The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-05-30
Three Djfficult Questions.

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way,
the truth, and the life; no man cometh
unto the Father, but by Me.-John
xiv, g..
These words Of Christ to His per-
picked disciple, Thomas, are an answer
to doubters in every age. jeremiah ex-
claims, where is the good way" Pr
late cries out, What is TRUTH" James
asks, what is your life? Three
burning questions, therefore, in hui
man experience are here presented to
us, viz, whom to follow, what to be-
lieve, how to live.
Whom to follow. We are blinded by
sin, weakened with inherited corrup-
ton, befogged with an evil environ
ment and yet seeking and struggling
for the right path. Something within
US is eve crying out for the way of
life. And the promises Of God all
point to the fulflment of these desires.
But how can Christ be said to be the
way back to right living and to God?
great loving heart Of God to us. Tho
Fatherhood Of God is made plain and
real to US by Christ. AS he lived in
the Father and with the Father, SO
may we. Be a follower of Him, for a
knowledge Of Christ opens eyes; it
never darkens them.
A second question facing US In daily
experience is what to believe. This
may not be an age of doubt greater
than some previous ones, but it Is q
time when many things are being re.
stated and differently stated. Under
these circumstances many and many q
one to-day is asking, and I believe with
an honest heart, AFTER all, what is
TRUTH" Back to the Christ must this
generation 90, as all others have had
to do, if they would know what to be-
| .ieve in the face of all the new discov-
cries and improved opportunities OF
this century. Christ's' golden rule OF
putting yourself in the other mans
place and acting accordingly has never
been set aside. Christ exemplifed that
rule perfectly. Do you ask, like Plate
In his bewilderment, what is, truth?"
I point you with Joy to the Christ and
bid you accept and initiate Him, and
thus find a solution Cor all your doubts
and errors.
A final question in daily experience
Is how to live and act. The inspiration
and " to live Alright must come
from the same source-the Christ. 1t
10 He who prompts to noblest duty
and to the most philanthropic service.
The nations of the earth can newer ex-
press all they owe to Christ and His
followers for what they are. The
world of trade and commerce does not
comprehend its debt to Him and His
for the light Of life thus brought to the
regions beyond.
Christ is the life Of all morality, too.
Sometimes morality descends by inner
ltance unacknowledged. Sometimes IL
enters into the life of q man like con-
tagion from his environment. Some
times a mans own selfish heart con-
vinces him that to be moral Is to do
the best thing for himself. Yet, in its
final analysis, the great cause of up
rightness, of purity, Of self-sacrifce, OF
disinterested love is the Christ.
Christ is the life, the rock OF truth,
upon which His church was founded.
His divinity, as we'll as His humanity,
His Infinite power as we'll as His most
human love, must ever be acknowl-
edged by the church bearing His name.
Christ is the life of the home. How
often He sanctifed the joys thereof
while upon earth! And He has never
since ceased in such ministrahons OF
love. ..
But more intimate than all this is
His nearness and power within the in
diyidual. To you and to me in u
sweetest joys and in our most difficult
tasks of life. in cur moments OF great
est hopefulness and in our seasons OF
deepest depression, in our days Of larg.
. est i%ngathering and in our times or
keenest loss Christ is Jul life.-AndreW
Hageman, Assistant Minister Colleg-
late Reformed Church, in the Sunday
Hpro11-