The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1922-03-17
ARE PEOPLE SERIOUS ABOUT THEMSELVES?

There has been a revival meeting in progress at the First
Baptist church in Grenada for some days. 1t is not unlike other
meetings which most of us have witnessed for these years. The
minister, DR. II. M. King, who has been doing the preaching, has
made no attempts to follow new paths, but rather has he chosen
to lead his hearers over the same old ways while at the same
time pointing out the new beauties which have come to him by
reason of what he has learned from the experience and obser-
walton of others and from Gods new revelations. He has pre-
sented the truths of the gospel, ably, yet simply. He has been
convincing, persuasive and appealing. The very search lights
OF heaven seemed to have aided him.
The congregations have been good. They have increased
from day to day. Quite often have many been compelled to go
away because the church was already filled.
neS SANE people nave oeeh auenUng rehg!ouS worship
for years. Yet they lnger on the preachers words as if what
he were telling were an entirely new story.
In looking over congregations while the minister stands in
the pulpit, we almost wonder, at times, what people are there
Tor, sun we know why they are. Then again the question comes
70 rs, as no doubt to many others: Are people serious about
themselves? Our answer to the question is, yes. But in revolv-
ing over and over in our mind the matter of human conduct, and
ne outward evidences OF mans attitude towards his Maker, the
conclusion is irresistible that man is not thinking where his
bark is headed. Indeed the world as a whole is doing mighty
little thinking about anything. The multitude follows. The null
htude apes some one else and hunts the lines of least resistance.
Even the blind see the goodness of God. Man reaches out
for something that lasts longer than this life lasts. God has
made the pathway from earth to heaven, and sent His Son to
make the way so plain that even the wayfarer could not err
therein. He has also made certain conditions necessary to be
followed in the pathway that leads to the beauties of the other
world.
In our greatest distress and greatest extremity, we turn to
God. 1t does seem then that if we are favored by our Creator
in our hours of greatest trouble that we would cling to him all
the time. 1t does seem that we would be Just as loyal to Him
as we profess to be in our friendships and to those who do us ex-
ceptonal favors. 1t does seem that we would show the same
degree of politeness for heavenly favors that we show for
earthly favors.
In this connection, the words of Baxter come to us:
1T is one thing to take God and heaven for your portion, as
believers do, and another thing to be DESTROYS of it, as a reserve
when you can keep the World no longer. 1t is one thing to sub
nit to heaven, as a lesser evil than hell; and another to desire
1t as a greater good than earth. 1t is one thing to lay up treas
urers and hopes in heaven and seek if first: and another thing
to be cOntented with it in our necessity, and to seek the world
before it, and give God that the flesh can spare. Thus dnfereth
the Religion of serious Christians, and of carnaI, worldly hypo-'
critics.
Again we ask: Are people serious about themselves and the
most important duty that confronts them in life? =