368
June 1927
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
Children of th e Sun TN a remarkable article in The Scientific American of J- January, we find the following paragraphs written by Prof. Paul R. Heyl, Physicist of the U. S. Bureau of Standards: “The more closely we examine the various manifesta tions of energy which contribute to our life on this earth, the more difficult it is to find any form of energy which cannot be traced to the sun. For centuries before the in vention of the steam engine, all sea-borne traffic was pro pelled by sun-power, for the winds originate when one part of the earth becomes more intensely heated than others. The heated air of this region expands and be comes specifically lighter, and is forced up by the cooler and denser air surrounding it, which rushes in torrents that we call winds toward the more intensely heated region. “Far-seeing men everywhere are looking to the devel opment of water power as a substitute for coal; but this, too, is solar energy. Water which falls from a height must be replaced if the power is to continue available, and many foot-pounds of work must be expended to put it back again. This is done for us by the sun, who expends his heat lavishly on the surface of the oceans, lakes and rivers, evaporating hundreds of tons of water daily. This enters the atmosphere as vapor, and is raised by wind power (which as we have seen is sun power) to fall again as rain on the uplands. T he S ource of E nergy “The internal heat of the earth is another possible source of energy which of late years has actually been drawn upon. In certain districts of Italy and in Sonoma County, California, jets of steam issue continually from crevices running deep into the earth. This steam is col lected and used to operate steam boilers. It cannot be directly used in an engine, as it contains corrosive mater ials. Modern thought inclines to the opinion that the internal heat of the earth is due principally to the slow decomposition of radioactive material in the rocks of the earth’s crust. Such a source of energy may, in a sense, be considered as extra-solar, though of course all such material, with its possibilities of generating energy, came originally from the sun. “When we consider how large a part is played by the use of fuel in our modern civilization, in metallurgy and manufacture, in lighting and transportation: in fact, in everything that distinguishes the life of man from that of the beasts; and when we recognize that all substitutes for fuel that are available to us derive their energy like wise from the sun, we may begin to realize the extent of our indebtedness to the sun’s bounty. Yet this is not a ll; for every breath we draw, every movement we make, aye, every thought that passes through our minds, involves the combustion of a certain amount of fuel in the bodily system. Each one of us is a complicated heat engine, and the energy of the fuel supply comes, as we have seen, originally from the sun. “When one visualizes the full perspective which such considerations open out before the view, the Indian sun- worshipper ceases to be an object of contempt, and rather commands our sympathy; for childlike as may be his mode of expression, he has grasped, so far as his limited vision permits, one of the grandest concepts of modern science, one of which many men of a higher grade of civilization seem to be totally ignorant. Truly we are in a very real sense all Children of the Sun.”
C hrist T h e S piritual S un What Christian can read all this without recalling that what the sun is .to the physical universe, Christ, “The Light of the World,” is in the spiritual universe? If the sun is necessary to the maintenance of life on earth, of Christ it is said: “In Him was life; and the life was the light o f men” (Jn. 1:4). “He is the true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (v. 9). He is “the sun o f righteousness.” (Mai. 4:2). As the earth draws upon the sun each moment through invisible chan nels, so through prayer the child of God must draw upon Christ, “in whom all fulness dwells” (Col. 1 :19). Like the sun’s hold upon the earth and planets, which keeps them in their proper orbits, while allowing freedom of movement within them, is the hold of Christ upon the soul that has come, within His-fold. “The love of Christ constraineth us” (2 Cor. 5 ; 14). The hand of Christ holds us (Jn. 10:28). The sun is at an Unthinkable distance from the earth, and with no visible connection it acts with tremendous force, even searching out the tiniest .flowers and seeds. Though it is 90,000,000 miles away, we all enjoy its pres ence. Even so, the love of God comes out of heaven through Christ and “no length nor depth can separate” God’s child from that love. (Rom. 8 :39). “There’s not a craving of the mind Which Jesus cannot fill. There’s not a pleasure I would seek Aside from His dear will. From hour to hour He fills my soul With peace and perfect love, While rich supplies for every need He sendeth from above.” Mr. Heyl says, “We are all children of the sun.” The Word of God says of trusting souls, “Now are ye light in the Lord : walk as children of light ” (Eph. 5:8). To the unsaved, there is left this exhortation-S‘Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light” (Eph. 5 :14). Entered in th e Book “Whose names are in the book of life.”—Phil. 4 :3. Paul is recalling his fellow-helpers in the Gospel. What if he had forgotten some of them ? The unknown on earth are never forgotten in heaven. The work we do in His name is recorded and will last forever. It is great to have one’s name in the New Testament. Think of those names in Heb. 11 and Rom. 16. It is great to have your name in the family Bible for that usually implies a Christian home. It is great to have your name on a church roll with pious men and women. But greater far it is to be assured that your name is recorded in God’s great book of life. That, above all things, as our Lord said, is a thing to rejoice in. Find H im Where You Lost H im “Thousands cry, today, in sheer despair, ‘They have taken away my Lord and I know not where they have laid him,’ ” writes Dr. A. Z. Conrad, “If you are one, here is a word for you: you will find Him where you lost Him; at the prayer place; at the Word which you began to distrust; at the church you began to neglect. If you have lost Him, pray that you may recover Him now.”
Made with FlippingBook Annual report