The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-12-09

uld"A HUN OlAol, lAC uoLhoASoS
raelite could point to the tabernacle
and say: The glory Of God still fol.
lows US all through our wilderness
w%anderings in that tabernacle yonder,
and without me it would never have
been complete" Your life, where it
is, is needed for the rearing of some
thing greater and better than the
tabernacle in the world of to-day, and
without it the kingdom of God will
never come in it's fullness. Before
this all other needs of our tine sink
into insignifcance; for the truest
tabernacle for the showing forth OF
God to the world is not a pattern
hidden in the majesty of unapproach-
able heights, nor is it temple or
cathedral, helpful as these may be.
but a life simple outwardly, though
with luxuriant and divine furnishings
within; a life spent on the levels
where our fellow men live theirs.
filled not with such consecrated fur
nishings as adorned the tabernacle
Moses fashioned, but with the graces
and kindly deeds men need to see and
feel heal at hand. This is our work.
as divinely appointed to us as it was
to Moses. 1t is the greater building.
in which all our common tasks and
humblest efforts may have an hcnored
place as truly as die the altar and
laver in the ancient tabernacle.
But for this successful building OF
our lives into Gods purpose we, too,
must seek our pattern in the meunt.
God Himself builds according to
plan. Even a casual glance at His
wonderful world this morning will
disclose that. Purpose and plan are
everywhere. Not n grain of sand
is a law unto ITSELF. Not one flower
blooms, or withers, unbidden. Not
one leaf drops before it's time. Not a
bird note Is unrelated; its music is
born from present conditions and
wakes its own echo. All things fall
into their place and carry out the d.
vine purpose.
This is the method of the divine
building, whether in nature or in hu-
man lives. And it may be so In your
life and mine. We may know Gods
purpose for us and follow it as truly
as the grain of sand, the flower, the
bird of the air. If any man willeth
to do His will" said the Master, "he
shall know" God does not withhold
His plan from any man. The mount
is ever ready for the revealing Of the
pattern, but men must take the time
to learn, to withdraw to its retreat.
The pattern came not to Moses till he
had twice spent forty days and forty
nights in the mount alone with God.
After many years tuition in the
wilderness came John the Baptist.
herald of Christ. The wilderness was
his mount of vision. Handel had a
spiritual ear, and gave the world the
oratorio of the Messiah, and when we
hear it we must not forget the long
period of preparation. Michael An
gelo had the spiritual eye and hand
and painted the f%rescoes Of the Paul
inc Chapel with the representations
Of the martyrdom of st. Peter and
the conversion of st. Paul, and carved
the statues Of David" and "Moses."
If Paul spent three years In Arabia
to mediate upon the vision he had
had of the Christ, who had met him
on his way to Damascus; If Christ
Himself retired. to solitary places for
quiet and prayer, you and I need time
for.such q disclosure Of Gods will for
us as He Is waiting to give. Before
we can rightly a the tabernacle
of our lives in the plain of daily ser
vice we must seek the pattern in the
mount, not Sinai, but the heaven
reaching life Of Christ. The divine
pattern has come near men in Jesus
Christ. We have not to seeklit amid
the perils, darkness and difficulties
of Sinai; it is here with US, built in
all it's divine perfection OF the levels
of our daily needs; supplying US with
all desirable inspirations, helps and
satisfying fellowship, opening the
very vail by which we enter into the
most holy place itself. 1t is not a
mount distant and removed, but a
presence near at hand, familiar with
our needs, to which we may with
draw in moments Of encouragement
or temptation, full Of divine comfort
and solace for the hours Of sorrow,
full of divine strength and vitality in
our days of weakness when all other
help seems far away, full Of gracious
warning when we are careless and
hayward. We need ever to be with.
drawing into this mount, Jesus
Christ, if we are to realize the pattern
in the plain of our earthly living. Be-
cause it is so accessible, so complete
in its" ministry. "See, therefore, that
thou make all things according to the
pattern that was Showed thee in the
mount O..