Evening journal., 1916-01-31
The Great Gulf Fixed
Sermon preached in the Tabernacle last night by Dr. Lyon

Luke IS: s6. sand besides all this
between us and you there is great
gulf fixed; so that they which would
pass from hence TO you cannot;
neither can they pass to us that would
come from thence"
There is no truth that deserves
more often to be emphasized than
the fact that God loves everybody.
Our heavenly Father is not willing
that any should perish, but infinite af-
lection is extended to all mankind.
You hear the DEVILS disciples on the
street asking God to damn this and
damn that one. But God doesn't
want to damn. He wants to save. II
is sin and Satan that damns and
bhghts a life. Eternal love desires
that all gain everlasting life.
There is no statement in the Scrip
lures that brings out more clearly
the issues Of eternity than the con-
trast Of these two lives as recorded i'm
the 18th chapter OF Luke. Some call
this parable. The Bible definitely
says that there was a certain rich
man. and a certain beggar named
Lazarus. Does it talk like a para
BILE?
"well, if it is fact some one
says, "Why didn't Jesus mention the
rich mans name?" He probably had
lived in that city and since his fate
was so terrible. and nothing could
have been gained by giving his name
but il would harrow the feelings Of
his relatives, Jesus kindly withholds
his name.
Couldn't Tell Fate.
You could not tell where these two
men we're going to spend eternity, as
you saw them walking down the
street. You can't tell where person
is going to spend eternity by the kind
Of clothes he wears or the house he
lives in. This rich man was not
condemned because he was, rich.
There is an indiscriminate cOndem-
nation of wealth in these days that
is neither borne out by the scripture
nor common sense. This man was
not condemned for his wealth but
for his waste. He lived in mirth and
splendor every day, seltshly dwelling
in Incidence and indulgence. He did
not care how many beggars were laid
al his gate. covered with sores. He
wanted to get as much out of life
as he could and still put in as little
as possible.
Some say they do not believe in
eternal destruction But you are
compelled by your reason to believe
| = -4...,1 do.t-t,cffon E-fcruaI do
struction is the destruction of eter-
nal things. Suppose there is a gas
jet and have in my pocket some
hundred dollar bills said. suppose
/ have-and ! would light them and
watch them burn to ashes.-NOt
would say, What are you doing" and
would probably answer, "Or. I'm
disciple Of Mrs. Eddy. | don't believe
in material universe. | do not believe
the bills will be destroyed" Yor
would answer, you look like r MAJ
that would have more sense thai
!; THAT" To each one OF us God has
given great talents. wealth. privt
! lleges and opportunities. These ar
t worth more than gold. You car
Z waste those if you will. but whel
they are once gone they are gone
3 forever.
: This poor man Lazurus was no
= rewarded because he was poor. Their
, Is no especial virtue in being poor
e for many OF us it is uncomfortable
In fact poverty would be a sin if
was the result of laziness an
> negligence. Lazarus must have ha'
elements Of character which are no
l. clearly shown in this lesson. Jus
y enough is given to let us have
e glimpse of the greatest of his godl
/, character. He had one Of the mobiles
D rarest elements; he had the elemen
b OF receptivity. He was willing I
r take even the crumbs that fell fror
r the table of the rich man. and b
Y thankful for them.
n He Was Receptive.
c The American Tract Society hs
= published little leafet called "UI
= Gle Eb" This Uncle Eb was a god