The Penn's Grove record., 1914-09-04
ORWHATPURPOSE?
Reason Insists That Infinite Pow.
er Directs Mans Being
and His Work.
wherefore are we In this worldf

we QlQ not come by our own cnO1c0.
We had no hand or say in the matter
no voice as to whether we should be
or not be, or where we should be-
here or elsewhere. But we are here.
Can any one believe that we are In
this world by chance?
1t is inconceivable that man, $50
fearfully and wonderfully made" was
brought into existence without q pur-
pose. There must be some great and
important work for him to do.
Something beyond eating and drink
ing and buying and selling and getting
gain for the physical necessities Of the
unsolicited life thrust upon US. Why
and for what purpose were we sent
here? We did not come of ourselves.
From whence came we and for what
end? This simple question necessarily
directs the mind to some infinite pow
er that is above and over all. With
out such a power we would not be
here at all. The mere fact of our be-
ing here establishes the belief that
there Is a supreme power by and
through which we live and move and
have u being" This power we call
God. We are therefore God-sent into
the world and must have a God-sent
work to accomplish.
One Important Thing In Life.
The important thing in life is to
know and do the work given us to do.
This is the problem, and it would ever
remain a problem If God had not given
a key for its solution.
What is u highest and most vital
work here? Working together with
God" AS in him I'VE live and move
and have our being" SO our only eff
fective work can be done in unison
with his will and in accord with his
revealed plan and purpose.
God is u commander. He has a
plan for the campaign of human life.
In that plan Is a place and a work for
every one. Our work in life Is to fall
into Gods plan, listen to and obey
his commands.
We can work together with God in
the ordinary, commonplace duties and
environments of life. Religious work
is to be done in connection with the
common daily living. Only a few are
called to do some great work for God.
But whether the tasks are great or
seemingly unimportant, the complete
complement Of service is in doing
what God appoints us to do. What he
appoints he reveals to all who have
constant, faithful and affectionate
him. Our real work in life will be
found when the heart can say to God
I'll go where you want me to go;
I'll say what you want me to say:
I'll be VIVA you want me to be.
In that spirit Of conservation we
sometimes do faithful work when we
do not know that we are doing it
even when feeling that we are entirely
useless.
An aged servant of God, on his bed
Of protracted illness said: 81 am deep
ly distressed and troubled, because l
seem to be kept here after my work
is done, to be a mere burden to others.
1t grieves me inexpressibly to live any
longer than / can feel myself able to
do something for God. His command
is to work while the day lasts and l
can work no longer; l am a drone and
a burden now"
So murmured the sufferer. He did
not know that he was then doing the
greatest work of his life. He had in
his household a young man who was
an infdel. This young man, through
witnessing the sufferers patience and
meekness, serenity of spirit and child
like fearlessness of death, was con-
vinced Of the reality Of the religion
which before he had despised.
He turned weeping from the grave
Of that sufferer to make preparation
for the work of the gospel ministry.
He became an earnest, eloquent and
powerful preacher of the word, and
his labors were crowned by the saliva
ton of hundreds of souls.
The invalid's last and greatest work
for his master was done after he
thought his ability to work had ceased.
He thought he was a drone and q
burden and past doing any work at
all; yet, like Samson, pulling down
the pillars of the temple in his blind
ness, he slew more of the enemies Of
God in his death than he had slain in
all his life. At the least promising
times, such as sickness and sorrow,
the most effective work for truth and
righteousness is often done. At all
times the direction Of the life's work
is to be left In Gods hands. Working
together with him" Is the only way
to make our work in life achieve its
great purpose and chief end. which is
Ito glorify God and enjoy him forever"