Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1914-04-17
ETERNAL HOPE
He is riSenl"


Nazareth carpenter, now nearly
wo thousand years ago, restored
he hearts of his followers who had
een him die on the cross and who
lad laid away his body. and with
t their dearest hopes. 1t is the
same message that ever since has
restored the hearts of that half of
the race that lives in the light call
ed civilization.
That one event should so hold
the race through the ages is itself
a sufficient attestation to its authen-
ticity and to its value. 1t is the
fountain spring of the worlds hope
it keeps the world young it per-
petuatally saves mankind from de-
spair. Without it mankind could
not bear the burden of existence.
The race has recognized but three
Interpreters of Jesus of Nazareth.
namely St. John and St. Paul and
St. Peter. The first interpreted the
resurrection of his Master in the
vision of the many mansions, the
pearly gates, the golden streets and
the heavenly choir; the second In
life-here-and immortality-here-
after-revealed, IN a de known.
brought to light; the third gave
witness at Pentacost in Jerusalem
that by rising from the dead Jesus
authenticated His claims, His philos-
ophy, His message, His gospel, His
theory of the import of human ex-
: istence.
These three interpretations abide
the ages. The centuries have aug
). mented their hold upon the
! race. Today millions bind UP the
}. wounds that Death has made as
:, they mediate upon the Risen Naz-
f arene; and likewise as they comtem-
: plate the Valley of the Shadow in
to which each must pass, they re-
o. store their souls in songs of triumph
g over the last enemy which is Death
where once the race aroped in semi
despair, today it proceeds in Eter-
nal Hope-bearing its burdens with
JOY.
Jesus gave the race much in His
=, Gospel; He gave ussmore In His Per
"a son; but He made His contribution
lie complete when, by descending into
er the grave and rising from it in visi-
10 BILE form. He gave us the one sure
- token of the triumph of Man ovel
LII Death. He thus not only proved
We His Gospel and established His Per
son; but he also revealed to all ineI
m that Death is but an incident; tha
,,t we are immortal creatures; that Ou
life, measured through it by fieetin
hours, days, months or years, is in
deed everlasting: He opened up t
the human race the vista of Etel
nity-He enlarged the mind {
mankind with the infinite perspeC
tive of Immortality; and in tn
rm arme degree He fixed in true pc
spective the cares and trials. desire
,n- and ambitions of the terrestrial e3
-. perience-that at worst or best the
ice are but for a moment that they al
md of value only in the degree in whic
rch they effect the condition of Etern
ty. And so He was first to Civ
), human existence intelligent meaI
lhe ing.
an. On the morning of the Resurre
am ton, therefore, it becomes us to m
only comfort our hearts in the Il
-, umph over Death; but also to S
7tte our lives in the light of that triunI
lrs. to look beyond the Valley of Il
Shadow and, receiving the glory
bic Eternal Hope, to illuminate our da.
, - here with that light; to live not
lay. expectation of Death, but in ii
to light, the holiness, and the gladne
of of Eternal Hope.
Let us understand that we lii
not in vain: that we suffer, if '
ing must, to Eternal Purpose; that
Jain we love, nothing shall separate l
not even Death; that we shall S
:, our loved ones again and ourselv
we'll with them; that the hopes that sal
shall be lifted up; that the heal
Cul- that were wounded shall be heal
in beauty; that the graves that &C
cred the dear forms of loved on
ting and that soon shall receive us, Sh
yet be lighted up with angel "
rnal tants. In wOr |, let the glory