Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-02
Faithful Unto Death
Sermon by
REV. FLOYD w. TONkINS.
Texts Rev. 81. I-IS.
Text, Rev. 81. I-I5.

Our lesson is taken from the letters
TO the seven churches given to ST John
on the Isle OF Patmos. 1 would com
mend DR.. Francis f. Ciarke's little
book. The Holy Land OF Asia Minor"
In which he describes the cities to
which these letters came and the
Significance OF the messages. They are
timely to-day for all our churches,
nnd the words OF warning and COM
f"it eau be taken by every one OF us
a.. iersonal Particularly Is this word,
lie 'hou faithful unto death and j will
give thee crown OF life" iRcv. H., 100,
rich In Us appeal and assuring in its
pr"mise. IT carries me TO service
which ] frequently hold in admitting
members 20 the Girls Friendly So
ciety. In handing The member her
badge which she is TO wear, these
words are repeated. and they are full
OF Significance: "Fai,htul"-"a crown"
"de.tn"--'life." "thon"-"I," .bc thou"
- win give" 1t seoms rs {. the
and word OF ours. AS il for every
htruggie lie had Il reward ready. for
eScrY habia: eIp*r:rnce. lie had
ot~'nc eApe ri:rcc; 20 Il He placed
Hinsei: ir a! His lov:aS glory right
By our side amd woaid haze US know
that us 10y AID our Joy arc ono.
What does this tacan-"Fnithtu
AL. endurance" Cars, cried. lilo
thAi shall endur, ua:o tbs end shall
en saved. Through eli tbs strange
ops and down.; ri lie; through The
tone journey where the path Is often
hidden and often b.sct b. thorns:
thr"n1h Gays OF rest and hours of toll:
through health and sickness. w. arc
never to TURF aside from the way nor
tnoh back with regret. nor lower The
Dyes from the banner ahead OF us. nor
eeAse &c hea7 the gracious words Of
Zho Master. .ro!;ow Me"
atME ron MEN TO nuLn
FAST TO THEIR FAITH
n Is no Ign: cndsavur. Wa 90 get
s~iuilY tired sometimes. and We won
dc. whethe- /. is all worth while.
Loneliness shuts Us IN. and we cry. with
Da:id, NO man cares for my soul"
The old battle with sin in our own lives
and the awful conflict with sin aud
crime in the world make US cry for
peacc and seemingly we cry In vain.
Chris, apparently delays His coming.
and Tie ,l:ingdon is not established
- wonder what II all means and
HI;i.n. sometimes through the words
o! men esteemed TO ne worldly wise
cries, IL means nothing. There is no
God. Eat and drink FOR Tomorrow
comes the end Now To keep on In
spite OF all this. TO continue 70 pray
1pd love ana serve. 10 be glad even
IL we must Sing songs in the night;
to belicY: the Bible In suite Of modern
criticism: TO he kind and gentle ana
forgivins. and 10 read Chris,'s words
AID ind them swect-that is what is
meant by being faithful. 1T has It's
reward even here In the consciousness
mat the tide Is being ste:nncd: that
hiEh resolves and noble living are
ho'dtng US and that the Father whom
We cannot see is. nevertheless. near US
and loving us.
We are 10 hold the faith. We are TO
taEc the truth as Christ taught II and
lived II and as the inspired Bible
writer's emphasized 1t. and never allow
corOt concerning Il 10 weaken US
MANY have LEFT the faith once de-
lHcred 20 the saints dude 81 and have
preferred 10 follow cunningly devised
tables and the poor commandments OF
men lie"esies and false i,naginings
fairly swarm about us. Men are
creating Il creed pleasing to them
selves. and their plausible arguments
which we cannot answcr-which no
human can answer-almost swccp us
from our feet. VIVA, is truth? And
:hcn We look 10 Calvary and see that
dear patient Face and hear that divine
N"ire-"l am dying 70. you because |
i"N" YOU. Ny child" and The cloud
ir'S>"s Let God 30 true and every
n'ar = iir. And we kncci and cry
with the brave Paul: Il have kept the
faith. Ah hat is wha; il means 10
believe. tha; Is what 1t means TO SO
love Jesus ihal no stotins or doubts
can weaken our loyalty
BEING FAITHFUL. ALSO
MEANS BEING ACTIVE
im! this being faithful means also
o''IiG active. l'or faith is not a mas
s..r emotion, bu; an eager service.
WhtA believe in man / want 10 do
something II MIN. When believe
IN EhriaI ~ 10 do what He would
Nave mo 80 % Begin 10 live by
taith. Try help people. l fight
against publ land private wrongs
l tell the story L Gods love TO Others
ieeu me hunS 81 and comfort the sick
2ho suiue the 4essed little children.
] cannot keep STILL minute. because
there are so many things my dear
Lord wishes me to do for Him. And
as | serve. my faith grows stronger
and the light shines about it, and l
wonder how could ever for a moment
question Gods truth. Yea. from the
very people l am helping message
Genes. see woman who is shut in
ans; l pray with her. and / hear tho
Master say. Il am here" / 20 to the
hospital TO see Il sweet child who has
been hurt. and as l look at her littlo
face fun Of smiles. 1 hear Christ saw
81 am here" And no longer saw 1T
believe" but ] change the words and
cry. Il know" Service has made NV
faith fact.
WhcE we say faithful unto death"
We must not think that it means for
US TO think OF death. that strange ex-
pcrienct which is always facing ne
We are mere to live our faith. and so
life. with all its joy and sunshine. with
It's opportunities and privileges. win
It's communion with God and it's power
for good. is the measure of INV CON
fdencc. The just shall live by faith"
what wonderful declaration that isl
l only really live as l have faith.
FAITHFUL UNTO THE
DUTIES OF EACH DAY
The true meaning OF existence comes
10 as look trustfully into the face
Of Christ and learn from II i'm how to
tread the path and how to meet the
hourly struggle For me to live is
Christ" | cry again with st. Paul 1t
IS glorious thing to live. even though
the trials arc heavy. for the knowledge
or Cod makes precious every word and
act. Faithful unto the duties of the
day. faithful in prayer, faithful in
husinesS in friendship i'm snrrow