■ ■ ■ ■ ® pa rab le s and p ea r ls
(AS FEATURED OVER THE BIOLA HOUR)
BUOYED UP There’s no th ing more frightening than water to one who can’t swim. While looking over the Dead Sea in a little boat, a man lost his balance and fell overboard. In panic, he began flailing about frantically. With such strenuous activity he was soon ex hausted, and in despair gave up, think ing he would surely drown. To his utter amazement, however, he found out that by just relaxing the water would hold him up, so heavy is the Dead Sea with salt and other minerals. As long as he tried to do something to save himself, he had trouble, but once he let go, and did nothing, he was secure. What a parallel for our lives! We try to work out our own problems, seemingly oblivious to the power which Christ wants to exert in our lives. I f we would only cease from our struggles, flounderings, frustra tions and fears, we would find the blessedness that “underneath are the everlasting arms.” Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). * * * Keep your light burning and the Lord will put it where you can shine. * * * INCONSISTENCY We believe in the tremendous value of using tracts. These littleprinted evangels can uniquely reach hearts for Christ. An outstanding preacher was greatly used of the Lord in writing one entitled “Come to Jesus.” Untold num bers were saved as a result of reading it. In later years the minister himself developed a bitter outlook on life. He couldn’t get along with anyone, and was especially critical and cynical about his fellow pastors. No one’s the ology was as straight as his. In de clining years, he wrote scores of blister
ing letters to other servants of Christ. One man’s message so infuriated him that he prepared a special manuscript, attacking him which he hoped to pub lish. One of the few friends he had left happened in and was asked to read the treatise and then to suggest an appropriate title for it. Noting that there wasn’t any degree of love or patience shown whatsoever, the friend dared to offer, “Why don’t you call it ‘Go To The Devil’ by the author of ‘Come To Jesus’?” When he realized the inconsistency of his own life, the elderly preacher was conscience-smit ten. The Bible says, “The tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:8). How hypocritical to use our lips to bless God on one hand while we curse men on the other! Remember the challenge of Scripture, “He that saith he abideth in Him, ought also so to walk even as He walked!” * Some children are like canoes which move ahead better when they are paddled. * * * RESURRECTION REALITIES Newton, the renowned scientist, who wos a child of God, often had skeptical associates question his determined faith. One of them wondered about the resurrection asking, “How shall the scattered dust of those who have been dead for millenniums be gathered to gether to form an immortal body?” The scholar gave him a practical dem onstration which really hasn’t ever been improved wpon. He took a handful of small iron particles left from some filings from his laboratory table. These were mixed thoroughly into a tray of 8and. When they were hopelessly a part of the mixture, Newton asked, “Do you think anyone could ever gath er together these iron particles again, 22 * *
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