East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-03-08
IAN EMPTY BOTTLE ANDA DYING CHILD


We have before US this evening
the sad story of a faithful maiden
who had served Abraham for a num-
| Der of years. She had become the
happy mother of child, which event
had brought a great deal of discon-
tent I'm the household of Abraham;
and now, at the command of Sarah,
Abraham forces her to leave his
household and we find her at the
time of the story, wanderer in the
wilderness with her child. But it is
not the story so much as the lesson 1
wish to draw from it, that we shall
consider tonight.
The story of Hagar's Punishment
pictures to me the condition of many
who are in the world today. With
her son by her side, Hagar wandered
into the wilderness and could find no
place of safety. So is mankind in
his relation to God today; banished
by sin from fellowship with God, he
finds himself a wanderer in the
world.
There is one thing that God cannot
tolerate; while sin reigns in the heart
there is no use thinking that God can
dwell there. God says: "The soul
that sinneth, it shall die" So we find
man banished from God. He has
spoken against sin from the begin
ming. Mans condition, in his rela-
ton of God as teh result Of a willing
choice. "All we like sheep have gone
astray; we have turned every one to
his own way; that is the old, old
story of man who has gone away
from God and is out of fellowship
with God.
But here is man who tells me
that he is not aware that he has made
willing choice to be separated from
God. 1 would like to say that that
man, in making such a denial, virtu-
ally denies his own consciousness, for
where is the man who is fully con-
cious and does not make choices? II
that man is unmindful of Gods love,
and has not accepted Gods Son, I
say he has made a conscious choice,
which separates him from God.
The reception which Jesus had
when he came into this world, would
indicate clearly the banished condi-
tion of mankind, for no sooner had
he been born than his life was sought.
The soldiers of Herod swarmed in the
streets of that little town of Bethle-
hem, killing at the kings command,
the male children under two years OF
age, and great was the wall that
went up to heaven from the hearts OF
the mothers at that time.
So it was all through his life; many
times did they strive to kill Him, be-
cause they did not recognize in Him
the Messiah, the Son of God. Is II
true that this is being repeated today
When Jesus came into this world he
occupied a lowly place in a manger
because there was no room for them
in the inn. Is it true today that mer
have no room for Christ? Yes, toe
true Many many men have no room
for Christ in their business; many
women have no room for Christ In
their homes.
A father, having a little son pratt
tling at his knee, went away to war
After some years he returned, bearing
bll his pGiSpil Aht ho NNilAhb VI
the hardships of army life. After
greeting his dear wife he advanced
towards his child. But the child who
had grown older, says to his mother
who is that man? 1 don't know
him" Mankind has gone so far away
from God that he does not recognize
Him in the person of Jesus Christ
His Son. Can you imagine how tina
father felt when his child refused hi
embrace? If you can, you may know
something of the yearning in God
heart for you.
Hagar I'm the Wilderness.
The second part of our story tell
US that Hagar wandered in the will
derness. AS long as she had breat
and full bottle of water she did no
realize her precarious condition, o
that she was lost. This very Sunday
while people are worshipping in tn
various churches, there are hundred
of men in the saloons of this city. Yes
there are thousands of men toda,
who will fill drunkards' graves; an
sadder still, thousands of young wo
men who must fill the graves o
drunkards' wives. Lost, lost" wi
be the cry. 1t may be that you d
not realize your condition. When Ha
gar started out she had a full bottl
of water and all the food she needed
1t may be that prosperity today keep
men from thinking of Gods love an
, his provision for them; they are S
, occupied with the affairs of this life
a The young man who planted his field
, and reaped a great harvest so that h
was obliged to tear down his barn
and build greater, heard Gods voic
saying, "Thou fool, this night thy sol
{ shall be required of thee"
When Satan urged Christ to CON
+ mand that the stones be made breat
Jesus said, MAN shall not live b
bread alone but by every word tht
q proceedeth out of the mouth of God
is Is it possible that you are trying
live on wheat bread alone, and NJ
upon the bread from heaven? Som
theory we have heard before" Th'
4 ory? You may not realize it now, bl
\ possibly later, that this is more tina
4 theory.
! A colportuer on one of our chap
I cars had been holding a service, ar
Z was sitting alone at the organ, pla,
! ing. when a young lady rushed baC
* into the car and exclaimed, "Mr. He
u mission I'm lost: 1 want to be saved