The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1953-04-09
s er m O n ellie
Life AS A Letter Or AS
An Open Book
Texf. II Cor. 2.2-2


that vanisheth away, or as grass
that Withereth, or as a flower
that fadeth. Life is uncertain, we
are in the midst Of life today,
and tomorrow it is gone. We seee
lif today and tomorrow its i'm
pressions. Again we think of life
as that which never returns
After all life is as a letter or as
an open book.
If you desire to write letter
to a friend, you select clean
sheet of paper.
What if the paper is soiled, the
spelling bad, ink blurred, your
message will not have the right
impression. Our life then is as
letter or an open book.
Life in its natural state is not
fit to write upon. In order that
it might be blessing, it must be
prepared by God.
Every mans life is as a book
or as the text puts it, letter.
We should take heed then as to
what kind of book we are writ
ing. How careful should we be
then that the pages be clean, the
sentences correct, the ink un-
blurred.
The Christian life then is a
letter or containing the truth OF
the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Even
sinners can read these pages and
see and know that Jesus saves.
Mans life is not fit in its ma
tural state to write these letters
upon. 1t has to be prepared by
the spirit Of God.
We must be regenerated by
the work and power of the Holy
Spirit. John 3:3 and s,
This prepares the book with
clean pages, correct sentences
and legible writing that it may
be easily read and correctly in
terpreted.
Jesus does the work for US. All
we have to do is to be willing
for Him TO take and prepare our
lives for the writing.
Jesus wrote no letters with
His own hand for US to read. Our
acts are symbols, or letters, OF
| characters by which our lives
are written.
Jesus said | am the vine, We
are the branches.
II beseech you therefore breth-
rem by the mercies of God, that
We present your bodies living
sacrifice, holy acceptable unto
God which is your reasonable
service.
And be not conformed to this
world, but be ye transformed by
the renewing of your mind, that
ye may prove what is that good
and acceptable and perfect will
of God" (Roman l2:l y
Everyone of his children ol
followers are His living epistles
| When Jesus wants sinner tC
| read and know about Himself
he points to one, of his disciples
| What kind of a disciple ought we
to be?
Man, regenerated man, is the
| pen that writes down in bolo
clear type the truth that Jesus
saves.
AS letter writer you should
remember that many will reac
I your letter. You are the letter
| YOU are known and read of all
| men. Some letters are forgeries
they are not real. They are what
Jesus called hypocrites.
We are living in a day of sub
stitutes or limitations. Oul
secret acts are as bricks in
wall which become influences fol
! good or evil.
But if our Gospel be hid, tits
hid to them that are lost. lr
whom the God of this world hath
blinded the minds of them which
believe not. Lest the light of the
| glorious gospel of Jesus Christ
who is the image of God, should
shine unto them" (Cor. 4:3 A.
Therefore, Brethren, stano
fast, and hold the traditions
which ye have been taught
whether by word or our epistle.'
| (Thess. 2:15O. The letter of life
of a true Christian is plainly
written and easily read.
life is a leaf of paper white
whereon each one of us may write
His word or two, and thel
comes night, greatly begin
| Though thou hast time but fol
line, be that sublime! Not fail
ure, but low aim, is crime" u"