merit. Instead of running and falling on his neck, he drew back and was ill at ease. And the father said unto him, “Son, I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight I am no more worthy to be called thy father. Forgive me now and let me be your friend” But the son said, “Not so; I wish it were possible, but it is too late. There was a time when I wanted to know things, when I wanted companionship and counsel, but you were too busy; I got the information and I got the companionship but I got the wrong kind; and now, alas, I am wrecked in soul and body, and there is nothing you can do for me. It is too late.” This heart-broken father considered those truths which for you may not be beyond answering. Ask them real istically of your own heart. “For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own son?” “But if a man provide not for his Own house he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” A LONG LOOK When the body of Abraham Lincoln lay in state in Cleveland, just before being taken back to Illinois for burial, an elderly Negro woman stood in the line holding a young child in her arms. With an evident love in her heart, she solidly fixed her gaze upon the face of the great emancipator. The young ster was wide-eyed. Then came her thoughtful suggestion to the child: “Take a long, long look, honey. That!8 the man that died for you.” Although it seems our country again has been tom by internal strife, this simple truth should carry a real message for our own hearts. Spiritually speaking, simply a casual or infrequent glance at Jesus Christ may not make much of an impact. The centurian as well as the soldiers who were with him at the cross watched the Lord. Finally they could do no less than confess, “Truly, Opportunity is like oxygen; men breathe it and yet sometimes aren't really con scious of it.
this was the Son of God.” On these programs, we urge listeners to take a long, long look at the Saviour. This will convince and transform hearts and lives. For this reason, we need to be faithful in church attendance where the Word of God is upheld, and where Christ Himself is given the pre-emi nence. We need to spend sufficient time with the Lord and in His Word day by day for our own spiritual development and blessing. The suggestion of that faithful woman in the years gone by is most practical again as far as the Lord is concerned. We, too, say, “Take a long, long look at Him, for He is the Man who died for us!” A CADILLAC IN A CRISIS These are strange and perplexing days in which we’re living. Foundations 'in so many areas seem to be crumbling. Personal morality no longer is desir able, and the whole world seems to have gone mad for pleasure and self-gratifi cation. As an example, we’ve been sold the idea that if a person possesses an automatic washing machine , television set, electric razor, electric blanket, an automobile or two, along with a number of other so-called “essentials” of the day, he will have a happy and abun dant life. What people are interested in today is themselves; they’ll buy hap piness at any price. Too many have swapped God for gadgets. Then one day a crisis develops. Too late does the dis covery come that one can’t meet a crisis with a Cadillac. A broken heart can’t be mended with furs or diamonds. A guilty conscience cannot be made pure with a vacuum cleaner or central air conditioning. The country is filled with people who are facing deep human needs. Yet spiritually they are com pletely bankrupt. In the mad rush to get things money can buy they have missed the whole point of daily exist ence. The Lord Jesus Christ rightly de clared, “A man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of things which he pos- sesseth.” Peter reminds us that these earthly possessions —“ things” — some 25 When our capability is of God we will never be incapable.
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