Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1912-06-07

Gaining lOIlh NHO
confession of need, and assuring him
of the possibility of healing. Tnus
the Great Physician constantly deals
with souls, to convince sinners OF tneir
need of healing and to teach chris
tians that theer are still defects IN
their own lives. In the one case 1ali-
ure of faith prevents healing; in the
other. lack of submission prevents
Wilderness.
The study Of the impotent man Is
interesting from every point OF view;
and the place at which the healing oc-
Cured is signifcant-Bethesda, mean
ing house OF mercy. The waters OF the
pool had certain curative properues'
but the man of the story was In sucn
a plight that he had no friends to put
him into the pool when the water was
troubled. 1t requires no strength OF
the imagination to suppose that his
reply to Jesus not only was full OF
pathos. but also full of great long
ing, for notice the quick response and
the great result: Jesus saith unto
him rise, take up thy bed. and walk
And Immediately the man was made
whole, and took up his bed and
walked"
The main point Of the story is in v.
"a: Verify, verify, say unto you. he
that heareth my word, and believeth
on him that sent me, hath everlasting
life, and shall not come into condem-
nation; but is passed from death unto
| life" This Is really the gospel In
sentence, for the supreme purpose OF
Jesus was to give life and to heal us
from all infirmities.
We need not describe eternal life;
but 1t is desirable, glorious and neces-
sary. You cannot take a sin-sick
ruined soul out of this world and in
habit heaven with 1t in the next. You
cannot. There is no such thing after
death as a spiritual revolution. God
would have to shut you in. The glo
ries Of heaven would mean nothing
to you, the songs OF heaven would
be torture to you, and heaven itseli
perpetual torment. So. because eter
nal life is so desirable and is the fret
gift Of God, through Jesus Christ oul
Lord, the question is pertinent, Wi
thou be made whole?"
The conditions upon which you ar
made whole, of passing from dealt
unto life, are knowledge, repentance
belief, obedience They are so cas-.
that we make them hard and miss tn
| blessing because we do not accep
i them in their simplicity. Eternal LII
! in such a case is not gift that W
: cannot have but that we will not have
Let US never forget two outstandin
, things about sin: l. It defiles. Sin
not manly, and ever since the da
5 when the devil beguiled Adam an
Eve the trail of the serpent ha
( wound its way through human natur
5 and through human history, leaYin
defilement in it's wake. 2. Sin d.
J. stroys. This is an old-fashioned do
3 trine but as true as it is old. In spit
I of all that men may say, or hope, c
e do, the wages of sin is death. Their
fore, again the question is pertinen
d Wilt thou be made whole?
d This old-time story is parable an
|. a promise, for Jesus Christ still wal
L to be gracious.
It Every place Of need may be B
d thesda, and just where you are jest
stands opposite your need sayin
X wilt thou be made wholeT By e
r cry possible way he is pleading,
l. Israel, thou has destroyed thyself, b
y In me is thy help" Thousands
Is people of every age and cline ha'
Is found relief, healing and salvation ju
as the man at the pool found 1t tn
day by simple trust.
c wilt thou be made whole?" Tn
is the question. How often Jesus b
had to say, "Ye will not come un
" me that We might have life" What
tragedy when a soul turns away fro
him and goes out into darkness,
spair and death.
N Let the story teach US three thing
al The need of prompt response
o Christ's words, no thought of failu
70 in the future, and continuous use
m the strength which Christ gives. Sc
We the Lord while he may be foun
~ call We upon him while he is nea
Ia let the wicked forsake his way a
the unrighteous man his thought
no and let him return unto the Lord a
he win have mercy upon him; and
an our God for he win abundantly p
" dom"
ly,
a; THE Great Physician now Is near.
No The sympathizing Jesus"
MAN of Sorrows, what a name
| ~ vhr