The Neshoba Democrat., 1909-12-23
the passing hours Of time so soon to

the passing hours Of time so soon to
be merged into eternity.
The effect that this truth has upon
conduct is displayed in many ways
not the least evident of which is the
manner of dealing with lives that
dwell within the shadows. The trav.
eler may search amid the ruins of
Rome and Greece or wander among
the recently excavated cities long ago
buried beneath the dust of the centu.
ries, but nowhere will he find the sug-
gestion of hospital or an asylum for
the unfortunates of the earth. The
care which the modern world bestows
upon those who suffer from the ills
and misfortunes Of our human lot is
bestowed in the name of our risen
Lord. The words we speak to solace
hearts bereft of loved companionship
are declarations of our kinship with
him whose resurrection is a pledge of
our own. The assurance with which
we close our eyes to sleep the last
sleep is possible because as he lives
we have the promise of an eternal
awakening.
The Blessing Of This Light.
Because Of the reality of this mes.
sage we are persuaded that neither
death nor life, nor things present nor
things to come, can separate us from
the love of God" But we can per.
suade nobody to believe us unless we
live the resurrection life. For the
message is of such a kind that to be-
lieve it transforms the believer. He
Is no longer Indifferent to his per-
sonal Obligation to individuals whom
he may comfort by his testimony or
to the agencies through which he may
send the great gift of the truth to
hearts and lands shadowed by igno-
rance, by sorrow and by sin.
The first effect of this wonderful
manifestation Of Gods care for us is
to compel the man who believes the
revelation Of immortality which Jesus
makes to say, Lord, what wilt thou
have me do?" And when he has done all
he can to tell the story, finding the
need of the world so much greater
than he is able to meet, he seeks out
those like minded with himself.
These kindred souls form an assem-
bly,, a church. For church is simply
an assembly of men and women who
have the mind of Christ, who are
minded to do his work in the world,
who as individual members Of the as
sembly and in their corporate capac-
tty as an assembly seek to do as
Christ did and become lights in the
world. And the candle power of the
church is increased only as each mem
Der of the church lets his light shine.
AS the traveller returning from
abroad nears Sandy Hook it may be
his fortune to approach the harbor at
eventide. The shadows are covering
the face of the deep while the ship
plunges on towards port. Presently
as night desceAds the skies begin to
reflect an occasional beam of light.
Though still far at sea the traveller
learns that the night has been pierced
~ eh "a ~" VI iieoiI lloHl tuc llSuI-
house on the highlands of Navesink,
lighthouse whose lantern carries a
light of 100000 candle power, visible,
when reflected from the clouded skies,
for 40 miles. At eventide it is light
and the light is from the harbor of
home, sweet home.
The Glory Of the Lesser Lights.
How many Christians are there?
About 500000,000? One candle added
to another until there are half a bill
lion Christian hearts lighted. And
are all these candles shining? No,
some are hiding the light for various
reasons. Perhaps it is thought that
the little light is too feeble to be of
use, perhaps because to let the light
shine out would mean to clear away
some selfish love of ease. But by so
much as the light is hidden, by so
much is the consummation of Chris
tianity delayed. With tremendous
meaning Jesus said: LET your light
so shine before men that they may
see your good works and glorify your
Father" 1t Is for us to let shine such
light as we possess. So did two dis
ciples not knowing what they did.
They believed indeed that Christ was
dead, And the stranger with whom
they walked to Emmaus, though he
stirred their hearts, remained unrec-
ognized. Eventide had come and they
had reached the home that was to
shelter them. Rest and refreshment
awaited them, but for their companion
there was only the deepening shad-
ows and the coming night. Plying
his loneliness, they gave him urgent
welcome to what they had abide
with us, for it is toward evening and
the day is far spent" And accepting
the invitation he entered the house
with them. Wondrously did the light
shine that eventide! Most memorable
that hour when at the twilight meal
he became known to them in the
breaking of bread Believing him
dead. he had nevertheless risen in
their hearts. His presence there had
made possible their tenderness and
their ministry to the strangers need.