Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-10-30

rap how much beyond that the
Jews paid, Just as long as they got
their money. So Zacchaeus was
the leader Of that gang of publi-
cans who purchased the privilege
of collecting the taxes from the
! Roman government. So that was
the way he had made his fortune.
Jesus Rich in Blessing.
| So here is a man rich in money
wanting to see man rich in pop
J ularity. Jesus. Here is a man who
is wealthy considered in what he
/ had stolen from the Jews. Here is
a man, Jesus, wealthy in blessing
and benediction which He had be-
slowed upon man. Jesus Christ
was the really, truly rich man, al
though He didn't have two coats
on His back. Jesus didn't have
enough money to pay His taxes.
and Peter had to go down to the
sea and catch a fish, and they
found gold in the fsh's mouth
which he used to pay the taxes,
and yet Jesus was the richer man.
And there was a great crowd in
the streets. Zacchaeus was a man
short Of stature and he could not
see over the heads of the crowd,
but he saw that the route which
Jesus was taking would take Him
down to the famous sycamore tree.
I should think when you read the
obituary notices in the newspapers
or see a funeral procession you
would remember that you have to
pass by that way and you would be
ready for it and you would be pre-
pared, for the time Is coming soon
er or later when we will all pass
that way
So he saw the route that Jesus
was taking would take Him down
to the famous sycamore tree, and
so he took a circuitous route
around the crowd and made for the
sycamore tree.
And Jesus came down the street,
and seeing Zacchaeus, He said,
''Zacchaeus, make haste, for today
I must abide at your house, for the
Son Of Man has come to save that
which was lost"
Jesus did not go up there to eat
what that rich Jew had to eat. He
went up there to win him to the
fact that He was the Christ and
when He babe them goodbye He
said to Zaccheus, This day has sal
walton come to your house and He
left behind Him one believing that
He was the Christ, the Son of the
living God. He said to him, make
haste"
Haste in All But Religion.
So, as go up and down the land
I find men making haste to be rich.
They make haste to write their
names high on the scroll of honor.
That is commendable. They make
haste to secure a brillint educa-
ton; that is commendable. When
a man is sick he will make haste to
get well and he will summon the
best surgeon or the best physician.
He will visit the World-famed sani-
tariums and drink the waters that
will counterfeit the disease, but
why in the name of God don't you
make haste to get right with God ?
If I should ask this audience
how many believe in him, how |
many of you will stand up for him?
You would stand up for the Stars
and Stripes. Then l haven't any re-
spect for the man or woman who /
is not ready to stand by Jesus |
Christ and to stand for the Son of |
God, the principals of the Christian |
religion as God Almighty holds it .
out. If it were not for the prin-
ciples of Jesus Christ there would |
not be any country worth living in. !
I would not want to live in it /
either, would you? |
Make haste! Make haste,
II you want to know from me, l !
would say that now is the best |
time to be a Christian. Nowi The |
best time was the time you let go !
by, but the best time is the time yoa |
have left. Your best time has be-
come history. Your best is now.
and if you sit there and listen tc /
me you should know that now is
the best time.
When Zacchaeus came down from
that tree he drew himself up with t
all the dignity of his little dwarfed
body and he stood in the presence Of
Jesus and said TO him:
Why, Jesus, you don't know
who I am. I am the richest duck in
his town. Why. am Zcchaeus the
ak gathered. I wish you would
honor me by coming up to my
louse to dinner" Il
Did he do that? No.
He talked of restitution; he said.
Half Of my goods 1 give to the
loor."
Jesus did not ask him what kind
II a life he had lived, but when he
hinned down that tree and stood in
he nTagauna NJ Tes1s he said arTba
lalf of my goods will give to the /
>oor." ,
Gave Half. Il
He was already giving the half Of (
lis goods to the poor, trying to I
make up and trying to have his
lifts act as a sort of disinfectant /.
or the way he got the money in ]
he first place. :
He said. THE half of my goods I
will give to the poor" !;
He spoke of restitution. Oh, so Il
many will have to yank OFT their I
heck books and write a check on {
he bank and pay back some money s
hey skinned somebody out of in 7
ONE transaction. before they will l
yer find Jesus Christ.
1 am glad to tell you on the au- /
nority of God that it is not a ques- I
ion of what you have been or what {
on have done, if you are ready /
nd willing to forsake your sins, II
cd will forgive you. The kind of :
IN never enters into it with God. Y
is not a question of what the sin I
), the question is are you willing y
} accept Jesus Christ as your Saw