Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-11

Christ's ministry was rapidly draw
ing to a close. He had many clashes
with the Pharisees, who were Mortified
by His associating with publicans and
sinners. Jesus justified His attitude to-
ward these classes by series OF para
bles which teach with a powerful and
tender persuasiveness the Fathers
thoughts Of the lost. The Master by
these parallels of the lost sheep, Cain
and Son did more than justify His
efforts to help bring the publicanS and
sinners back to God, for He cenSured
and condemned their attitude as being
antagonistic to the program and heart
of Jehovah, who had sent Jesus "tc
seek and to save that which was lost. y
These three parallels teach that God
rejoices over the repentance OF any soul
without regard to the depths Of their
ldepravity.
Among all the parallels spoken by the
Lord the one commonly called THE
ProdigaI Son. Is recognized by all stu
dents of the words of the Christ to be
His masterpiece. The Prince Of story
tellers tells us in His own picturesque
| and dramatic way the motives anc
| movements of mans sin and the saliva
| ton God has provided. Man may be
as science has pointed out, only of very
nevertheless Jesus insists that every
soul, even the sinful one, is of vast i'm
| portance in the thought and heart Of
| our Heavenly Father. The Master start.
with a man in home of purity, plenty
and peace and traces the result of sir
entering his life and the result of sal.
| vation coming TO him when he wa.
ruined and lost. He traces the whole
| circle of theology along the lines of 6
sinners descent and the ascent of the
| soul returning to God. He pictures the
sinners 'restlessneSS, reliance on self
remuneration, reveling, rejection and
ruin" He then paints his upward ca.
| reer through reflection, remorse, re.
| pentance, resolution, return, restoration
or redemption" The parable illustrate:
the road OF sin and the path Of saliva
! ton.
The Road Of Sin.
This natchless story is true to life II
every age. Sin starts in the restleSsnesS
| Of reckless and dissatisfied son in 9
nome, where he chafed under its re.
strictions and restraints so that he re.
| quested that his father give him thu
| snare Of property that would be hi.
when the estate was divided, Their,
were two brothers in the home, and the
| elder was entitled to two-thirds anc
the younger son had a right to a thirc
upon the fathers death. He had M
! complaint that he could make or lega
right to receive it at that moment. III
was restless and felt that he could max,
more and enjoy larger freedom ava,
| from the home circle. He had conn.
dence IN his own powers and relianc,
on himself If he could get away from
the fathers household.
! When he was given his share the evi.
| dence of sin manifested itself. The frs
step in the path of sin is usually seer
when one throws off the restraints o
| home, church and society. Not man!
days after he had received his thirC
[ the young man left his home, where h
| had the benefits of his fathers protec
/ ton and wisdom and the blessings o
his country's high ideals and religious
! life. AS soon as the restraints wer
removed he started on a career tina
completely renunciated his old hom
and religious instruction. He scattered
| his money in prof1igate way, wastinl
| his funds in diSSolute and disorder.
manner, living for the moment, with
cut regard to the future.