El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-01-03

learned that he was the same per-
son who a few months before had sat
before him IS a model for painting the
face of Christ
While the case is an extreme one,
yet it very forcefU1Iy illustrates how
our passing years are rObbing US of
our innOceEaa and purity. Of course
all do not 90 from one extreme to the
other as rapidly as did Da Vincis
model, nor dc all ever reach the same
degree of vice that he reached; but
all have felt the blighting influence of
sin and have been made conscious of
the fact that innocence and purity are
no longer ours.
Compensation Of the Years.
But while our passing years have
robbed US OF the freshness and beauty,
the innocence ard purity of our child
mood and youth; yet there are some
things with which they have enriched
US which things, if rightly used, will
more than compensate Us for the loss
sustained
First, I think of the great blessing
Of physical strength. How weak and
helpless we were in the days Of our
early childhood; but the passing years
nave been pouring into our veins the
elixir of strength, compounded from
the various elements of earth and air,
until today we are buoyant with the
blessing Of physical strength. But the
question comes to our mind, why have
the passing years placed upon US the
great blessing Of physical strength
Evidently that we might be able to
act our part in the great drama of
life. How are we using the strength
which the passing years have given
u.s. This is an important question
which should be kept constantly in
mind. 1t IS not an ineXhauStible sup
ply of strength which the passing
years have brought US; if it were,
perhaps it would not be so serious a
matter should we sQuander little of
II occasionally; but since the supply is
only equal to the demand, the act of
squandering it becomes "a serious mat
ter. Hence the command to Love the
Lord with all thy strength" not with
a part of it but with all Of it.
Wasting the Substance.
Those Christians, who in the pursuit
Of worldly and sinful pleasures, are
wasting the strength which passing
years nave brought them, will GER
tainly find occasion to regret it by
and by. One of the saddest sights I
ever witnessed was that of a young
woman who had sacrificed her physical
strength upon the altar II worldly
pleasures until she had only sufficient
left to sit up during the day in her in
valid chair. She remained in that con-
ditiOn for several years before she
died Her prolonged illness gave her
ample time for serious thought and re-
Election and this led her, like the prOdi-
gal TO true and genuine repentance
She had publicly confessed her faith
in Christ and united with the church.
but she had failed to consecrate her
life wholly to his service. Much OF her
time was spent in the pursuit. Of
worldly pleasure. Simply TO have a
good time was the controlling passion
OF her life. ooh, there isn't any harm
IN dancing" was her reply, when elder
heads tried to dissuade her from in
dulging in that questionable sport
which they saw was paralyZing her in
IN g
while engaged in that sport that she
contracted the disease which rendered
her an invalid for several years, and
that resulted IN her premature Jea-h
To one of her sirl friends who called
to see her one Sunday morning on her
way to church, shortly before her
death, she said 'Oh, if could only
go to church with you this morning I
would be the happiest mortal on earth,
but that cannot be. My opportunity is
past MY physical strength is all gone
sacrificed upon the altar of worldly
pleasure. There's nothing now for me