Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-06-07

= ~ arranged with my
disciples for that They are to be
my witnesses" "But suppose Peter
goes fishing and John and James fall
asleep?" Sadly and solemnly our Lord
replies: If these men fail my work
will fail. have no other PLAN"
The work of Jesus Christ had been
done and well done. When He bowed
His head upon Calvary's cross and
cried: 1T Is finishedt He became
the author and finisher of cur faith.
But to His disciples in subsequent
generations has been committed the
task Of proclaiming the good tidings
Of great toy to all people. Until this
is fully accomplished the task cannot
and will not be fully completed. In
the consideration of this unfinished
task there is to be observed fact, a
field, force and finish.
First notice the fact, sThis gospel
of the kingdom" The gospel is not
a supposition or a speculation. 1t is
fact. Luke says he wrote facts that
were delivered unto him by eyewit-
nesses. He insists that his gospel
was built upon infallible proofs. Peter
substantiates his mission and his min
istry in his dying message. "We have
not followed cunningly devised fables
but were eyewitnesses Of His majesty"
Some people talk and write as though
the Bible were on trial today! The
Bible has been tried and well tried.
After It's submission to chain of
proofs, after it's survival Of crowd
of attacks, after its substantiation by
cloud Of witnesses; if the Bible Is
not fact, nothing Is fact.
Second, notice the field, Preached
In all the world unto all nations" 1t
was the world that God so loved. 1t
was into all the world that Christ
sent His disciples. No person can be
a follower Of Jesus Christ until he
recognizes the world as the field Of
his religion. He must think and talk
and act in world terms. He must
overcome racial prejudice and exclu-
sive selfishness. Racial prejudice and
exclusive selfishness have more inter-
fered with the completion Of the task
than all the burnings of pagan and
popish tyrants. Paul recognized the
world as his field and If in all the
years that have elapsed since his day
the church might have more seriously
considered his example the task would
have been completed long ago.
Third, notice the force, "This gospel
shall be preached for a witness"
Christ said: Eye shall be witnesses
unto the uttermost parts Of the EARTH"
The force Is the factor that conveys
the glad tidings. The slogan Of the
largest Presbyterian church in the
world is: "The church is our force
the world is our field" What sort Of
world force is my church? What
sort of world-witness am l proving
to be!
A witness worth while must be
man Of conviction You cannot sway
an Indifferent, disinterested world UNI
less you can testify for Jesus Christ
with conviction
A witness worth while must be a
man under obligation. Paul said: "
am debtor" He acknowledged his
obligations to Jesus Christ and re-
joiced that his debt was payable In
gospel currency.
A witness worth while must be q
man Of enthusiasm. 1t is not prayer
that counts but passion in prayer. It
Is not Bible reading. 1t is enthusiasm
in reading. 1t was not Erasmus the
learned but rough and burning Luther
who shook all Germany.
Fourth, notice the finish. Then shall
the end be-" The disciples under
stood what was meant by the end. To
them it meant the coming Of the king
dom long promised by prophets. To
them it meant the coming Of the King
more precious than kingdom. Stimu-
lated by this blessed hope they set
out to evangelize the world in their
day and no generation has since so
nearly succeeded
Today you and standing upon the
portals Of the Twentieth century look
upon
The task the centuries might have
DONE
Now crowded in the hour Of setting
sun
What we most need is to be re-
minded that there is an end and that
y 1t may be at our very doors. Never
since the days Of the apostles has the
world been more united. Never has
1t been more accessible. Is it presump-
tuous for us to believe that the task
may be completed in our day? What
an opportunity! What a reEsnsibil-
ity! Where will the end find you