccheus had no repu.
tation to sustain. He was not expected to
he good man, an honest man or q
Christian.
Vet 2aochcus had heard the Saviour's
call and his own heart was set vibrating
with an answering welcome. The clear
.l@ht OF the eyes OF the only Perfect Man
shore into his. and he saw his own life in
al its deformity OF sin. Instantly new
honesty is born within him. He does not
hasten into his rooms ahead of the Master
- hide al traces of his business, hoping
thus TO escape censure for his wrongdoing
but at the very threshold, before the Lord
enters, he confesses his own shaliy charac
ter and at once promises a new order of
things. Zaceheus'S surrender of himself
IS entire He withholds no corner of his
heart for himself and his future occupa.
ton. II Is all given up to his new guest
And II is not only to-day" one feels sure
that Jesus abode with Iaccheus, but all
the rest OF the days OF his life.
There. are men and women to-day to
whom Jesus offers His friendship Just as
freely. as He offered it to Zaccheus that
day-braving public opinion which said
that 9 jew should not visit nor eat with
publican and sinner-to whom He would
come rs freely. but they have not Zac.
cheus'S answering chord of welcome in
their hearts when they hear the unexpect.
ed call. Some of them are afraid TO get
up into the sycamore tree even for curl,
oslty's sake, lest they will be laughed at.
Ioccheus was seeking Jesus Just out Of
curiosity, to see what He was like but
even 60 much of turning toward Him
God honors. Jesus met this seeking bv
looking straight up into his face and Of
iering him a personal friendship. 1t is
but another proof of the promise. "If We
seel; Him lie will he found of thee"
There Is something for us to note here,
If we arc. trying to walk in Jesus's foot.
steps and win back some soul to Him.
Jesus offered the man His friendship at
once, rich and full and free. He did not
speak of his sin, but said, Come down,
for ! am going home with You"
TO my house? What! Me. sinner"
might any Iaccheus cyclaim. "Yes," you,
Ii YOU viii have Him.
Ii Zaccheus had been sick ! presume
there were those among his Jewish friends,
even among his Pharisee neghbors, who
would have gone for the doctor. If he had
been a beggar they would have thrown
nm some money or some food. But gone
to his. house, not much! They would not
have lost an opportunity to talk to him
"Oout MS SIN, DuC tney would nave mad
n.,hing to do with him. We sometimes
make that mistake. We try to reach the
sinner before we recognize the man. And
one touch OF Jesus's hand opened the mans q
heart and made him eager to put away
his sin. Mark this: 1t was before Zaccheus
made any offer Of restitution that Jesus
told him He would go home with him.
Zaccheus is one of the few persons OF
whose salvation positive affirmation is
made. This day il salvation come to this
house" That was Zacchers's blessing.
This lesson throbs with the meaning Of
Christs lifework to seek and save the
lost. They must be saved. for Jesus loves
them.-Grace Livingston Hill, in the New
York Mail and Express.