Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-13
The Great Commission
Sermon by
REV. FLOYD w. TOAIKINS.

XIV. $40
This was the theme of the great
Worlds Sunday School Convention held
IN Zurich, in 1918. AS we were gath
cred together there, men and women
from all lands, IT >seemed as II the
Lords command had been fulfilled and
that the blessed Gospel had Indeed
been preached everywhere. Yet, as we
listened to the missionaries we learned
that there are yet millions OF people
and millions Of children who know
nothing of Jesus Christ and OF His saw
ing love. I think the great commits
sion came to us there by Zurich's beau
tiful lake. which some one said re-
minded him of the Sea of Galilec as
itinever had come before 1t. It seemed
n personal plea from the dear Christ.
asking that we who know the Joys OF
Christianity should hasten to share
those joys with our brothers In other
lands For this commission was not
given to the apostles alone. but to
all of the Masters followers: we are
all to carry out as well as we can the
Lords command: go ye into ali the
world and preach the Gospel to every
creature"
COMMISSION WAS GIVEN
HY THE RISEN LORD
There are certain features of this
commission which we should note
First. it was given by the risen Lord
lie had died for our sins and risen
again for our justification. and now in
His resurrection glory He asked the
help of His children. All-powerful In
heaven and on earth. He honored His
people who believed In Him and loved
Hin, by seeking their cooperation in
the establishment of His kingdom.
What glorious copartnership! Christ
the King and His human children
Joined together in proclaiming the
good news to a borrowing and sinful
world. God I'm all His Incompetent
sible might and majesty and dominion.
In His perfect goodness and in His
infinite mercy, calling the faltering.
stumbling, weak men and women of
the world TO work with Him in saving
humanity from eternal death. If there
is anything in all the manifold mystery.
OF he Christian religion which ought
10 appeal to us, IL Is this supreme con-
iescension OF the Almighty In asking
YOU, In asking me. to work with Him.
Oh. may He give us grace to know
our blessed privilege and to respond
quickly to Ills call.
Notice again how soon after His res
direction this call came He did not
wait until the significance OF the mas
terry of death had been in n measure
understood. nor did He delay until the
disciples were wise and good At once
after the tomb was opened, and He
had burst forth victorious. the King
There was to be no delay. Now that
redemption had been accomplished,
now that the great event of the worlds
hlstory had taken place. the work was
to begin. One can almost see with
reverent awe the light shining in the
face of the glorious Saviour as He stood
In the midst of the wondering dis
cfp!es and called them to the task. 1t
was a moment OF JOY. an hour of divine
satisfaction. humanity was free; the
II f,l1
heavens gates stood open and the
Christ-hand rested upon them as the
glad song of triumph burst from tho
angelic chorus.
LEAVES THE SOY OF SPREADING
GLAD TIDiNGS IN OUR HANDS
Now go. My children. and tell the
world about 1t. leave the Joy OF
spreading the glad tdings In your
hands. though shall always be with
YOU. Go everywhere. tell everybody.
from the King on his throne to the
humblest and tiniest child of the cot
tagc: go TO the desolate lands. to the
islands of the sea and to the thick
darkness of the forest: let every one
know that God has been on earth and
with His own hapd has mastered sin
and death" 1t must have been a shin
ing hour when In that little upper
SOON the proclamation was made and
the messenger hidden to 10 quickly
and tell the world about It, Sometimes
we think God delays and Is slow. May
II not be that the delay and slowncss
are ours?
And then, think of the unpreparcd-
ness Of the disciples. Why. they had
hardly grasped the meaning of the
crucifixion of their Master, let alone
the marvel of His return to life. They
were full of ignorance, of doubt, of
fear. still simple, Still filed with hui
man Ideas and desires. still aftlictetsI
with human sorrows or carried away
by little human joys. What were they
that the Lord should make them am
bassadors of the divine kingdom which
was to subduc all other Kingdoms and
make all men kings and priests unto
God? But the Christ knew. II was
not their learning that He wanted. but
their hearts devotion. 1t was not any
explanation of the mystery Of redemp-
ton that they were to give; but rather
fearless declaration of The fact. II
they would give themselves to His
service He would give to them the
power and the persuasive influence.
So to-day He wants us all to tell the
story. Every child. every man and
every woman can go. for He bids them
go and tell how Christ died and rose
again that sorrowing and SHINING men
and women everywhere might be saved
and lifted to happiness and peace.
MAY GIVE TOO MUCH
TIME TO PREPARATION
Sometimes / am afraid we give too
much time to preparation and consdr
Grafton, to all the office work OF
eyangelization" and all the parapher-
MALTA OF ecclesiastical organization.
Why not leap into the arena of the
worlds warning factions and cry out
the Gospel message? Why not give
ourselves into Gods hands as we ODE
diently follow His command. and, with
certain glad abandonment Just tell
how God has been here and broken the
chains OF our bondage?
The disciples were to begin at Jeru-
salem. That is, every man was to go
to his own home and tell the story
first. What a picture! I can sec them
hurrying away to their cottages and
gathering the family together and tell
ing them the message. And then I
can see them facing the wondering
neighbors as they crowded about in
curiosity, and proclalming the glad
tidings. All, 1t is a good thing to begin