The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-05-12

/ L sSSR3
! |@ B ance. But the
@S $% SsSs$ other, who seems
iss--------'- himself to have
i reviled Christ just little before, turns
to rebuke his companion and shows
chat change has been wrought in him
which continues to be an astonishmen+
to all who read Of it.
The malefactor was an unlikely
person to be converted. The disciples
had forsaken Christ and fled but this
sinful man joins himself to him. He
was the first of long line of trophies
4 from among the foes of Christ. The
chief prosecutor Of the early church
became its chief apostle, and the pow
er of the cross over Christ's enemies
abideS, Elijah p. Brown, for many
years editor of well-known religious
weekly, was once leader of infidel
clubs, yet God brought him to Christ
under a simple plea from d. l.. Moody.
We should count no man hopeless but
should cOvet Christ's enemies for his
cause.
| Unlikely Place for Conversion.
| A cross was an unlikely place for
conversion. The cross has been glori-
fed In our eyes, but we are not to for
get that 1t looked no more attractive
10 those who first saw it than gal.
lows looks to us. John Wesley de-
clares that at one period he would
have thought 1t a sin to seek to save
souls outside q church building, but
he was driven to the fields to preach
/ and learned that any place can become
ltholy grQuna,ves Samuel Hadley started
q ias< so issr1u from san bsck roog. Of .
llOw saloon.
The dying hour was an unlikely
! period for conversion. This story for
ever rebnkes the idea that acceptance
with God depends upon round of
sacraments or good works, for he had
Itime for neither. This lesson still
needs to be learned. Wesley was for
many years Il protesting Christian,
and even an ordained minister, before
he learned 1t, He tells how he was
Thrilled In first preaching salvation, by
faith alone, to condemned prisoner
land his Joy when he heard the man
Isay: Il am now ready to die | know
he has taken away my sins and there
In no more condemnation for me-
Interesting Points.
There are several interesting points
connected with the thtef's conversion,
1t began with the fear of God. He
asks his companion, "Dost not thou
fear God seeing thou art In the same
condemnation" His heart had been
solemnized by the darkness which
Ispread over the land and by all the
scenes of the crucifxion. Nobody
fears God any more"--so we are told
today. And indeed this frivolous, self.
satisfied age is not marked by the fear
OF the Lord. It may require the hor.
Irors OF an awful war to bring us to
seriousness and sense Of the majesty
of God. Alas, for the fact that some
time even Gods judgments fail In this
matter, just as one Of the robbers was
unmoved by all he had witnessed!
1t was accompanied by frank confes
sion OF his sin. 'We receive the due
Reward Of our Deeds" How refresh
ling when visiting in prisons, to fint
one who acknowledges his guilt ant
expresses contrition; there is hope fol
such a man.
Remarkable Faith.
n But we would speak especially O.
the remarkable faith of this man. Fl,
prays, "Jesus, remember me whel
thou contest In thy kingdom" To tn,
Lmuititude, and even to the disciples
the Inscription declaring Jesus to b,
king of the Jews must have SCENE,
q mockery indeed. The life Of Jesu
Eappeared Il complete failure and hi
claims exploded. Yet, in that hour
there was begotten in the heart of thi
rough fellow faith that saw the king
q dom even beyond the cross. 1t wa
d faith akin to that by which Abraham
was justified of whom 1t Is said he be
\ lieved God .'who quickened the dea;
and calleth those things which be no
as though they were"
Somehow, men are prone TO abus,
Gods gifts. We presume upon sucl
mercy as 1t is set forth in this stor,
and turn the grace Of God into lascivi
ousness. Men argue that because tn,
dying thief was saved. they too ma,
be saved vixen dying, and SO they pu
Off repentance for their deathbeds
But how knowest thou. O man, tina
such an opportunity will be thine
Even If time be given at the last, tn,
heart may be adnmant and repentanc,
an impossibIlity. "True repentance i
aeyer too late; late repentance 10 sci
siom truc.r