Pueblo chieftain., 1921-12-17
BY WILLIAM I. ELLIS


Lesson (which / have been holding
for two and a half years) is being
written on the heaving bosom OF the
Mediterranean, the glorious blue OF
which must have SATISFIED the beauty
loving soul of the Apostle Paul as he
sailed to and fro across It, in storm
and calm. This is Pauls sea. the sea
that he travelled as missionary.
and the sea that wrecked his little
craft. our course Is aid toward the
city of Antioch, whence he started on
his Journeys. but, although out OF
sight Of land at the moment. we are
nearer Ephesus than Antioch. Most
of the Passengers have been. laid low
by the heavy seas. and as think OF
the tiny craft upon which the apostle
AID his companions adventured these
great waters / wonder If he also. sen,
sitive creature that he was. had TO roll
up in his cloak under shelterinS
side of the ship aud simply endure the
voyage. 1t is worthy of note how littlc
Paul tells US about n.mself and his
travel experiences. He had more I'M
portant things to say.
With thronging thoughts of the
author, a real man knowing real life,
q cosmopolitan man thinking in gen
eral terms. we take UP these mighty
words Of his concerning the grace OF
God. addressed to the Christians At
Ephe,us. That II the first point to
vague gsncralities. spoken into space.
They are personal, and as direct and
applicable as the letter a traveller
sends to his family. As he wrote. Paul
had in mind the Christians at Ephesus.
the city where he had undergone tenn
pcstuous experiences.
THE CITY OF DIANA
Even as have paused here to look
upon the surging ea-wiId white hor-
ses gallopng over blue pastures did
Paul raise bio pen occasionally to
think of Ephcsus. itgi great marble
theat"r- where for hours the silly mob
yelled their throsts sore in praise of
Diana. AS protest against his preach
ing its magnificent highway leading
down 10 the quay with statues and
fountains and temples and baths
lining II: its huge |adium on
the hillside beyond tho theater: its
artificial hartor. shaped Ike frying
pan. and crowded with traffic from
the Mediterranean? Scenes Of its
spIendor aud OF ito -epsuality may have
crowded HE active brain. as he dwclt
upon the surroundings OF tnerG friend.
who wf:r called TO he saints in
heathcn. profligate Ephcsus!
Let no one say that thare passages
from Paui's writing are only for the
Apostolic church. and not for us i'm
our more difficult times; thank God.
owing to such preaching as Paul's. we
have no conception of the un- Christian
character Of the Roman civilization
amid which Pauls converts had to
practice their faith. The worst OF our
modern citicr Is righteous as compared
with old riphccn,
Right here We ser tho audacity of
Christianity. 1t offers Ihe best to the
worst. the highest TO the lowest. Deg
radiation does not dsuni 1t. To the ser-
~islised Roman 1t gives a lofty spirit
uality There is no adapting of the
message TO the taste of the hcarer:
the Gospel is not cnespened or watered
down. With a sublime disregard of
environment and horedity. Paul prs
sents to the Ephcsians exalted spirit
ual truths concerning the nature OF
God and of liise provisions for mans
redemption and OF the duty OF even y
citizen Of Ephesis to live a sanity life.
This 10 the answer TO the hslf-baked
Intelligence which declares that ors
cannot be Christian In camp or In
business. or in shoE or In college or
wherever cise the cpr1.l1iner's lot may
he cast Reholdn one could be a
Christian even in rphesus'
GOD pIsLikEs EoAsTEEs
Sausrely eouuterinE ths old-new
tendency to regard man a. biz and
God as little. Paul declared that all
the salvation that had come to his
Ephesisn converts had been because
OF the nature Of God. Men are not
saved by being good. but because they
are saved they become good. They arc
-eved because God e. good. He il rich
In mercy. II is His character that pro-
vidcs redemption. Not our deserving.
hut His designs. impart life. God. be-
Ing tho sort OF God fio iS makes II
POSSIBLE for Ills wandering children to
come back home. led by His Son Jesus.
What God is' Cbrist is: aud Christ
shares Himself with His friends. Iy
grace are ye saved. thru faith. and
tina, no, OF yourselves. It is tho Eift
or God. not of work.. 1ert any man
should boast"
Evidently God does not Ike boast
srs. We know what J.rus thought Of
the posing, psrading fharisec. Re
ligion that is real always makes ono
humble and fills ono with sense OF
unde.ervipg. No true Christian ever
Dragged Of his own Christianity For
the closer we got to the perfection Of
Christ. the more hideouS do we rec
our own imperfections TO be. IT is not
ont merits. hut Gods nature. that
brings us salvation. We glory. II at
all. in His grace. What sang the blind
hymn writer. Whose soul had seeing
eyes?
'some day when sinks the golden SUN.
Beneath the rcry- tinted West
MY blessed Lord win say We'll done!
And shall enter into rest.
And shall see Him. face to face
And tell the story Saved by Grace"
In heaven. wc are told. tho songs Of
the ransomed are not of sc'f-eNulta-
ton. but IN praise of Him whose grace
saved them. despite their undeservins.
THE SEA SICK MISSIONARIES
whether. people are saved or not
docs not depend upon their feelinss
Most religious depression would be
cured by change of diet and a little
more fresh air and exercise. This Les
son takes US straight back to the CEN
trail truth that. whether We feel like
H. or not. we are the children of the
grace of God.
on this ship are three women mis-