The Murderer

Nature ever has a voice for those who will hearken to her teaching. The glorious sun, enlightening all with his cheering beams, reminds us of the Dayspring from on high, who came "to give light to those who sat in darkness and the shadow of death."

The bright moon, reflecting as it does the light of the sun, reminds of the true Church of Christ.  The moon above, the Church below, A wondrous race they run; But all their radiance, all their glow, each borrows of its Sun. The countless stars shining overhead, remind us of the eternal glory of the children of God.

The birds of the air teach us their lesson of daily dependence upon the care of the great Provider. Luther, we are told, was once in much distress about provision for those whom he had gathered under his roof but was comforted as he hearkened to the note of a little songster. It seemed to him in its note ever to be repeating, again and again Mortals, cease from care and sorrow; God provides for the morrow.

The lily of the field has taught us, through the lips of Christ, that our Father forgets not to clothe His children. The vine and its branches have taught us much of the mystery of grace. It shows to us the necessity of ever abiding in Christ by faith and prayer; and assures us that all grace and strength flow from Him, the Living Stem, into the hearts of His believing people.

Let us learn from the book of nature another lesson, very different from any of these. Our teacher shall be a remarkable plant, that grows very abundantly in the forests of Brazil. It bears the name of the Sipo Matador and has been thus described: "Its stem is at first so exceeding slender, that it has no natural support in itself. It entwines and creeps along the ground until it reaches some lofty vigorous tree then its mode of growth is most peculiar. It lays hold of it with a clinging grasp, and spreads itself, like a flattened bark-like stem, over one side of the trunk, cleaving to it with the greatest tenacity: from both the edges of this bark it sends out very delicate arm-like tendrils, exactly opposite to each other. 

They grow on until they meet, encircling the tree, round which they become a solid ligature, never to be removed. These arms are sent forth at regular intervals as the Murderer mounts upwards, until the trunk of its supporter is clasped by numberless inflexible rings. These rings grow larger, and clasp tighter as the parasite ascends. Up, up it climbs, one hundred feet one hundred and fifty-one hundred and eighty; at last, it mounts to the very top and then, as in triumph, forms a vast flowering head above all the surrounding forest, opens its blossoms to the sun, ripens its seeds, and scatters them over the soil below.

The supporter, by this time, is strangled and dead; and the strange spectacle remains of the strangler clasping in its arms the lifeless and decaying body of its victim, in which wood-boring beetles have already commenced their operations. It soon crumbles in rapid decay; and the parasite which destroyed it, having flowered, fruited, and continued its kind, falls to the ground, a shapeless mass, involved in one common ruin with its supporter."

What is the lesson this plant may teach us? Is it not this; The mysterious power of sin, and the danger to which its victim is exposed? Only carefully ponder the description of the plant which is given and then trace the striking analogy.

The very name suggests it. It is the "Sipo Matador" or "the Murderer".

The child frequently bears the name of the parent. The author of evil is spoken of by Christ as "a murderer from the beginning." Such also is sinning a destroyer a murderer!

O sin, sin! what have you done? How many, through you, have had to pass through the gloomy chamber of the grave! What multitudes, in all ages, through you, have forfeited the peace and salvation of a soul!

[George Everard]

Psalm 19:1-5 ... The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

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Not One Tear is Lost!!

On opening ancient tombs in Palestine, many a tear-bottle has been found, which was a repository for the tears of the mourners, and was then placed in the tomb beside the one who was laid there.

Just so does our heavenly Father gather all the tears of His redeemed children. "You keep track of all my sorrows.  You have collected all my tears in Your bottle.  You have recorded each one in Your book!" (Psalm 56:8)

Not one tear is lost! Not one sorrow is unheeded. Not one grief is left un-befriended. All these tears are noted by our merciful Father above!

"Jesus wept." John 11:35. We have a Savior who has known our sorrows and can heal every wound that sin has made. "In all their affliction, He was afflicted." When He was on earth, He wept with those that wept and He is still the same. We can think of the tears that He shed more than eighteen centuries ago and know that at this hour He is the same loving and sympathizing Friend!

There is no sympathy like that of Jesus! It flows in full flood toward His believing children. Just as the rising tide rushes in and pours through every cranny and nook on the shore so does Christ's tender loving-kindness enter the hearts of His people.

[George Everard]

Hebrews 4:15-16 ... For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

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The Source!!

God reminds us how foolish and unwise it is, thus, to forsake the sole source of true happiness. It is a very forcible image that is here employed God is a Fountain, a Well of Life. He is the source and spring of all true life, pleasure, holiness, and hope! In Him is a continual freshness of all that can fill the soul with joy. In Him are inexhaustible streams of mercy, grace, and consolation. But men forsake this Fountain, for cisterns yes, for broken cisterns, from which soon leak out the few drops of water they may contain. 

A traveler in the Holy Land tells us that he found the land riddled with the remains of these broken cisterns. When water was needed, they would just dig one of these little clay cisterns in the ground. It would hold water for a time, but soon, when the sun was hot and weather dry, it would crack and leak and so another and another would be needed. 

Ah, what pains and trouble men take in hewing out broken cisterns like these wealth unsanctified by true riches, the acquisition of knowledge with no end beyond its possession, a position and name that shall dazzle those around, schemes of self-indulgence and pleasure, a comfortable home where God is forgotten, some object of affection which engrosses every thought; how often something of this kind steals the heart from God! But before long there is sure to be a crack, a leak; and the joy and the comfort is dried up and gone! 

So, God in His tender compassion would have us see this and remember that nothing can ever take the place of Himself as our well-spring of joy. 

[George Everard] 

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Jeremiah 2:13 ... For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

John 4:13-14 ...  Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. ❤

Glory in Christ

It is the will of God that men should glory in Christ alone.  To glory in Christ, is the secret of true rest and peace. We may not glory in ourselves. We may not glory in riches or natural gifts, or the praise of man, or in any attainments we may make. We must learn to abase ourselves; to own our utter insufficiency, our ignorance, our exceeding sinfulness, our inability to do anything aright of ourselves and resort to Christ and glory in Him as the spring of all hope, strength, and consolation. 

[George Everard]

1 Corinthians 1:30-31 ... But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. ❤

Twenty-four Vessels Every Day!

The careful use of TIME touches every part of the Christian life. A beautiful illustration has been given of this: The hours are like a chain of little golden vessels passing before you day and night. You cannot arrest their progress. You can put something into each as it passes. You can put in a good thought or word or deed - or a bad thought or word or deed. Or you can let it go empty. Once past, you cannot recall it. 

Twenty-four vessels every day! Eight of them pass while we are asleep one-third of them empty. Alas! how many more through our negligence and sloth, every day pass empty! Alas! for the contents of many of them! Golden vessels filled with wood, hay, stubble! Some of them filled with what is worse than worthless evil thoughts and words and deeds. But they all pass on continually until they come before the throne of God. And their account is taken of their contents. Of how many are you satisfied that God should note their contents? 

[George Everard] 

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Psalm 90:12 ... So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Ephesians 5:15-16 ...  See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. ❤

If I Had a Little Bucket of Water!

1. I must use life well, because every moment of it is so precious. The minutes and hours of life are like the gold-dust which the goldsmith so carefully gathers together that none is lost. "I have lost a day!" was the sorrowful lament of one who had learned the real value of time. Life is very precious, and I dare not and will not throw any of it away! 

2. I must also use life well, because it will soon be over. "The time is short!" (1 Corinthians 7:29) My days and years will soon be spent, and I cannot recall them. My life is but a shadow it is but a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. Even if I am spared to the full age of man, compared with the long life awaiting me hereafter my life here on earth is but as a moment. "You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before You. Each man's life is but a breath." (Psalm 39:5)  

Let me endeavor then to remember how soon life will be gone and be very careful to use each precious moment well! If I had a little bucket of water, and no more could be obtained how carefully I would watch that none of it ran to waste. I would reckon each drop of great value. Such is my life. It is all I have. I must therefore lose none. I must squander none. "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." (Psalm 90:12 3) 

I must use life well, because it is very uncertain. I may have far less than I think. I may be looking forward to years to come and yet I may have but a few months or weeks or days to live! I remember a woman who said that someday she would begin to attend our village church. She was in middle age and had lived a sadly wicked and abandoned life. She thought that she had time enough and to spare, to think of more serious subjects. She did indeed soon afterwards come to our village church but how did she come? She was carried in a casket on men's shoulders, and then left in the silent grave! 

Only six weeks had passed since the day she promised that someday she would begin a new life. "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth!" (Proverbs 27:1)  

So, I trust my life will not be a wasted one. And though I can do but little compared with many others, I trust that He will say to me at last: "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful over a little I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your Master!" (Matthew 25:23) 

[George Everard] 

Ephesians 5:15-16 ... See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,  Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

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What is Christianity?

Christianity centers in the glorious Person of Christ! The aim and purpose of every Scripture truth is to fix the eye on Christ Himself! 

He is the Alpha and Omega of Christianity. From Him proceeds every ray of spiritual light. To Him all believing hearts are drawn. The Christian finds consolation and strength only in Him. Every motive for Christian living is from Him. The glorious privileges which Christians possess, can only be enjoyed from union and communion with Him. Their highest standard of duty is to follow His footsteps, and to walk even as He walked. 

Christianity, in fact, is Christ! It is Christ in the Scriptures, Christ in the Manger, Christ on the Cross, Christ, the Risen One, Christ, the Ascended One, Christ, the Prophet, the Priest, the King, Christ in His Glorious appearing, to be revealed from Heaven with His mighty angels! All our trust, all our love, all our obedience, is due to Him! The more the eye and the heart is turned fully towards Him the more true and genuine is our Christianity. 

[George Everard] 

Colossians 3:11 .. Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. 

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If I Had a Little Bucket of Water

1. I must use life well, because every moment of it is so precious. The minutes and hours of life are like the gold-dust which the goldsmith so carefully gathers together that none be lost. "I have lost a day!" was the sorrowful lament of one who had learned the real value of time. Life is very precious, and I dare not and will not throw any of it away! 

2. I must also use life well, because it will soon be over. "The time is short!" (1 Corinthians 7:29.) My days and years will soon be spent, and I cannot recall them. My life is but a shadow it is but a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. Even if I am spared to the full age of man, compared with the long life awaiting me hereafter my life here is but as a moment. "You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before You. Each man's life is but a breath." (Psalm 39:5.)  Let me endeavor then to remember how soon life will be gone and be very careful to use well each precious moment. If I had a little bucket of water, and no more could be obtained how carefully would I watch that none of it ran to waste. Each drop I would reckon of great value. Such is my life. It is all I have. I must therefore lose none. I must squander none. "So, teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." (Psalm 90:12)  

3. I must use life well, because it is very uncertain. I may have far less than I think. I may be looking forward to years to come and yet I may have but a few months or weeks or days to live! I remember a woman who said that someday she would begin to attend our village church. She was in middle age and had lived a sadly wicked and abandoned life. She thought that she had time enough and to spare, to think of more serious subjects. She did indeed soon afterwards come to our village church but how did she come? She was carried in a casket on men's shoulders, and then left in the silent grave. Only six weeks had passed since the day she promised that someday she would begin a new life.

[George Everard] 

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Proverbs 27:1 ... Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

Ephesians 5:15-16 ... See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,  Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Matthew 25:23 ...  His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. ❤

True Rest!!

The remembrance of this word of Peter may help you to bring God into everything; He can manage and undertake for you far better than you can for yourself. There is no load of anxiety for yourself or others, no strait in which you can be placed, no perplexities that can harass and bewilder you, but the Lord bids you to cast it upon Him and leave it trustfully in His hands. The only way to obtain relief under the manifold cares that often encompass our path, is to cast them all on God. We must bring them to our Father and leave them with Him! We must tell them out in the ear of our great High Priest and have confidence enough in Him to know that He will not neglect that which we commit to Him. "Casting all your cares upon Him, for HE CARES FOR YOU." (1 Peter 5:7) Yes, this is our consolation. 

Christ is the Friend who cares for us, thinks upon us, hears every sigh and groan, marks every tear, and knows every sorrow that weighs upon the mind. Ah, it is a thought to cheer a believer at all times what a Friend have I in Christ! He is the Friend always nearby. Though banished far from home and kindred, Christ is always by my side. I cannot see Him, but I know that He is here. He has promised me, "I will never leave you nor forsake you," (Hebrews 13:5) and He will be as good as His Word. 

Then I may add another thought: Christ is kinder than the kindest. Could I gather together all the rays of kindness, pity, tender love, that have ever glowed in the heart of a mother toward her child, of a bridegroom toward the bride, of a brother to brother, of a friend to friend all combined would be but as one tiny sunbeam, compared to that wondrous love which is in the heart of Christ for His redeemed people! Nor is it less comforting for me, to remember that He who cares for me is changeless in His faithfulness and love. 

Oh, the marvelous sympathy, gentleness, loving-kindness which Christ daily shows me, and which I know will never cease! Hence it is a most reasonable thing for me to cast all my cares on Him. His presence, His kindness, His effectual power, His unswerving faithfulness warrant me in leaving all in His hand. Oh, that I may ever have grace to flee to this refuge and hiding place! 

Oh, that every burden, every fear, every foreboding, every jot and tittle of my daily anxieties, may all be entrusted to His loving hand! 

[George Everard]

Matthew 11:28 ... Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ❤

Gunpowder Hearts!!

Be careful to guard against all occasions of sin and evil. There is no safety without setting a watch against all that is likely to prove a stumbling-block. 

I read one day of the remarkable precautions which are taken to avoid danger in a gunpowder manufactory. The walls are all of stone, and no wood is allowed to be in the place. Anyone who walks through has to take off his shoes, lest the nails in them should strike a spark. Then, if he has any metal on him, he must leave it at the door. The danger is so great, that everything must be done to avoid any approach to it. 

Oh, that Christians would take heed in a similar way to keep from the peril of sin! Keep far away from any approach to temptation. You have gunpowder hearts so ready to ignite from the least spark!  A look, a word, an evil example, a sentence in a book, a suggestion from a bad companion, any of these may be the cause of a world of mischief. Therefore, make it your firm resolve to keep out of harm's way. 

Beware of all places, and scenes, and people that may turn you from the right course. Don't imagine you are strong enough to go and get no harm. Better to keep far from the edge of the precipice. Better to keep out of the lion's reach! Better to keep from the long grass where the viper is coiled up! Stop while you can, or you may go so far that it may be impossible to escape. Be careful to guard well the various gates of access to the heart and of egress into the world. 

[George Everard] 

1 Thessalonians 5:22 ... Abstain from all appearance of evil.

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All Glory In Christ!!

 Glory in Christ and in Him alone!

Glory in Him as your Faithful Shepherd, who will care for you, and guard you, and restore you, and keep you even to the end.  Glory in Him as your Unfailing Physician, who will heal your soul-wounds, and bind up the bleeding, broken heart.  Glory in Him as your Great High Priest, who ever lives to plead your cause before the Throne of grace.  Glory in Him as your Omnipotent King, who reigns over the events of Providence, and will make all things work together for your eternal good.  Glory in Him as your Mighty Redeemer, who will deliver you from every enemy, and make you conqueror over sin, death and Hell.

Glory in Him as your Everlasting Portion, remembering that when all else shall take wings and flee away when the home is broken up, and dear ones die, and means grow less, and health decays, yes, when everything on earth fails you--He will be your everlasting treasure, and your unchangeable Friend!

And let this glorying be seen by your entire resignation to His will and by choosing His path rather than your own.

"Not I, but Christ!" Lord, choose for me,  And make me love what pleases Thee.  "Not I, but Christ!" His will be done,  And mine with His be merged in one.  Myself no longer would I see, But Jesus crucified for me. His eye to guide, His voice to cheer,  His mighty arm forever near.

"Not I, but Christ!" Lord, let this be A motto throughout life for me!

[George Everard]

Jeremiah 9:23-24 ...  Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:  But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.

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Comfort, Safety, Strength, Holiness!

There is no comfort, but in Christ's bosom.  There is no safety, but by Christ's side.  There is no strength, but in Christ's arm.  There is no holiness, but in Christ's footsteps.

Look up and see Christ, the merciful and gracious Savior, bending over you in most tender compassion.  He is very near to you. He marks each sigh, each desire, each tear, each prayer. He thinks upon and sympathizes with you.

[George Everard]

Hebrews 4:15-16 … For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.❤

The Great Physician and His Patients

Our Great Physician possesses the most perfect skill to discern the peculiar symptoms of each case. He sees the working of all this sin and corruption and hardness of heart nd He can counteract it all by His all-sufficient grace. Before you have spoken a word, when you kneel down and cast yourself upon His mercy.  He is prepared to forgive and save. Christ knows beforehand all that you are, and cannot fail to support His tempted or afflicted child.

In Christ there is not only a Divine wisdom to discern every case of spiritual disease but  He also has a Divine power completely to effect a cure. When He was upon earth, none were sent away unhealed. The blind and the lame, the deaf and the dumb, the palsied and the lepers, those possessed with devils and the dead all alike were healed immediately by the touch of Jesus. "The whole multitude sought to touch Him; for virtue went out of Him, and healed them ALL."

Thus completely and surely does Jesus restore all who come to Him. He can open the eyes long closed in the night of ignorance, strengthen those who have yet had no power to walk in God's ways, unstop the ear long deaf to the sweet voice of the Gospel, teach the prayerless lips to plead with God, remove the paralysis of a careless indifference, cleanse from the leprosy of debasing lusts, cast out the evil spirits of envy, and hatred and unbelief,  save men  from the fever of covetousness, and every evil temper.

His power, when on earth, reached to the very worst cases of disease! The man full of leprosy, and the woman whom other physicians had tried in vain to benefit both  came, and others just as hopeless, and all were alike healed. Yes, and I see Jesus day by day saving such as man might reckon beyond the reach of His saving arm.

[George Everhard]

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Matthew 11: 28-30 … Come unto me, all ye that labour 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.

Luke 5:31 … And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.❤

Glory in Christ

To glory in Christ, is the secret of true rest and peace. We may not glory in ourselves. We may not glory in riches or natural gifts, or the praise of man, or in any attainments we may make. We must learn to abase ourselves; to own our utter insufficiency, our ignorance, our exceeding sinfulness, our inability to do anything aright of ourselves and resort to Christ and glory in Him as the spring of all hope, strength, and consolation.

But how may this be? How may you learn thus to glory in Christ and rejoice in Him evermore? It can only be as you learn to know more of Him;  His glorious person,  in His unblemished character, in His wondrous Word, in His marvelous work of salvation, and in His sacred offices.  Hence Christians are bidden to "grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18).

Therefore let it be your constant prayer, "Lord Jesus, show me Your glory! Manifest Yourself to me! Make me to know You more fully, that I may trust You and love You more and more."

In this spirit, study these words of the Beloved Apostle. In this passage He reveals to us bright rays of the Redeemer's glory. May each glimpse of Christ which we behold here, draw our hearts more closely to Him!

[George Everhard]

Isaiah 45:25 ... In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.

1 Corinthians 1:30-31 ... But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:  That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

Psalm 62:7 ... In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.❤

Freedom From The Dominion of Sin

There is no more galling yoke to be found, than the thraldom of evil passions, tyrant lusts and sinful habits, uncontrolled tempers which burst forth like a hurricane,  temptations which hurry a man onward toward the precipice of utter ruin, the dark trinity of "the world, the flesh, and the devil" all drawing a man along the pathway that leads to eternal damnation! Here is a foe that is terrible indeed!

Yet in Christ, there is freedom from the dominion of sin, and from all the power of the enemy. Satan is strong, for he is a roaring lion. But Christ is stronger, for He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Yes, He is the almighty Shepherd, who can guard the weakest of His flock from the treachery and deceit of the evil one.

Sin is strong, and it has conquered and destroyed its myriads in every age. But Christ is stronger, for He is our Joshua, and can put every enemy beneath our feet. If united to Christ by true faith, "sin shall not have dominion over you." Being no longer under the law, but under grace.  Christ reigns in you by His Holy Spirit, and by the same Spirit can make you more than conqueror over every snare of the tempter.

Christian, always remember the secret of success in the sore conflict you have to wage. Let "the joy of the Lord" be "your strength." Apart from Christ, there is nothing but defeat. You may resolve to do better, you may strive against your besetting sin but if it is in your own might, you will fail. But draw near to Christ, and keep Him in view continually. Hide deep in your heart His own word of promise, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Fly to Him as your stronghold, whenever danger is at hand. Make Him your shield, when the shafts of the wicked one are aimed for your destruction.

I often think of a lesson I learned one snowy day in Birmingham. A big bully was unmercifully snow-balling a smaller boy. But when the little fellow saw me coming, he ran behind me and kept me between himself and his enemy, until he was able to escape from him.

Ah, here is a lesson for me, thought I. Let me ever make Christ my shield. Let me ever put Him between me and my temptations; between me and my cares, and fears, and perils and He will answer for them. No evil can overcome His power and when I thus trust in Him, no sin or evil can overcome me.

Thus will you find strength for victory. You will be delivered from the sin which was once too strong for you. More and more the Spirit of Christ shall fashion you in His image and likeness. More and more shall the evil nature be mortified and kept under control, and Christ Himself make your heart His dwelling-place.

[George Everard]

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John 8:36 ... If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Romans 8:2 ... For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Galatians 5:1 ... Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.❤

Shine As Lights

Around the coast of Great Britain and Ireland are found more than 200 light-houses. They are so placed, that while ships are within ten or fifteen miles of shore one or more of them may usually be seen; so that guidance is afforded to ships that need it, and many a vessel is thereby saved from the rock and the quicksand, and brought safely into the desired haven.

It were well if Christian people in a similar way were fulfilling their office to be as lights in the world. It were well if nowhere in our country could a man's lot be cast but some earnest, devoted servant of the Lord were to be found not far distant; so that by the light of a holy example, or a word of friendly counsel, he might be warned in the hour of danger, and guided into the safe harbor of salvation by Christ.

Shine as lights in the world! It is the plain command of Christ that you should do so. Carry a bright and clear light, so that all around may see it. Do not "hide it under a bushel" of timidity, of sloth, of self-indulgence, of worldly-mindedness but hold it up aloft. Let it be like the light from the light-house, firmly resting on the solid rock beneath; so let your soul be resting on the firm foundation of a true faith in the word and work of Christ trusting only in the name and merit and mediation of God's dear Son. Hold forth the light, that numbers of life's wearied voyagers, tossed hither and thither over the dark and surging billows, may see it and be saved, and rejoice forever in the help which you have afforded them.

[George Everhard]

Matthew 5:16  ... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Philippians 2:15 ... That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Titus 2:10 ... Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.❤

This Great Eternal Future

Life is great beyond all expression, because eternity is inseparably linked to it.

If the comfort and happiness of the rest of your life depended upon the use of one day or one hour you would be very careful to use it aright! But infinitely greater is the disproportion between our little day of life here and the vast eternity that follows. Yet upon the one, hangs the other.

How shall we think of eternity? How shall we measure it? How shall we grasp it? How shall we get at least some faint idea of that ever-abiding, unending existence, which stretches away into the far horizon, and whose boundary we can never reach?

Take it in this way. Suppose that for every flower that blooms in summer, you count a thousand years and add together the sum of all.

Suppose that, for every leaf that trembles in the breeze, you also count a thousand years and then add together these two sums.

In a similar manner, for every bird or insect that flies in the air, for every living creature that treads the earth, for every fish that is found in the mighty deep count a thousand years.

Then, if you can, add together these vast totals and imagine the time they demand, and remember that when these cycles of ages have rolled by, the great clock of eternity has only just begun to tick!

And this great eternal future hangs on this short passing life! What a reality does this give to it! What a vast importance attaches to every moment of it!

[George Everard]

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Psalm 90:12 ...  So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.❤

Oh, Do Not Waste Life!

Be careful to make the very best use of your time. Make the most of each passing day. Instead of trying to kill time strive to make it so fruitful of good to yourself and others. Hours and moments are golden yes, more valuable than pearls and diamonds and to squander and waste them is folly beyond description! Until we reach eternity, we shall never know how much good has been obtained or wrought by a moment's earnest prayer, by a passing opportunity seized, by five minutes given to read a helpful book, by a quarter of an hour given to visit some suffering saint.

How much Christ accomplished in the three years of His public ministry! He was always intent on the work He had to do, so that tens of thousands were taught and benefitted. And though we are so sinful, and our power so feeble in comparison is not His life to be a pattern for ours?

Oh, do not waste life! Map it out prudently, and think well of the work to which you yourself are called.  No lost hours through late rising in the morning!  No mornings or evenings worse than lost, in drinking in the poison or the vanity of a worthless novel! No moments thrown away in idle gossip and foolish talking!  No, no, our was life given to us for this! Use it far better and more wisely. Remember that the time is short, the work is great, and the outcome is for eternity!

Soon will the great bell toll, which will usher you into a future state. Brother, sister, make haste to do all the work allotted to you to do it well, that the Master may be glorified, and your crown the brighter.

[George Everard]

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Psalm 90:12 ... So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Ephesians 5:16 ... Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.❤

Which Class?

Two lads were once talking together about their teachers in the Sunday school.

"You should be in our class," said one boy, "our teacher knows so much!"

"You should be in our class," said the other, "our teacher loves so much!"
In which class do you think most children would prefer to be?

[George Everard]

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1 Corinthians 13:2 ... And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

John 13:34 ... A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

2 John 1:5 ... And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.❤

Through Reading Christians

I must not only learn the secrets of divine truth from Christ's Word but I must learn the secret of a holy life, by walking as He walked. Among all lessons, none is better than this.

I must copy Christ's humility.

I must imitate His gentleness, His forbearance, His willingness to stoop even to the cross.

I must cast to the winds all haughtiness and self-conceit and be content to be nothing, if only He may be glorified.

And where there is true humility, self-sacrifice and loving charity, purity of heart and life will not lag far behind. For Christ Himself dwells with the humble; and where Christ and His Spirit abide, every Christian virtue will spring forth and grow.

Let the Christian ever remember the strong encouragement which the Master gives to all who take His yoke. It is a yoke lined with love. He who lays it on you is no hard man, no cruel tyrant but the meek and lowly One, the Savior, the Friend, the Brother, the Bridegroom of His redeemed people.  In love, He bids you take His yoke.  In love, He fits it to the neck of each who bears it. In love, He stands by you and helps you to carry it, and gives daily grace for daily need.

One who was an utter unbeliever, was asked why he held infidel views. "Through reading Christians instead of reading the Scriptures," was his reply.

Oh that Christ might be seen in every one who bears His name! Oh that we might all so learn of Him, that the outside world would see the mighty reality of His grace through us!

[George Everhard]

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1 John 2:6 ... He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

1 Peter 2:21 ... For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

Matthew 11:29 ... 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.❤