Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-10-07
His Subject, "A Tragedy in Three Acts" Presenting
 Biblical Examples.
DID NOT TAKE GOD
 INTO THEIR PLANS
Declares That God Only Lends tha Materials to the Rich, and De. nands a Place in Their Lives
 Meeting Fer Men Only.
(By A. Homer JordanO


 deeply interesting services of all tho week at the tabernacle. The music was splendid feature of the evening. MT. James pleased the audience with a beautiful cornet solo, Mrs. Powell sang The Ninety and Nine" E. NJ. Goodwin led in prayer Mir. Stephens spoke on the subject "A Tragedy in Three Acts He used the examples The rich young man, The Rich Iool," and "The Rich Man and Laz- arus"
 This rich young man, sad Mr stephens "came running to Christ. This was a fine Galilean coming to ask Christ the way of life. The great [ question with him was what he must do to inherit life. He thought he was anxious to be saved. He had tle idea that he would impress Christ with his goodness. But when the condi- ton was stated, he was not so anx- l lous to be saved after all Jesus ask ed him to surrender. When he found ] out what he had to do he turned his back upon Christ and went away. If you have turned your back upon Christ you are as bad as the man who is away down in sin. A great i ship cannot go out upon the deep life as you should without Jesus Christ The greatest sin in the world is to turn your back upon Christ. Cnholy is the greatest sin in the world. You have trampled under foot the Son of God by refusing Him. You should come clear across and not turn your back upon Christ I admire tlis young man for not trying to hold o, to the devil and Christ also. You cannot do that You must serve on, or the other.
 "The second act of this tragedy is the story of the rich fool I do not call him a fool: Christ called him fool. He had, TO doubt, the finest { farms, the finest clothes, the finest mansion of anyone around. If he liv ed in these times he would be called the most benevolent man in the world. Perhaps John the Baptist preached around this mans farm and he never heard him once. He no doubt, thought that if man does the best he can and pays his debts he is all right 1 Christ called this man fool be- cause he left God out of his life com pletely. The Big r was in everything. he thought he did not need God in anything. If you are leaving God cut tonight, He is saying, Thou fool.' l Take God into your plans. If you do not He will get into them some time He has marvellous way of getting into the lives of men either here or hereafter. Let Him get into your life here.
 Christ called him a fool because he was selfish. He thought all the property he had was his very own. God had only loaned the material things to him. After the body crum- bles to dust the soul still lives and God demands return of His loan. There are some people who profess Christianity that are selfish. They are hungry. they have no power and no spirituality. They lack Christ in reality in their lives. Put Christ there tonight. Have you taken Christ into your life, or do you tly to live without Him?
 'The third act in this tragedy is the rich man at whose gate Lazarus 1 fine linen and his fine home his own He did not want to think of death. Andrew Carnegie will not attend a funeral, neither will he allow any one to speak of death in his presence. But some day he must face death. When Death places his cold hand up on your heart it is all over With you. Oh. get ready to live tonight.
 Lazarus was at the rich mans gate because this rich mans gate was the best one to be near. The finest food came from this table. The rich man was good to let him stay there. It was not his treatment of Lazarus that sent him to hell. Neither was it Lazarus poverty that sent him to heaven. People do not go to hell because they are rich, not to heaven because they are poor The rich man went to hell because he shut God out of his life. Lazarus went to heaven because he let God into his life."
 NEr. Stephens strong appeal at the time of the invitation brought many responses. Both men and women went forward to profess their faith in Christ.
 At the Tabernacle Today. Sunday schools in the various churches, and morning worship in the churches.
 At 2:3O Mir. Stephens will speak to men only on the subject Heroes and Cowards," at the tabernacle. At the same hour Miss Byrnes will speak to women in the First Baptist church.
 At o'clock there will be great evangelistic service in the taberna- cle. MT. Stephens will have for his subject. 'The Greatest Question Ever Asked or Answered"
 A buyer for New York grocery house recently gave up a salary of tix n m o year to enlist