Evening journal., 1916-02-16

Luke 10: 9-1O-"And Jesus said un-
TO him, This day is salvation come to
This house. For the Son of man is
come TO seek and TO save that which
was lost"
The first point OF interest in the
conversion of zachheus was that It
was a season of special opportunity
said Dr. Lyon Jesus had entered
and was passing through Jericho. ne
never passed that way again. IL
Zaccheus had not accepted ChrlsI
then, he probably never would nave
been saved Undoubtedly II this ous-
mess man had left his business ana
gone up to Galilee or down to Jerusa-
lem, Jesus would have been glad 10
have welcomed Zaacheus into the
Kingdom Of Heaven. But | think 1t
stands to reason that if under those
conditions. that when Jesus Christ
was passing through the city ana
the attention Of the people was so
drawn to Christ. if this business man
did not put away his duties and turn
his attention TO his personal rela-
tionship with Jesus. that he never
would have accepted Christ.
Tonight, friends, let us make our
applications as we go on. Probably
never before in the history of this
city have so many people been talking
and thinking about the Christian life
as they have talked and thought about
il during the last month, many favor
able and some unfavOrably. But
whether Christ has been commended
OF condemned, His claims have Deen
presented, and the great need in this
city is to get people to take a STAND
The curse Of Christianity is inditer-
ence and neutrality. Never was the
Gospel Of Jesus hindered by hostlllty
The greatest danger is that people
will be so absorbed in other things
that they forget God.
You are a busy people, and Wan'
20 make this practical to your own
lives. You home-keepers are busy
You are busy in society. The socia
demands upon the average person II
these days in a cultured community
is something overwhelming. You stu
dents are busy. II seems each tern
and each semester they are trying
to crowd little more into your cur
riculum. I am sure you men are
busy in the factories and shops anC
offices and stores, and on the farms
The demands in business, with th'
keen competition OF these moderi
Gays. requires intense thought ant
energy. It seems to take every pcun'
Of strength, every atom and volt o
mind and muscle to keep up with th'
procession. What is the result? Th
tendency is, and I am talking to yo'
pcrsonally-is it not true in your owl
life. that the tendency is for Chris
and the spiritual life to be crowded
out. not willfully, not in any antag
onistic sense. but so many things o
the moment press in on your though
and claim your attention that it seem
that the other has been laid aside!
Now, friends. l want to appeal u
your innermost conscience and com
mon sense. II. at this time wher
the claims OF Christ have been pre-
sented to you personally and plainl
and directly. when you have bee
thinking more about the higher lif
than YOU have doubtless thought 10
years. if you should now refuse L
come out and take positive stand 70
Christ and the Christian life. do yo
not see the tendency will be that whe
this campaign is over, you will drill
, right back again into the old rut an
ordinary routine? Success consists
in taking advantake Of opportunitl
Now. this business man might hav
made many excuses. He hight hav
said. Il am a very busy man. No
know he was tax collector and
il was as hard in those days for ia
collectors to get people to pay thei
honest taxes as it is nOw-he was
busy man. He might have said .
find my life is crowded full ever,
day: When I get old and retire froI
business, then ] will pay attention
the higher life. TO meeting Jesus Bt
listen! Zaccheus. Christ has entere
and is passing through Jericho. II
is passing through for the last timl
and will never come this way agail
You say. Man, I want to talk to 70
about salvation" and he probabl
would say. But have all these bills
pay and these accounts to collect
ard all these other matters to atten
TO. am too busy. Some other time
Oh. my friends. one of these day
the cold. clammy skeleton hand {
death will be laid on your shoulde
and you will be called away from you
Office and yonr stocks and bond
your business or your home. TO giN
n last account at the Judgment. Me
do you realize it-you will have
take time to die.
Or. he might have said, 81 am one
the most influential citizens in Je
icho. am one Of the most prom
nent men in this city. What woul