Talk to God about your neighbors and talk to your neighbors about God.
ETERNAL SEPARATION A minister was greatly burdened for a friend of his who was a distin guished judge in the community. The jurist had heard many cases where husbands and wives were seeking di vorces, yet he and his wife were known to be one of the happiest mar ried couples in town. Going to the judge, the wise man of God began, “Since we’ve been friends for so long, I just wanted to come and offer my condolences. I t ’s certainly too bad about you and your wife.” The judge was somewhat confused and con cerned. He h u r r ie d ly questioned, “What do you mean? What’s wrong with my wife and me?” The minister continued, “Well, I understand that you and your wife are going to sep arate, at least that’s what I ’ve been led to believe." The judge let out a hearty laugh and said, "Somebody’s thrown you off. That’s where you are aU wrong, parson. Why there’s per fect harmony between us, and every one knows it. It’s preposterous to think that anything could ever hap pen to our happy home. No such thought has ever entered our minds.” The minister put his hand on his friend’s shoulder and replied solemn ly, “You realize that your wife is a Christian. Since she has put her faith and trust in Christ she is going to heaven. The separation comes because you are without the Saviour. The Bi ble says that at death you will be heading in the other direction.” And the jurist saw the light. There is a great day coming that will bring sep aration to many, a parting which can never be reconciled. Today, by grace, the door of salvation is open to all. But in a coming hour if man does not now enter in he will find this Scrip tural question unanswerable, “For how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation." * * * To keep in good standing with God, a Christian must be found kneeling. 11
YOUR BURDENS Have you heard of the legendary Valley of Discontentment? It should have provided for the happiness of men, but for some reason there was only a perpetual complaining among the inhabitants of the area. One day a stranger came for a visit and was greatly depressed by the grumbling he heard. He requested all the people to assemble for an important meet ing. Once there they heard his inter esting plan. On the following Satur day each person was to tie up all of his burdens in a package, writing on the wrapper what was contained in side. The next few days people were busy getting all of their cares, wor ries, frustrations, and burdens to gether. Then, on the day appointed the hillside outside of the village was covered with these strange packages. For hours people passed through them inspecting the labels. Each one sought a set of burdens he thought would be lighter than his own. By nightfall all the packages and people were gone, and strangely enough each one had gone back home carrying the bundle which he himself had brought. We need to remember that the burden the Lord gives us are not heavy. I f they are then they are not His, for He has promised, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
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