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YOUR MOST VALUABLE POSSESSION
On one of his journeys through the desert, Lawrence of Arabia had a man named Jasmin as a member of his party. He was a Bedouin, a lazy, shiftless fellow. The Arabs spoke of him as "Jasmin the Bedouin, not worth half-a-crown." As the party journeyed on, they were suddenly in the midst of a blinding sandstorm, and soon were separated. When they linked up again some hours later, and were preparing to make camp, Lawrence asked, "Where is Jasmin?" There was no response. "Where is Jasmin?" he repeated. The Arabs looked at each other and then someone said, "He is out there," indicating with a wave of his hand the direction he had taken. Without a word, Lawrence led his camel out into the storm. He was going to find "Jasmin the Bedouin, not worth half-a-crown." At last he found him completely exhausted. Lawrence helped him on to the camel and walked on ahead. As dawn was painting the sky they reached camp. The Arabs awoke to find Jasmin in their midst, alive because their leader had found him. He had gone out into the storm to find "Jasmin the Bedouin, not worth half-acrown." From that day forward he was treated with the greatest respect, but the change in the man himself was the most remarkable feature of the incident. Never again was he the same lazy, good-for-nothing he had been before it happened. Lawrence had thought him worth saving, and his value was enhanced beyond all knowing.
When a man regards his soul as worthless, let him remember how a greater than Lawrence went out into the fiercest storm this world has ever known. Jesus must have considered that soul to be of infinite value if He endured such sufferings upon the Cross to deliver it from the power of sin and Satan. Against the background of what happened at Calvary the soul is surely man's most valuable possession. Why should we neglect its need of God?
FINISHED
One of the many great projects in American history was the building of a transcontinental railway line which would unite the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
From the outset the work was fraught with difficulties, not the least of which was lack of funds. At one period the undertaking had to be halted until the promoters could secure the necessary finance to carry on. When the news came through that this hurdle had been overcome there was great rejoicing. Finally the day arrived when the last rail was to be laid. They had reached a point on the border line between New Mexico and Colorado. It was to be an outstanding event. A laurel tie and two silver spikes had been ordered from California. The governor of each state had been invited. They were to have the honor of driving a silver spike each into the laurel tie. This would complete the work of construction. Soon locomotives would be transporting passengers and goods from both coasts binding together the two States.
The governors looked at each other, smiled, and then they hammered home the silver spikes into the laurel wood tie. A great shout arose from the vast crowd. From a tapped telegraph wire the news was flashed to the entire country and to the whole world.
We know of a day when iron spikes were driven into a rough hewn wooden cross, through the hands and feet of Jesus Christ. Around that cross they stood and watched, Scribes and Pharisees, soldiers and rabble, mockers and scoffers, while heaven draped its gates in mourning, and the sun hid its face in shame.
But when the last spike was hammered home a great shout rang through the vaulted sky, reverberated through the caverns of the damned, shook hell to its foundations, burst the tombs asunder, broke the chains of death, and opened wide the way into the Father's presence. "It is finished," was the cry! Christ and Him crucified has linked God and man together. Sing it, shout it, sound the proclamation, let the message ring out, "It is finished!"
THE PRICE OF FREEDOM
In a poor suburb of Sydney, Australia, lived an old man named Skuli Jonson. He was born in Denmark. Both his legs had been amputated. For what reason? Here is the story.
Skuli had spent the major part of his life as a guide in Iceland, a favorite among scientists who wanted to explore Askja, the great volcano. One morning Skuli guided a German doctor and his three assistants to the base of Askja. Later in the day, while the doctor and his guide were making camp, the three assistants went off to do some exploring on their own account. They disappeared from sight and were never seen again. That night there was a minor eruption and lava came trickling down the steep slope of the mountain. When the doctor and Skuli investigated, the medical man found the lava sufficiently solid to hold his weight; but when Skuli tried to stand on it he fell through into the molten lava beneath the surface. He felt a sharp pain shooting through his legs, excruciating agony beyond all bearing. Then he lost consciousness. When he recovered he found his legs had been hacked off below the knees. The doctor had had to amputate them so as to release him from the terrible hold of the lava.
To anyone who disbelieves his story Skuli has his granddaughter exhibit a pair of trousers cut off at the knees and still bearing stains of blood. Along the edge of the cloth, following the ragged line where the trouser legs were cut off, the cloth is fossilised. There can be but little doubt that it is lava. So the legless man substantiates his story.
What a price to pay for freedom! But freedom is precious and the grip of the lava was mighty. The forces holding the soul in bondage are mightier still. Who can break their power? The One who was manifested to destroy the works of Satan can do so. He alone can set the guilty captive free. He only has power to save.
WHEN CHRIST COMES IN
A minister friend of mine was commissioned to visit Germany at the end of World War II. Finding himself one day in a city where resided a German pastor whose address he had been given, my friend decided to visit him. He found the house after a long search, and was asked inside by the pastor and his wife. He entered the house, carrying his suitcase, and was very soon in animated conversation with his new-found friends. Time passed quickly, and when evening came the pastor said: "We are very sorry, but you know food is hard to get these days. We would like to set before you a decent meal, but I'm afraid it is not possible in the circumstances." Then the visitor lifted up on to the table the suitcase he had brought. When he had opened it they saw it was filled with good things to eat. He smiled and said: "But you see, the Lord had provided for you. I have brought enough for all of us." His German friends were speechless for a while, and then tried to express their thanks. That night they had fellowship around the table, enjoying the food which their visitor had brought.
So it is when Christ comes into a human life. He brings with Him the very things men need to satisfy their spiritual hunger. Strength for their weakness; light for their darkness; pardon for their sins; peace for their turmoil; and grace for every need.
