The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-17
Corinthians, Be We imitators of me
even as / also am Christ"

even as ! also am Christ"
A Young Mans Career.
Much of the evil that troubles the
world is merely misdirected energy.
This cannot be altered by prohibit
tions, any more than child can be
Well trained by ceaseless "don'ts." The
forceful life must find expression; we
create. moral Yacuums by our mega
lions, Young persons of the saul type
are bound to be and do something:
the only question is the character of
their career. Shrewdly, the Jewish
leaders took up the promising young
teacher. They gave him avenues for
the outgo of his energies.
These very men. often set adrift as
"black Sheep are the very best ones
that the Church and the state need
most. The new body of Christian be-
levers especially needed such. Jesus
himself covets this strong, brave spir-
it. Though he had passed from earth,
Christ still yearned for the disciple
ship of such a vigorous character as
this well-equipped young prosecutor,
who fairly breathed forth threatenings
and slaughter against the new sect.
Heaven is more interested in earth
than earth ever suspects. God cares
for individuals with personal, watch
full concern that mortals cannot real
lie. Looking from his throne in heav-
en-, Christ saw Saul fastening toward
his cruel Damascus goal, and, as In the
case of the goodly young man of an
earlier day, fbeholding him, loved
him"
The Lord himself thought the con-
version of this choice spirit of imppr-
lance enough to warrant another
earthly temperance. He could not
trust any messenger with this momen-
tous message. so he went himself.
A Vision-A Transformation.
Behold, the wonder-a master logi-
oia nd T1hj1nGnT1h ia RnnUarfR6 not
by overwhelming argument. but by a
vision The psychologist is Wen
through his emotions. The disciplined
nationalist is conquered by a spiritual
confusion the high and the mighty.
The profoundest intellect, as well as
the simplest faith, is overwhelmed
when it is given a clear vision of the
inevitable Christ.
Amid a light brighter than the
shimmering Oriental noontide, Saul
saw Jesus All his philosophy and
flueney disappeared on the instant,
and he could only stammer ont the
needless question, "Who arg thou,
Lord ?" A modern philosopher, using
the favorite current shop-talk of his
trade, would call that magnetism. 1t
was truth in demonstration. To that
experience Saul thenceforward appeal
ed This was the bedrock of his new
faith; he had seen Jesus, and seeing
Jesus had made a new man of him.
eve would see Jesus-this is all we're
needing,
Strength, Joy and willingness come
with the sight;
We would see Jesus, dying, risen,
pleading.
mortal night"
The way Saul was made over is still
the way new men-who alone can
make new social conditions-are to
be secured for the world. A transform
ing spiritual experience, which will
bring men into allegiance to the ideals
and personality of Jesus. is the deep
est need of our day. Not a new social
environment imposed upon the old hui
man nature, but new hearts in indiEi-
dual men and women is what alone
can heal the Ills of the present social
order. Nothing would so bless our
generation as for our people to have
Saul's experience of confronting
Christ, and entering his diseipleship.
A New Ananias Club.
Blinded by the radiance of his vision
and all his old world hanging In
shreds around his heels, Saul was led
into Damascus. There he remained
in darkness for three days, fasting the
while, and breeding over the ire
mendous experience which he ever af-
ter regarded as his new birth.
There he was found by disciple
named Ananias, sent by Jesus. Let
us advertise the fast that there is in
the New Testament another Ananias
besides the liar This is a different
sort of man Would that there could
be in every Sunday-sehool an Ananias
club of boys pledged to be helpers like
him. He was an ST am here" man,
not afraid to obey even where he did
not understand. Sent to instruct Saul,
the arch prosecutor, whose very
name was a terror to the Christian
community, he went whele-hearted,
saluting him as Brother Saul" His
part was a lesser part, such as falls
to the most of US; but he did it well.
Thus he became identified with Saul's
life and work, and a sharer in all the
triumphs of the kingdom that were
effected through this made-oyer per-
secutor.