Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1916-03-30

Lesson Title: Conversion OF SAUL"
Lesson Text: Acts 9: Ill, 1913.
Memorize vess. II, 1S.
Golden Text: "This is a faithful
saying, and worthy of all acceptation,
that Christ Jesus came into the world
to save sinners; of whom am chief"
Il Tim. 1: Is.
/. What is Conversion?
When is a man converted? Do all
men have the same kind of an exper-
ience when they are converted? Can
we expect the same experience in
youth which we find in those who are
older? Is it to be expected that all
people will be converted as Paul was?
Is that what many people are wait
ing for?
We are laying great deal of en-
phasis upon christian culture now
adays. We can scarcely lay too
much emphasis there. We believe
that children can be trained to grow
up in christian life, not having any
particular crisis which they remem-
ber as conversion. We also believe
in the old-fashioned conversion, in
which a man turns swiftly to God,
after great battle which he always
remembers. People who have one or
the other of these two types of gen
uine entrance into christian life are
apt to misunderstood one another.
Sometimes they call one another
names, which is unfortunate and
wrong. Both types are true chris
tians. Each must recognize that God
has several ways of leading men to
himself.
Crossing the big bridge over the
Grand River at Lansing one day with
my father, he astonished me by say
ing he had jumped over the river
when boy! l could only exclaim,
"That was some jump, father!" He
explained that the Grand River began
as a small stream on his fathers
farm and across that stream, nearer
its source, he had often been able to
jump! Then he said that crossing
the stream, was like beginning a
christian life. In youth it was easy
to cross over. Later, the stream be-
ing wider, it was hard swim, never
to-be forgotten! 1t is easier, safer,
better, to begin in youth!
III. The Great Change.
Saul became Paul after he was con-
verted. Some have said Paul had a
sunstroke, or stroke of apoplexy, but
these have never before nor since
changed mans nature. We shall
have to look deeper for the explain
alton. God wrought the marvel.
Afterward Paul loved things he once
had hated, worked for things he once
tried to destroy, and gave his life
in full sacrifice for the Man who had
been cl-ucified. Mr.. Moody said con-
version really meant turning about.
1t was the soldiers, Fright about
face"
Many things ought to change in
the lives of people who are converted.
Probably there is not enough change
for the better in the lives of most
of us. We are "crude christians
as Bruce called the early disciples.
The fact should make us humble, and
also patient with others, while still
striving to live better life.
One of the things which perplexes
the world is that there is so little
change in the lives of christians. We
are easily content with the moral Gus
toms around us, or the habits of life
in which we have been brought up,
1t is good to be startled and challeng-
ed by the revolution which comes into
some humble life, or some very sin
full life, whereby it becomes cleansed
and powerful for God. Do you be-
lieve it is possible? With all my
lheart / do. | see the evidence every
day.
The great change can come in a
very bad man or in one who has beer
morally good but yet useless so fan
as christian service is concerned
Read Harold Begbie's book, "Twice
Born Men" and you will be thrilled
by his true stories of men lifted from
the very gutter and made clean and
useful and strong. That is wonder
full thing to do with drunkard OF
prostitute. 1t is miracle perform
ed today, not 1900 years ago. Not
/ less olorions is the nsa God makes o1