Evening journal., 1916-02-07
Moi Far From the Kingdom
sermon preached in the TaDern ace by DR.. Lyon

honorable and upright" Now, that is
just the point / want TO make. Just
as the man who is the most upright
and honorable has the greatest influ-
ence upon you. so, If you are living
that kind of a life OF uprightness and
honesty you have the greatest infu-
ence upon others: and If you reject
Christ, neglect His salvation and re-
fuse to come out and take your stand
on the Lord'h side, by that very act
you are saying TO others that they
ought to take a similar course There
FORE out of your own mouth / have
proved the truth OF this statement. II
would be as If great campaign for
moral reform was in progress In a
city, and a prominent man, With a
reputation for good citizenship, re-
manned inactive and Indifferent BY
that course he would do more to
weaken the power and zeal Of the
promoters OF civic righteousness than
a score Of people notoriously wicked
and vicious
Moreover, nearness to the kingdom
of God leaves the soul absolutely
without excuse for not entering into
the kingdom. The fact that you can
say: 81 am not bad. dishonest or i'm
pure and there would not be many
things would have TO change i'm my
life II I accepted Christ II would be
only a step for me to come out into
the Christian life" leaves you with
far less reason for remaining away
from God than the man who is far,
far away
Which Of you two young men would
have the less excuse for not having
college education. the son Of we'll
to-do parents, living in q college
town, almost within the shadow OF
the college buildings; or another
young man. the son Of poor parents.
living a hundred miles away from
college? why" you say "tbe young
man in good circumstances who lived
near the college. and whose parents
were able and willing to give the
benefits OF an education, has far less
excuse for not taking a college course
than the poor fellow residing FAR
away with others dependent upon
him."
Against what city was II that Jesus
hurled His most scathng maledic-
tions? You answer. 1T was against
lCapernaum." What was Capernaum
at was the city where He had lived
and performed many of His greatest
miracles" Hear Him as He ex-
.f.f,.,l. ffnI, T,,cr,,,,,, N.,,r-
naum, thou. in thine opportunities,
art exalted TO heaven. I tell thee thou
shalt be cast down TO hell. II the
mighty works that have been done In
thee had been done in Sodom. il
would have repented long ago in
sackcloth and ashes Supposina
Jesus would come to this city at tho
close Of these meetings, could you moi
hear Him exclaim you who hav,
lived in that community where In,
gospel has been proclaimed night az
ter night. the invitation has heen OK
tended whore many others have COM
out on the Lords side. YOU who. n
your privilege and position, were ex
altod up TO the very gates OF heavol
Q itself, and yet you refused TO ente
{ in those gates; you who rejecte
] Jesus Christ and His mercy; tel
YOU YOU shall be cast down 20 hell
This nearness 10 the kingdom q
God ought to awaken in your heart
! spirit OF urgency. You will not al
ways be so near. If YOU do not ente
in. you are going to drift away
There is tide in the affairs of mon
which, taken at its food. leads. on tc
glory. but neglected, the strands an,
shores of time will be strewn will
the wrecks of hopes and possibilities
Success consists in taking advantage
or opportunity Let me Illustrate thi
truth from everyday affairs. Som,
years ago | was holding meetings II
a city in central California, and nea
the close of the campaign "A promi
nent lawyer. worker i'm the meet
ings, came TO me and said. "Mr. Lyor
have you ever been 10 the Yosemit
, Nalley2' I said. "No, ! never hav,
. but ] have always desired to do so.
- Well said he. II have an oifer I
D make YOU. / have a good. strong teal
e OF horses, a covered wagon. and
j complete camping outnt. You ca
, take some friends and go over I
e Yosemite. and / will see that the on
c lay of expense will be practical
= nothing" II did seem am exceller
e opportunity. but I had an invitatio
- 10 hold a campaign the next year in
e city somewhere nearer the Yosemit,
T. and ] finally concluded TO delay mi
IS visit 20 the park until I returned. Bl
n l did not 60 back to California th
Z next year. nor the next, nor the mex
s Now ten years have gone by. an
e the prospects are 7 will never e
r. that nearsto that great scenery agai
t. Some years ago ! was talking wit
; a friend one day about propos,
e trip ! was planning to Arizona. and
made the remark that on my retul
r ! intended TO go around by the W;
e Of the Grand Canyon. He said TO m
e NOV. let me give you a word Of a
n vice. 7 want you TO profit by n
g mistake. On going 20 southern Ca
G fornia a few years ago ! planned
n take I'm the Grand Canyon on my r
{ turn trip. but business called n
: north 10 Portland and Seattle. and
p found IL necessary to return by Il
. northern route. so ] missed that gre
Iappnrfttr,ffs- rT1tfe fs oTrfras .