to sin live any longer therein. The Christian life is a life that is crucified and buried. Are you willing to live that life for the Lord Jesus today? Are you willing to work in an unknown place, tucked away in the shadows where you will not hear the plaudits and praise of men? It is a buried life. Secondly, I would suggest that it is a broken life. The little grain of wheat falls into the ground and is buried away. Then the Father pulls His plow back and forth over it, covering it with soil and thus it is buried out of sight. But that isn’t the end of the process— no, it- must be broken. It must be brok en if it is to be a blessing; if it is to bear grain — the kind of grain that will stand the test of the judgment seat of Christ. Refresh your minds and hearts by reading the 18th chapter of Jeremiah in which is told the story of the potter and the vessel of clay. We must turn to the mission fields to see rich fruits bursting forth from the lives of great missionaries who have laid upon many mission altars buried and broken lives, but what harvests have come forth to the praise and glory of His name! In II Peter 3:18 we find that this buried and broken life will find that now is the time for the child of God to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. He brings the ray of sunshine and all the choice elements of nature to bear upon the life of the soul. God has not forgotten that little grain of wheat that is broken and buried. He does not forget the sparrow that has fallen, and my child, He will bolster you! My last thought that I would like to give to you is that as a child of God that has buried his self life, his life is a bearing life. It produces fruit to God’s glory. The whole purpose of planting that grain qf wheat was in order that it might multiply and re produce itself. All the breaking, the bolstering, and the bearing of that grain was centered upon one thing — that it might bear fruit for God. Will you let your life be swallowed up in Jesus Christ and begin today to bear fruit for His glory? 31
deed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones . . .” So it is not outward religion that we need — it is an inward faith! So let’s talk about the real Christian life. Now I would like to suggest to you four themes about this grain of wheat. First of all it is a buried thing. Normal ly we do not bury things that have not TWO CRIPPLES Two cripples entered a church one day; Crippled — but each in a different way: One had a body strong and whole. But it sheltered a warped and twisted soul. The other walked with a halting gait, But his soul was "tall and fair and straight." They shared a pew. They shared a book. But on each face was a different look: One was alight with hope and joy And faith that nothing could des troy. The other joined not in prayer or hymn, No smile relaxed his features grim. His neighbor had wronged him; his heart was sore, He thought of himself and nothing more. The words that were read from the Holy Book Struck deafened ears and forlorn look To one came comfort — his soul was fed; The other gained nothing from what was said. Two cripples left the church that day; Crippled —- but each in a different way; A twisted foot did one body mar, But the twisted soul was sadder far. — Mildred M. North died previously, but the hidden life of the child of God is a 'buried life. It may not be a life of fanfare; you’ll not do your works to be seen of men else you have your reward which is the praise of men and not the praise of God. The Apostle asks how are we that have died
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