Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-16
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REV. SAMUEL w. GRAFFLIN.

..:c>*c@:s*s: II; !:
"a Well Spent Life and Its Close
Rom, IA, 7-a; n Tim, 4, 6-s; Num-,
23:1O.
- HERE are two periods in the life OF
III every thinking soul when success
~ Is gagged not by the measure OF
wealth obtained or plaudits won, but or
the basis Of days and hours well spent
Youth is rich in altruism, and looAIne
hopefully along the rosy path Which
stretches at it's feet; promises to spend
and be spent in the service of the less
favored. Age is rich in experience, and,
gazing back upon the weary day by
which it came, knows by grim regret or
solemn Joy that all of good that remains
is the result Of the outgiving and out
going of unselfsh service.
Youth is the blossom of promise: age
the ripe fruitage of time, development
and effort We have three Scriptures as
guides to our thought upon this subject.
One is the keynote Of right living living
in Gods sight; one the wise ejaculation
of one of the weakest. most greedy ana
unwise Of men. and the other. the swan
song Of the great apostle to the Gennies.
Two great thoughts are here
First, the program of the weil-spene
life. What did the greedy seer mean
when he cried, Let me die the death OF
the righteous, and let my last end be like
hisr' He knew that reminiscent age and
dying bed were dread calamities, apart
from righteousness and faith in God. He
knew the dire futility of mere self-seek-
ing He knew out OF both observation
and experience, that ears grow neavy ana
sight grows dim: the palate unrespons1ve
to the fruits and wines; the flesh grows
cold, and the life made up OF pleasures
born of these must shrivel to a hated
husk. to feed the fires OF hell.
The program Of well-spent life con-
ideals; a worthy service born of these;
an age untarnished by the stains OF SIN,
unhaunted by disturbing dreams. OF
hearts uncheered or kindly deeds undone.
which, looking back, may feel no vain re-
greet or, forward, bear the burden OF no
fear.
Second, the close of the well-spent life.
When Ahab sent the message to Ben
Hadad, Let not him that girdeth on his
armor boast himself as he that putteth
it off," he not only sounded a warning
to that blasphemous conQueror, but
touched q deeper truth; namely, that
we are brave in our promises and boast
full of deeds to be done. especially in
youth, but few are proud at sunset.
How glorious is this final word from
the great apostle, II have fought a good
fight: 1 have finished my course: have
kept the faith" Here are courage, COM
pleteness and fidelity. And does he stop
here, as though this were all. either for
hip or US? Nay. but with faith undaunt-
ed and with hope full-blowp he turns
to claim his crown and call to US the
cheering message that we too may share
the large provision Of Gods boundless
grace. Thus ends his life well spent, and
thus may ours, IL lived by Gods great
program for a we'll spent life, be full Of
holy living and Of noble deeds. Thus we
may face the sunset time Of life, not
knowing fear. in the glad hope, that He
who called us to this well-spent life will
claim and crown US as His own.
Founded in Christ, my life takes up His
labor:
Serving for Christ. my soul assumes His
task.
To honor Him and help my needy
neighbor;
Is all l ask.
But He. more kind. will not forget the
serving,
The courage. hope, or tender pity.
shown:
And at the end. far beyond my deserving,
Grants me q crown.