Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-11-01
Hesifafing Step No,p May
Bar from Kingdom of God

Bar from /
The FOLLY Of waiting till . better
day to take the step leading to 9
bettsr lite may be responsible for
everlasting damnation, said Mr..
Sunday last evening IN . powerful,
dramatically given sermon on
Thou Art Not Far From the King
dom Of God" He said in part:
( Mark, 18th chapter, 34th vers4:
Thou art not TAR from the king
dom Of God"
A person may b very near the
kingdom Of God and lose. OF ali
cases 6f spiritual ruin, nome are 20
distressing - that Of man or wom-
an who. under similar circum-
stances have been brought - near
a. you now are and yet resuss the
last step.
A sad sight 10 that Of the ship
that goes down when TIE pa4sen-
gers are within sight Of their na-
tive shores; and the towers and
spires Uf~the seaport town make 4
bright silhoustte againtt the blue
skyline for . background.
Whatever became Of this young
lawyer 70 whom jesus uttered
these words? do not know,
presume he never did profit by
them or the bible would not have
left us to guess for the last 1900
years. I presume he never did en-
ter the kingdom OF heaven, al
though he was even as near as you
are now.
II you make . will, that will is
not in force as long as there is q
living breath in your lungs. But
the minute you pass from the
realms OF the living, that will Il IN
force. Some people are nearer the
kingdom OF God than others. Tn
til you accept Jesus Christ and are
born again by faith in Him, you
are out Of the kingdom. The mo-
mont you accept Him and are born
again you are In the kingdom.
The difference IL not one Of de-
gree, but OF kind. There are no
degrees OF Salvation.
You ind yourself IN the middle
Of circumstances that have con-
tributed to bringing you nearer "a
whore you ind Yourself now. The
elements Of character may develop
into circumstances. ThesS cfrcum-
stances are appealing TO the best
elements Of your character and b.
making that appeal they hasl
brought you nearer to realisfne
that You ought to be . Christian
Hind and CharaetSf.
Your condition. Of mind may b<
due to elements oe charAatsr. You
are compelled to admit that you
are In Z condition Of mind toward
good and religion that you were no.
in some weeks ago. This city Il
in a condition Of mind shout God
thatNsle was not in weeks xgo. She
was looking croSs-eyed at the eros
then. Her mind and her heart 1.
open now.
That condition Of mind Is brought
shout by circumstances; series oI
meetings. the prayers and every,
thing that has bean said Of done
and the elemsnt Of character d thu
condition Of your mind and the cir
cumstanceA have brought yot
whore you now md yourself.
mot TAR from the kingdom o
Cod" -
In the cathedral 1T strasburI
there il a clock so wonderful tina
some of the ignorant suppose it Il
have been fashioned by the finger,
OF angels. 1t is said that the ma,
who made that clock was not pail
for his work, and was angry. an,
crept into the place At night an,
went into the tower and touched {
secret spring In the clock.
I The clock ceased to run. Tn
cock forgot to crow, the milkmai'
failed to trip along her way. tn
anvils did not clang and tn
apostles did not march in solemn
procession.
Then they paid the man and b,
went and put his finger On the Sc
cfst spring and the clock begal
to move. Then the cock crowed
the milkmaid tripped on her way
the anvils changed and the apostle
marched to solemn procession.
! The clock would not run. o
would run at the touch Of the max
er's fingers on the secret spring
The clock was an, automaton an
when the man touched the spring
moved.
You are not an automaton. bu
what you lack is the secret toucl
Of God in your life. When thu
touch is applied you'll become al
that God intended you to be; -an
that touch will not be applied unit
you accept Iesus Christ.
The only difference between tn
clock and Jon is that it was q
automaton while you have . mind
You have the power Of choice. 70
can rebel. You can defy God. 70
have an intelligent medium OF com
i fnunication.- God can communicat
what He will Is. I could not com
municate to q clock or q piece q
wood, my WILL That Is pliabls
plastic There is TmediuM Of com
munication. and that medium l
your intelligence.
/ Touch Of God In Life.
| II 10 sad to see men and wome
who are perfect but for one thinl
That clock needed the secret touc
and that IL the one thing that 20
iwant. You need the touch Of Go
ali s.,ssss liAA aaa AhAxa srsssa iii h