The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1954-02-25
S e r m O n ellie
The Ever-Present Christ

Johns Gospel, chapter 20, the
middle of verse 26. Then came
Jesus, the doors being shut, and
stood in the midst"
If l was travelling to a city or
place. and would ask directions
of you, l know you would gladly
give me the information l need
ed to arrive at my destination.
Now let us look at our text
for a short time. 1t is impossible
to hide away from Jesus. After
the crucifixion, His disciples,
hiding away from the Jews for
fear of their lives, had concealed
themselves in this room, locking
the door and boiling the win
dows, thinking themselves safe
from harm. Yet, their hearts full
of sorrow, and their expectations
and hopes shattered, they needed
help. If their new-found king
could. have been there, this help
would have been realized
A very present help in time of
trouble, Jesus stood in their
midst. 1t was seemingly a very
hard thing for this Jewish nation
to change from the dispensation
Of law to a dispensation of grace.
These disciples did not, in their
secret session, expect a visit
from Jesus, the ever-present
Christ. They needed help and
encouragement and Jesus came.
| Every one of us needs help,
and this help comes only when
we go to our secret place of
prayer and shut the door. Then
Jesus comes to us. Matthew 6:6,
But thou, when thou prayest,
enter into thy closet, and when
thou hast shut the door, pray to
4 thy Father which is in secret;
4 and thy Father which seeth in
3 secret shall reward thee openly"
I In these words of John there
is no fear or excitement on how
this mysterious present Jesus
came or went. But Jesus knew
/ they needed Him and He came.
Did you ever feel that you
needed help and there was not
one in this world who could help
you? Yes, l know you have. Not
a friend could help you; every
friend failed you. Look all
around, nothing but gloom. Yes,
dear neighbor, only one way to
look and that is up. Psalm 12l,
verses / and 2: II will lift up
| mine eyes unto the hills, from
whence cometh my help. My
help cometh from the Lord,
which made heaven and earth. !"
He pervades, in some sense,
each human life. Many who pro-
fess no belief in Him are never
| the.less.. deeply influenced by
Him. II is no us to say that their
| goodness is counterfeit. To be
dogmatic rose is rose
whether it grows in your garden
or mine. We are all human by
heredity. The virtues and graces
of believing, like the rose, can
| flow in the sap of each family
| tree.
Perhaps sometime Jesus has
tried TO get in that house of your
soul. He says, Behold, l stand
at the door, and knock. If you
will open, | will come in and
sup with you and you with me-"
Sooner or later Jesus makes His
way to. our heart; we can open
and let Him in, or we can shut
the door in His face and keep
Him out. You can keep Him out,
but you can never keep Him
away. Psalm 139, verses Z and
8: whittier shall go from thy
spirit? or whittier shall / flee
from thy presence? If / ascend
up into heaven, thou art there:
if / make my bed in hell, behold,
thou art there"
We are not always going to
live in Noble county or any
other county. We are not always
going to live in Ohio. Why not
take the directions as found in
Johns Gospel, chapter IA? Jesus
said, eff l go to prepare a place
for you, l will come again, and
receive you unto myself; that
where I am there ye may be
also" Get saved. God bless you.
| XGy;11;o1oo Ko+Lop1,