Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-02-10

self for Christ. Thus may YOU be
willing to go into Arabia for Jesus
after you have been for years bla-
tant and an unrclcnting despiser Of the
cross
Needed Human society.
But there j another fact TO which !
want To call your attention Even in
Arabia with God and Christ. Paul felt
the need of human agency 10 help
him over the rough experiences Of the
Christian life. What did hi do? Let
me read 10 you his very words Mel
thcr went ! up To- Jerusalem 10 them
which were apostles before me, but
went into Arabia and returned again
unto Damascus. Then. after three
years. went up TO Jerusalem TO see
Peter and abode with him fifteen
days" Cannot ynu see what this
means? Why" Paul said to himself.
"bcforc | 20 forth To preach the Cos
pei will 90 and sec Peter. ! will find
out from him what Jesus himself said
ind learn all can of that divine life"
Paul was Il scholar and Peter only an
untaught fisherman. but Paul was will
ing Ia take the learners place. Cannot
you see how wise Paul was in his hui
mility?
Seven days pass by. a whole week
and still Peter and Paul do not cease
their talking Paul asks Peter to tell
him all about Christ Then methinks
can see Peter take Paul's arm and say
Come. Paul want to take you up
to Bethany 10 meet Mary and Martha
and Lazarus. Come. | want 10 show
you the garden of Grthscmanc. where
we all slept. and the palace where
denied him Come. aud will show you
where he died ana where he was rcsur-
rectcd and where hc left us for the last
| time" The days slipped into the first
week then into the second. aud the tif
teenth day came and still they talked.
| Then Paul said. Well Peter. had
| better leave you how and 20 and work
for my Master. We both love him, Pc
ter. You walked with him IN the flesh.
| saw him face 10 face AT Damascus.
May God help me to testify Alright for
llllll. .AN i Nui NfIN uli " JtiuSditlil
TO put himself under the influence OF
Peter. the great Christian apostle are
you AMI ready TO put ourselves under
the care of the noble Christian men
and women who are around us?
And now comes the practical ques
ton, Where are the modern Arabian
deserts In order 10 find one do we
have TO travel 10 Damascus as Paul
did and journey to the east Nay.
We have our Arabian deserts IN the
western hemisphere us well as In Asia.
in our lives as Paul had in his life.
think that one of our Arnbias may he
our sick beds Hour after hour we may
have To lie In the invalids room. oh,
how near 10 God we can then get.
Then another Arabia Is when death
comes TO some of our dear ones
alone, alone" we say IAN, all
| alone" We are not alone. We are In
the desert Then another Arabia Is
when persecution or Islander comes
Our best earthly friends may turn
against us hut God never turns IL we
call upon his name. Another Arabia
may Ice just after we have been living
over again the past Even now we
seem 10 see the dear faces OF our de
parted kindred come up We seem TO
again SEE the day when We first conse-
Grated our lives 10 God AT the church
altar.
My friend who described for me that
trip over the desert told me also about
the wonderful mirages He said they
would be- travelling along. when sud
denly ahead OF them would be- seen a
brook and falling waters aud noun
tainS ana green fields and gardens.
They We're all there He would turn
TO his travelling companion and ask:
do you see thiSf DO you see thatT'
Yes, would be- the answer: Il see
them all That. of course. was only
q false vision. hut here today IN the
Arabian desert of Paul | am not show
| ing 10 you false vision as | ask "Do
you see your old hOmef DO you see
the family NJ prayers DO you see
your father and mother taking you 10
church, 10 you see the mansions In
heaven DO you see your loved ones