Part 4

Let me tell you how you can make one to hang from your steeple point, and decorate your meeting-room. You can also carry it in your church parade, and hang it over the pulpit when you give your lesson.

It is a set of signal flags which spell out "Come." Here are the flags arranged as a streamer. They can be made of bunting or silk and fastened on a cord in the following order.

These flags say "Come" to the outside world. It is your invitation in the air.

The colors can be made to mean "White--Purity". Here is the church to which you are invited. You will be taught that purity is a gift from God, through Jesus Christ. It is given away in the church at the meeting. Come, and receive it.

The Red stands for the blood of Jesus, which makes black white, and takes away sin.

The Yellow stands for Glory. Yellow is the dominating color in the sunset which shows forth the glory of God. The glory of life is produced by the forgiveness of sin. The glory we can take with us to the City of Glory. The life all-glorious is the life offered by the church. The salvation of the soul makes the soul shine forth like the sun.

Note that the last flag of the word "Come" contains the three colors of our flag, the red, white, and blue; so in the church the best citizens are made and stay made. The flag calls you to the ascending life.

These flags are like the bells around the high priest's garments--the bells of invitation. When the Jews heard the clang of those bells in the hem of the high priest's garment they knew it was a call to worship. The bells said, "Come, worship!" The word "come" occurs six hundred and forty-two times in the Bible. It is "Come to the supper"; "Come to the waters"; "The Spirit and the Bride say, Come"; "Come," "Come _now_"; "Come to Jesus." The call is for all. Hang this signal on the top of the world, the highest mountaintop, it tells the same story to all people, "Come." A minister of the gospel hastening to the train with only a moment to spare, was stopped by a gentleman, who ran after him, and asked him this question, "O, sir, stop a moment, I am anxious about my soul, and I want to know what to do." "Well," said the pastor, "my train is just here, and I can only say turn to Isaiah 53:6. Go in at the first 'all,' and go out at the last 'all.'" "What does he mean," said the stranger. He went to the Bible and read the text: "All we, like sheep, have gone astray. We have turned every one to his own way, and Jehovah hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." So he repeated to himself the minister's message "Go in at the first 'all,' come out at the last 'all.'" So he read the text again, "All." "All _we_ like sheep have gone astray." That was the first "all." "Yes, that is where I am to 'go in,' I'll go." He believed it. "Hath laid on him the iniquity of us _all_." The second "all." "Jesus bore the sins of 'all,' so he bore my sins. That is where I go out, through the last 'all.' I go in as a sinner on the first 'all,' I come out through the last 'all' because my sins were all laid on him"; and in so doing he rejoiced in Christ, his Saviour. That is what the signal "Come" says. Hear it singing, "Come." Listen to the call of the signals which, interpreted by Isaiah 53:6, rings out, "Come in at the first 'all,' go out at the last 'all.'" And so make your church flag, and as you read its meaning, go and tell it to all the people.

=14

AN IMMORTALITY LESSON

OBJECTS: A Collection of Colored Eggs=

The Indian, years before he was told by the white missionary that when a man dies he shall live again, believed in the life beyond. When the chieftain was buried they placed his weapons of stone and bronze in the grave with his body, in order that he might pursue his life in the Happy Hunting-grounds. He lived on and was a hunter still.

Our tombstones were first placed on our graves that the departed spirit, if he should return, might find his body and learn also that he had not been forgotten. The egg was used to tell the story in the earliest ages. In fact, the egg has found a place in the earliest traditions. A fable tells us the earth was hatched from a monstrous golden goose egg. Tradition tells us how the egg broke in two, and one-half became the firmament, and the other, half, the earth. This is the way the earliest people explained the making of this old world. To their minds the golden egg seemed to be the prison from which this world was released. Here exhibit a gilded egg. This is the strangest story ever told in which the egg played so important a part, containing the great world which was released as a living chick from the dead egg.

Here in remote history the egg taught that life sprang from the egg prison. The practise of giving eggs to friends is a very old one. It commenced way back with the Persians. It was also a custom among the Egyptians, Jews, and Hindus. When it was first used among Christians it symbolized the resurrection, or life from the tomb. It was always colored red to remind the people of the blood of Christ shed for sinners.

The red egg stood for the blood of Calvary, and the grave in Joseph's Garden. This egg contains a germ of life; under proper conditions the life of the chicken will break the shell and come forth. At this point hold up the red-colored egg. The people of long ago often placed eggs on the graves of their friends which told forth the fact that they believed in immortality. They just _thought_ so. Now we know so, for Jesus said, "I shall be raised the third day." That is the reason that on Easter Day the people rejoice because Christ came up from the grave, and so shall we. This the ancients only thought, but now we know it as a fact. That makes Easter such a glad day.

We call the place where we bury the dead "cemeteries," which means "sleeping-places." It is a beautiful thought to think of the little graves as little cradles where rest the bodies of little children, but only our bodies sleep there, for the soul has gone to the God who made it. So the egg at Eastertime is a symbol of immortality, and we should all be glad we have seen the red egg which stands for the resurrection of Christ because he has told us the story of heaven and how to get there. The origin of the old English word "heaven" is a curious one. It means "to cast up"': so the sky is a place "cast up" or "heaved up" or "heaven" as we speak of it today.

Martin Luther used to tell his children that heaven was a beautiful garden full of merry children in little golden coats gathering apples under the trees and shouting in great glee. Luther was just trying as best he could to describe heaven as a happy place for little boys and girls. Jesus lives, says the broken egg, and because he lives we shall live also, and so we all want to go to heaven at last.

Once upon a time a minister took his son to learn mountain-climbing. Being a stout lad he grew tired and stopped for a little rest. The father went on alone, and when he arrived at the top of the mountain, he found a splendid seat for the boy and marked his name on it, so he might easily find it when he arrived at the top. Then he called down to the boy: "James, my son, come up here. There is a seat up here on the top of the mountain, and your name is written on it."

This gave new strength to the boy, and he rose to his feet once more, and climbed to the top, and at last found his seat with his name upon it. His father had gone on before him and prepared a place for him. So God calls today: "My son, up, up to the top. There is a mansion prepared for you. Your name is graven on the door. Turn this way and keep on climbing, and at last you will find heaven, the top of the universe."

=15

"OFF FOR HAPPY LAND"

OBJECTS: A Piece of Plain Note-paper Containing a Sentence Written in Invisible Ink=

Do you want a free ticket for Happy Land? If you do, stop and listen, and I will tell you how to get one. All the world seem to fix their eyes on the golden country, but the road is so narrow that few there be that find it. All people are pilgrims seeking that fair land, but at the end of their trail they meet the wreckage of the failures of the ages. Harken, and I will tell you how to find the trail that leads to the Land of Happiness. Once upon a time a lad called upon a wise man and asked him if he would direct him to this land of joy. The wise man in reply said to him, "I will not only direct you to the country of smiles but will give you a free ticket that will take you there." He handed him a little slip of paper upon which the lad could see nothing. To him it was a blank. He told the wise man so, but the wise man replied, "Hold the paper close to a lighted lamp so the heat thereof may strike the paper with full force, and then will appear the lines which will answer your question, and this will be your sure passport to your destination." This the lad did. When the heat struck the blank paper, there appeared in distinct letters the sentence, "If you would find the land of happiness become a Christian and then do some good thing for Jesus every day." This the lad tried with all his heart to do, and did do it, and the smiles he planted on the face of the other man, reflected a beautiful light on his own face, and his heart was bounding in joy. This is the secret trail, walk in it.

But all this depends on the fact that your own heart is right with God, and that Jesus has come to live with you. Then every good thing you do is done as unto him, and his "thank you" sets all the joy-bells ringing. That is the Happy Land, and this is the way to find it. A woman came to her pastor one day and said she was very miserable and unhappy, she could not find that contentment of heart which she declared she heard others say they possessed. He told her the secret of being happy in the Lord, and said: "There is a poor old lady living at the foot of the street. Go and see her, and take with you a basket full of good things; give them to her, and you will take away with you a heart filled with joy. The door of her house is the open gate to Happy Land." This was the wise man's secret, "Do some good today for Jesus."

Jesus went about doing good, and in so doing he was revealing the open way to the land of heart happiness.

The French people have a story about a wonderful Happy Land called Colaigne. It is full of men and women always happy. In this land there are no storms of rain or snow. It is never too cold or too hot. There is no lightning or whirlwind, no war, no sickness, no death.

White monks and gray nuns live in a fair abbey built of gems and spices. The ladies are all fair and every month the people all have new clothes. In this wonderful land there is a bubbling fountain. Whoever drinks of its waters never grows old, and if those who are old drink of it they become young and vigorous again, be they ever so old or ugly. Now I suppose all of the little folks are saying they would like to live in that land, but I am sure you would find when you reached there it was not a land of pure happiness. Happiness does not come from having everything done for you. The wise man was speaking the real truth when he gave as his secret message that doing things for others in the name of Jesus was passing through the gates to the City of Real Happiness.

In preparing for this lesson use a piece of plain writing-paper, with a match sharpened to a point write in lemon juice "Be a Christian," and "Do some good thing for Jesus every day." When it is dry it will be invisible. When held up to the heat of a lamp it will become visible so all can read it. In doing this before the class first hold up the paper before them, showing both sides to be blank. At that time tell the story of the wise man and blank paper given to the lad, then hold it before the flame of lamp until the heat has had sufficient time to bring out the writing. Experiment with this while preparing the lesson so you can regulate your talking according to the time it takes to develop the hidden words. There are many other lessons you can give, using invisible ink, that will teach a strong lesson. "What Is in the Heart," can be the title of another lesson. In this case cut out a paper heart, and write the word "Sin" on it. Call the lamp the Holy Spirit, and show that he brings out just what is in the heart.

You can also teach the lesson "The Secrets of the Lord Revealed." Present a piece of paper that seems to be a blank, but it holds a secret hidden from our human eyes. Call the lamp the Word of God. Take the paper to the lamp of God's Word. Through that word he reveals his will to us, so we can read and understand. Lessons will multiply in your mind, as you think it through, which will be of great interest to your listeners.

=16

FORGOTTEN HOLY NAMES

OBJECTS: A Number of Cards Contain the Names of Forgotten Bible Characters Written on Them=

"Lest we forget" sang the old English poet. Well, we do forget oftentimes some of the worthies of the Old Testament. Perhaps we have never heard of them, then this lesson will introduce us to them and help us not to forget them in the days to come.

Write the names of the people that you mention on a visiting-card, and hide these cards somewhere on the pulpit, and say: "I am about to introduce some strangers to you. A few good people that some of us have forgotten." Look behind the pulpit chair and on the floor pick up a visiting-card and say: "Here is a forgotten friend I want to introduce to you. The Dog."

Did I ever hear of him before? Well his name is among the greatest names in the Bible. He lived in a camp of travelers. He was known as The Dog. Some of us would be insulted to be called _a dog_. Often we speak of people as being "As mean as a dog," but any one who really understands dogs loves them. The dog is the first to greet you and the first to defend you, he is quick to forgive you, and will be faithful to you to the last.

This "dog" was faithful, courageous, and loving. He was made the leader of a small group of people that went forth to discover something about a people who lived beyond the bushes in an enemy's land. They pressed their way under the guidance of "the dog" into the strange land. There they found the rich and fruitful vineyards, grapes, pomegranates and figs so large they did not know how to bring the fruits of the vine back to show the people in the camp. "The Dog" thought it out, and calling his fellow laborers to him, he put a stout stick across their shoulders to which he fastened the precious load. When the people saw "The Dog" returning with this wealth of good things they greeted them with shouts of joy. The friends of "The Dog" said, "These are the fruits of the enemy's country, but we will never be able to conquer the land because the soldiers protecting the land are very many and very strong."

Then the people cried out in despair and said, "Let us get another leader." Then "The Dog" stepped forward, and with a confident look in his face and a determined ring in his voice stretched forth his hand to command silence. There was a great hush among the people, and all was quiet in their ranks. Then "The Dog" said: "The land is splendid and rich and fruitful. God is on our side--we have no need to be afraid of the giants. The Lord is with us, fear them not." At last "The Dog" and his companions marched into the land, and found it flowing with milk and honey. Who was "The Dog"? His name was "Caleb" which is the Hebrew name for dog, and Captain Joshua was his companion. Read the full story if you wish. Its record is found in Numbers 13 and 14.

In closing remark we have giants to fight today--Pride, Anger, Sloth, Untruthfulness--but never forget the words of "The Dog," "The Lord is with us, fear them not."

Here is the story of another forgotten character.

This story can be used for a second address under the title of "Forgotten Names" or it can be used with this lesson also.

You now bring out from under the pulpit, a bundle of old papers which you remark are to be thrown into the waste-basket as worthless, but in the act of throwing them into the basket which you have put on the platform previously you find another visiting-card with another forgotten name upon it, which you now state you have rescued from the papers doomed for the fire. On the card you have written the words "The Mountaineer." This man was born in a wild mountain home. His parents passed away in his early days, and he could never remember them. As he wandered on the hillsides he talked with God, and the hills seemed to speak to him. He grew to manhood and became strong in body, and fleet of foot. He was a magnificent runner, and was so strong he once went forty days without food. The King of the land was a weak man with a wicked wife, and the King hated him because he was so good. One day this weak King and the young man met, and the King hissed out, "You are the man who is bringing ruin upon the land." He answered: "I have not brought ruin upon the land, but you and your father's house have forsaken the commandments of God, and worship idols. I challenge you, therefore, bring all your people to the mountain, bring your idols and their prophets, and let us see who is right." The King agreed to this, and at the appointed time they were all present on the mountain.

The tall Mountaineer, with bronzed face, hair streaming down his shoulders, wearing a rough coat of camel's hair, stepped forward and said: "Why halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him, but if the idols be God, follow them. Let us each build an altar, and put a bullock on it, but put no fire under it; then each of us in turn will call upon his God, and the God that answers by fire let him be God." Then he said to the false prophets, "It is your turn first." The heathen danced around their altar all the morning, and when noon came they were still dancing, but no fire came down. Then the Mountaineer called out to them and said, "Cry a little louder, perhaps your God is asleep or gone on a journey." Maddened by these words, they renewed their shouting, cutting themselves with knives and lancets until their blood splashed on them, but no fire came down. When the time for the evening sacrifice came they ceased their crying, and the Mountaineer called the people to come to him, and he told his men to throw barrels of water over his altar: after this was done, he prayed, and scarcely had he finished his prayer when there came out of the heavens a vivid flash of light which consumed the offering on the altar, and the people fell on their faces, and a great cry went up: "The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God." Who was this "Mountaineer"? He was the Tishbite, Elijah. The full story you will find in First Kings 18. This story teaches us the great fact that "If God be for us, who can be against us?"

=17

I LAY MY SINS ON JESUS

OBJECTS: A Block with the Word "My Sins" Painted on It, Another Block with the Words "Jesus" Marked on It=

This lesson illustrates the truth that our sins were laid on Jesus. He bore them in his own body on the tree. This is the old Bible doctrine that Christ took our place on the cross, and took upon himself the penalty that our sins had brought on our souls. "This is Jesus, King of the Jews," Pilate caused to be written and nailed over the cross. We take down the superscription and in its place put up another which reads, "He died for me," and under this line write our own name. This is how we illustrate this truth. Place in the hollow of your hand the block marked "Sin." Cause the block to be painted black, because sin is a deadly thing. "The wages of sin is death." It is the mark of death. As you hold the sin block in your hand you say: "Sin is now on me. I must bear my own sins." Bunyan was right, according to the Scriptures, when he made Pilgrim carry a burden. It was a heavy load, and Pilgrim exclaimed, "Who shall deliver me?" He felt his sin was on him, and it was a burden too heavy for him to carry. "Who will help?" Send out the S.O.S. call, which being translated in the terms of the gospel means, "Save, oh save!" "Shall we hide it or try to forget it?" Suiting your action to your words you place the block in your pocket, and you think since it is hidden it has been taken away. But the angels saw you hide it. God's great eye is fixed on it. It won't sink out of sight. Sin is a sticky thing. It hangs around.

An old sailor, who in his young days had been a smuggler, and had been in prison for the offense, said: "One day there was a revenue cutter heading straight for us, and we had on board a cargo of tobacco. Well, if we were caught we knew every man of us would go to jail, the ship would be sunk, and the tobacco confiscated. So we pitched the stuff overboard as fast as we could. When this was done, the captain sent up the cabin-boy to report the approach of the cutter. In an instant he was down-stairs again, his face as white as a sheet, and gasping for breath. 'What is it,' said the captain. 'The tobacco is overboard, but it won't sink!' said the boy. Yes, there was the tobacco floating all around the ship, proclaiming our guilt." No, sin won't sink. It won't stay hid. We cannot be separated from our sins in that way.

Take it out of the pocket and say: "The almighty eye of the Great Father can see the contents of our pockets and discover the hiding-place of our sins." Hold the block in the hand and say: "Still the sin is on me. What shall I do to be saved? It will sink me into the darkness of the next world, I shall be lost forever."

A little girl was anxious for the conversion of her dear father. He accompanied her to the revival meeting, but when she asked him to give his heart to Jesus, he said, "Not now, some other day." This caused the little girl to cry herself to sleep that night, and in her sleep she had a dream. This was the dream. She seemed to see a throng of angels coming in through the window, and passing into her father's room. This alarmed her greatly, for she thought they had come after her father, and remembering he had rejected Jesus the night before, she knew he was not ready to go, so she followed them and looked into the room. They all had gathered around her father's bed and had been trying to lift him up in their arms, and having failed she overheard one angel say: "He is too heavy for the angels. We cannot take him to heaven, for his sin is on him, and all the angels in the skies could not lift him." This startled the little girl, so she awoke from her dream. The next day she told her father the dream and said, "The angels said that you 'are too heavy for the angels.'" This thought caused the father to think--"to heavy for the angels"--and this thought brought him to Jesus, and he got rid of the sin on him. This is how he did it. It was the same way that Pilgrim got rid of his burden. He knelt at the foot of the Cross with a broken, penitent heart, and the burden of his sin rolled away.

Now take the block of sin, lay it on the larger block painted red and marked "Jesus," and say, "I now by faith lay my sins on Jesus, and they are all taken away, and taken away to stay." "He hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."

=18

THE LORD'S PRAYER IN CANDLES

OBJECTS: A Number of Colored Candles=

In this chapter the truths of the Lord's Prayer are made to shine forth. This is done by the use of a number of common candles.

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet," says the old true Book. We will turn on the light of the Lord's Prayer and let it shine into our hearts so that we may see God's truth.