[Ill.u.s.tration: "Joseph in the Pit."]
A POCKET RULE.
HOW G.o.d MEASURES MEN.
SUGGESTION:--Objects: A yard-stick, pocket-rule, tape-measure and any measure or scales convenient.
Use the measures and scales for measuring the height and weight of the different children, and explain to them that if they continue to grow, they will eventually become full grown men and women. So G.o.d measures them to-day in moral things, and if they will learn what G.o.d requires and be obedient to their parents, they will increase in moral stature as well.
MY DEAR YOUNG FRIENDS: I am sure you will be able to tell me what these are which I hold in my hand. This you would call a yard-stick; the other, because it folds, you would call a pocket-rule, and here is another, which you would call a tape-measure.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Yard-Stick, Pocket-Rule and Tape-Measure.]
Now, if I were going to measure any of you, to tell how tall you are, I would use one or the other of these rules; as each is divided into even inches, I could use any of these three I should prefer. I would say one boy is four feet two inches, another four feet nine inches and another five feet four inches, and so on according to the height of each person.
We speak of this kind of measure as feet and inches. When it is used in measuring cloth, or other goods in a store, we speak of it as yards and parts of a yard. Then there are also other forms of measures, dry measure--quarts, pecks, bushels; and liquid measure--quarts, gallons and barrels. There is also a standard of weight--ounces, pounds and tons.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Farmer"s Measures.]
It is necessary to have standards of weights and measures. This is absolutely necessary, or we could not tell in purchasing cloth or lumber, in buying sugar or mola.s.ses, or other things, whether we are getting the right quant.i.ty, or whether we are not getting the right quant.i.ty. So, everywhere you go in the United States we have the same size or standard of weights and measures, and the Government appoints men in each city to go about and examine whether the scales which the storekeeper uses for weighing sugar, and the measures which he uses when he sells vinegar and mola.s.ses--whether these are perfectly accurate, as the law requires.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Scales and Measure.]
But, if you look on the other side of this tape-measure, there is a different standard of measure. This, on the reverse side, is the metric system, used in France and many other countries. If you were to go into a store in France and wanted to purchase cloth, you would not ask for a yard, you would ask for a metre of cloth, which instead of thirty-six inches, which makes our yard, would be a little over thirty-nine inches; so the standard of measures and values varies in different countries.
There is a slight difference in the length of the English yard and the American yard. In this country we also speak of dollars and cents. In England they have the penny, shilling, pound or sovereign. And so in different countries there are different pieces of money, having a great variety of values.
I have spoken of these things simply to call your attention to the fact that G.o.d has a standard of measure, and a standard of value, as well as men. When the Government enlists soldiers into the army every man is measured, and he must be of a given height; if he is not as tall as the requirement, then he is rejected. When Napoleon chose his body-guard the men all had to be exceedingly tall.
G.o.d also has His standard of measure. He does not measure us according to the height of our body, but according to our moral character. He measures us to see whether we are good or bad. G.o.d"s standard of the measure of our moral character is found in the Bible. You will find it, both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. In the Old Testament we have the Ten Commandments, in which we are required to worship G.o.d, and to worship nothing else; to keep the Sabbath day holy; to honor our parents; and various other requirements. In the New Testament we have a great many principles for moral government which Jesus announced when He was upon the earth.
We have all broken some one or more of the Ten Commandments and the precepts which Jesus left for us to follow. If you desire to see how you should live, if you would keep the law perfectly, you will have to look at the life of Jesus Christ. He was the only perfect man who ever lived. He came to this world to set a perfect example for men to imitate. Just the same as you copy after the lines correctly written at the top of your writing book, so you and I are to copy after the life and character of Jesus Christ.
The moral law is a perfect law; the Psalmist says, "the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." I showed you how in France they have a different standard of measure from that which we have in the United States, but with the moral law the standard is the same everywhere and at all times. It is wrong to lie or steal in America, and it is equally wrong to lie or steal in France, or in Africa, or in India, or on the islands of the sea, or anywhere in all of the universe. If it is wicked now to swear, or to commit murder it always was wicked. It was just as wicked three thousand years ago as it is to-day, and it never will be right to take the name of G.o.d in vain, or to destroy human life. G.o.d has but one standard of morality for all people and for all time.
What G.o.d requires of the young in order that they may be pure and holy, He requires also of grown-up people. If it is wrong for the preacher and the Sunday-school superintendent to go to the theatre, or to do anything else, it is equally wrong for every member of the church and for every member of the Sunday-school. Before G.o.d we must all be measured by the same standard of morality.
If I had one year ago measured the height of each of you and written it down, and then measured you again to-day, I would find that during these twelve months each of you had grown. You are taller to-day than you were a year ago. Now, G.o.d has given us a standard of moral character, right and wrong, and I want you all to study it very carefully, so that you may see how tall you are, how far you come short of the character of Jesus Christ. And as you grow taller in body, so you should grow in moral character, and if you will study G.o.d"s word carefully, you will be able to discover what progress you are making in becoming more like Christ, in becoming better boys and better girls, and afterward better men and better women, from year to year, than you were each preceding year.
May G.o.d bless you abundantly, and may you grow daily "unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." (Eph.
iv: 13.)
QUESTIONS.--How many kinds of measures can you name? Are the standards of weights and measures the same in all countries? How many standards of measure does G.o.d have? Where can G.o.d"s standard of measure be found? Are G.o.d"s standards the same for all persons in all countries, in all parts of the world? Is there any place in the world where it would be right to lie or steal, or murder? Who was the only perfect man? Does G.o.d"s standard ever change? Should we constantly strive to become like Christ? How can we tell what progress we are making in becoming more like Christ?
[Ill.u.s.tration]
THE MAGNET.
JESUS THE GREAT DRAWING POWER.
SUGGESTION:--A small magnet can be purchased in almost any hardware store at trifling cost. With this, also have some little tacks, nails both small and large, together with some old rusted and crooked nails, and a pocket knife.
Do not omit "driving to church" and the other play features suggested in previous sermons.
I AM sure that there is not a boy or girl here, who has not at some time felt a desire to be good and do right. When you have felt this way, it has been due to the fact that the Holy Spirit has come to you and has put these good thoughts and good desires into your heart.
There is not a person living who has not at some time felt this same drawing and desire to do right and to be good. The results, however, have been very different with different people.
I shall seek to ill.u.s.trate this drawing power to you to-day, and to do so have brought this magnet. I have also brought these tacks and nails of different sizes; and here are also some old, rusted, crooked nails.
Let these several kinds represent the different kinds of people.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Magnet and Tacks.]
When I take this magnet, and move it around among these small tacks, and then hold it up, you will see that very many of these tacks cling to the magnet. They hold on by some unseen power. Sometimes the tacks are even not able to touch the magnet, but are drawn through the influence which extends through other tacks, and so large cl.u.s.ters hang on to the magnet. If I shake the magnet you will see that some fall off. These small tacks represent the youngest children. In the early years of our lives we are more easily drawn to the Lord Jesus. It is then more easy for us to come to Christ and give ourselves fully to Him. It is much easier to be Christians when we are young. Yet many put it off till they are older, when it is much more difficult and they are less likely to be successful in living a Christian life.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Magnet and Small Nails.]
Now, if I remove these small tacks, and place the magnet among these small nails, you will see that several of the small nails cling to the magnet, and I can lift them up. There are not as many, however, as there were of the tacks clinging to it. In like manner, as boys and girls grow older, they find it more difficult to come to Christ.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Magnet and Larger Nails.]
Here are some larger nails. When I place the magnet among them, but very few are attracted to it. And when I attempt to lift the magnet, most all of these large nails tall off. Only one, sometimes two, hold on successfully.
Here are some nails that are still larger. Now, when I attempt to lift one of them with this magnet, you see that I can only lift one end of the nail. That is due to the fact that while the magnet draws these nails, the earth also draws them. That is the reason why these smaller nails, when they fall from the magnet, fall to the earth; because the earth draws them. The earth draws with so much greater force and power upon these large nails than the magnet draws that I cannot raise them by the magnet. It is on this account that they continue to hold fast to the earth rather than to the magnet.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Magnet and Large Nails.]
This represents the people who have grown old; who have large cares and responsibilities; who have become worldly-minded; who are drawn away by the "deceitfulness of riches and the l.u.s.t of other things," and who, although they feel a desire to do right, yet have a stronger desire to do that which is not well-pleasing in the sight of G.o.d.
Now, here are some old crooked, rusty nails. Let us see what effect the presence of the magnet will have upon them. Just as we might have expected. These rusty nails do not seem to feel the power or the influence of the magnet"s presence. If I place the magnet up against the nail, and attempt to lift it, it does not seem to be drawn at all. It simply lies still, unmoved. These old, crooked, rusty nails represent people who have grown very old and very wicked, and who have become greatly hardened in sin. Jesus Christ and His love seem to make no impression any longer upon them. They are joined to their idols. G.o.d"s Spirit has taken His departure, and they are left alone. Let me warn you, both young and old, that if you feel the drawing of G.o.d"s Spirit, you should yield to Him, so as not to become more corroded and rusted, and coated over by every sinful influence, so that at last the love of G.o.d shall fail to have any effect upon you.
If now we take these different cla.s.ses of nails and mix them together, and then stir the magnet among them, you will see how the smaller nails, in larger numbers, cling to the magnet. These bright nails are also affected by it. Oftentimes the influence of the magnet is seen, as it is communicated from one nail to the other; but these rusty nails, not only do not themselves yield to the influence of the magnet, but they also fail to communicate that magnetic influence to any of the other nails around them. In like manner, wicked people seem to come between Christ and others who would be drawn to Him. Let me say to you, keep out of bad company. Avoid wicked companions--those who swear, or lie, or do anything that is wrong, for their influence over you will be bad, and they will prevent the good influences of holy things from acting upon you.
Suppose now that I take my knife blade and move it among these nails, you will see that it does not attract them like the magnet did. It has no magnetic power. If I draw the knife blade across the magnet a few times, it receives this magnetic power from the magnet. Now, when I move it among the nails you will see how these little tacks and some of the larger nails are drawn toward it.
Just so it is with each of us as individuals. Without coming in contact with Christ and receiving His Spirit, His drawing power, we will never influence others to do that which is right and good and holy. If we desire to have an influence for good in this world we must, first of all, come to Christ ourselves, and receive this drawing power from Him.
You have doubtless seen those who have become Christians, and after they have given their hearts to Christ they have immediately begun to draw others. They go out and invite others to come to church, they invite others to go with them to the prayer-meeting, to come with them to the Sunday-school, and so in every way they seek to influence others that they may draw them to Christ.
When Jesus was upon the earth vast mult.i.tudes attended Him. Where He went they followed. But now when Jesus is no longer bodily present upon the earth, when we cannot see Him with our natural eyes, we speak of walking by faith, and you may be curious to know what is meant by walking by faith. I think that I can ill.u.s.trate it in this way: Here is a sheet of writing paper. Now above the writing paper I will place this magnet, and then below it I will place this small bit of iron. The attracting power of the magnet holds the iron up against the paper. Now, when I move this magnet on the upper side of the sheet from place to place, you will observe that this little piece of iron on the lower side of the sheet goes in the same direction. It follows the magnet very closely. The paper is between them. Now, if this paper were enlarged so as to be as long and as broad as the ceiling of this room, of course you would not be able to see the magnet. It would be hidden from your view.
But as you would move the magnet from place to place, the little iron below would continue to follow it.
So Jesus Christ is no longer visible; we cannot see Him with our natural eyes, but He draws the Christian who is in this world, and so the Christian follows Him. He walks in the footsteps of the Lord Jesus. And it is on that account that we say that the Christian walks by faith, and not by sight.