Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-11
Gptnortb league
Uopie
The Coming Supremacy Of Christ"
Jer., 31:3334; Luke, 1929.
REV. SAMUEL w. cRAFFLIx.


- INSIDE the walls Of Zion, some
Wy nineteen centuries ago, there hung
upon a cross. One condemned by
his own nation and handed over to execu-
ton by another too weak to protect him
in his innocence. His disciples are scat
tered: his body entombed; his claims dis
credited; his work. apparently, done.
But this Crucified One had made great
claims during His life. He claimed to be
the Son Of God, He claimed to be the
possessor Of all power. He claimed that
If He should be Lifted up from the
earth" He would draw all men," What
of these claims, now that He is dead
His own disciples apparently feel the
same sad disappointment that was ex-
pressed by Cleophas and his companions
on the way to Emnaus: I'VE hoped that
it was He who should redeem Israel"
Three days Of waiting and then. o,
miracle Of miracles, they see Him once
given and every promise is revived, and
that insignificant group OF Galilean peas
ants goes forth to tell Of Him and His
resurrection power to sinful and in
credulous world.
Before we go on to speak Of the topic
let us for moment look at the task
they undertook; the great stone cliff of
opposition against which they hurled
themselves; then let US ask, il we are
still In doubt, concerning the fulfillment
OF those claims made by the Man upon
the cross
Much Of the real glory Of this world
had passed away before Jesus died. The
monuments Of Egypt were already being
gnawed by the tooth Of time. Socrates is
dead 500 years, Plato 400; the Stoics and
the Cynics had given out their rich offer
ings Of moral instruction; Homer had
sung and all the wondrous 1ongings OF the
east had found expression and become
mute. None Of this has satisfied; for the
human heart can never be content to rest
its longfngs upon monuments of stone
or systems of philosophy; luxury soon
pals upon the sincere among men, and
only conscious union with his Maker,
through penitence and prayer. can lift
the burden from the wearied soul
But in failing, these older systems of re-
ltgfon had left a dull Journalism, creeds
without life, priestcraft without power.
ceremony without satisfaction, and it was
against this rampant Of pagan unbelief
that the Messengers Of the King hurled
Themselves. with no weapons save their
testimony and His promise of power. -
They did not falter and they could not
fail. 'The blood Of martyrs became the
seed of the church." and as We trace the
history Of Christianity We see that that
handful of corn" became a great har-
vest, as the hope Of jeremiah and the
promise Of Jesus blend in a mighty tide
of spiritual power that bears to every
land the laborers in the vineyard OF the
Lord.
Two thoughts come to us from the
Scripture and the topic.
/ The Promise. It is truly en- encour-
aging thought to the student Of Gods
Word to remember that these striking
prophecies Of certain success for the
kingdom of Christ come from the very
heart Of discouraging surroundings. Jere-
~. $hA e6Vxyan IN hn<s H. o1nn,r
to be cast into prison by the goddess zedi-
kiah, and as though to strengthen his
faith God gives him the promise Of "a
new covenant" with a superb vision of
the time when the law Of God shall be
craven upon the hearts of men, and ''all
Shall know Him, from the least even to
the greatest"
The lesson from Luke is not less strange
IN its setting of hostile sentiment. Tie
popularity of Jesus has begun to wane.
the shadow OF the cross lies across His
path, He is delivering the final words
TO His disciples. Some one asks, lie
here few that be saved? Jesus answers,
first by an exhortation to earnest striv-
ng on the part Of the inquirer, and then
BY revelation Of q Judgment scene to
come, that must give US all a cause for
he searching OF our own hearts. He
makes clear the twofold truth that many
shall miss the mark" but that from
east and west. from north and south, the
SdSCO SAdA CUTIE, " SCC du0 ShdAC sAAS
triumph Of their King.
, 2. The Fulfillment. The note of triumph
has never wavered upon the lip or in the
heart-song Of those who have seen, with
jeremiah, the vision Of the conquest of
the world by the hosts Of God. Much
less have those who sit at Jesus feet or
who have caught the challenge OF His
cross. the right to doubt that some day
He shall reign
Where'er the sun
Does his successive journeys run.
But how shall this fulillment come to
pass and what are we to have IN ootn
the trials and the triunphs OF this
kingdom? Only as We who
know and love Him hasten forth to tell
in Joyful strains the blessedness or
knowing Him and the joy that Is TO De
found In His service. And for this eerv-
Ice we shall not go unrewarded, For we
are laborers together with God and by
that token we are saved to serve" and
1--WE serve to share: yes, to share His
labor here and His glory yonder. Well
has the poet-prophet called to US:
The sunlight is glancing
Ger armies advancing
To conquer the Kingdoms OF SIN;
Our Lord shall possess them,
His presence shall bless them,
His beauty shall enter them IN.
Gods banner exalted shall be!
The earth shall be full OF HIS knowieoee 90
9lofy.