Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 January 1915 — INTEREST INCREASING AT CHRISTIAN REVIVAL [ARTICLE]

INTEREST INCREASING AT CHRISTIAN REVIVAL

Extra Chairs Had to Be Provided to Care For Friday Night’s Crowd. The audience at the Christian church revival last night was so large as to fill the big auditorium and chairs were placed about the room to accommodate the great in attendance. The ladies of the Rebekah lodge came in' a body and the church feels very gratified in their tdosing so early and showing their interest in this manner. The music was again a distinctive feature; especially the splendid male quartet which rendered the “Wayside Cross.” The same quartette will give a number of pieces on Sunday and the music will be as good as any ever offered in this city. The sermon of the evening was on the theme: “Jesus’ Saddest Words,” and the text from John s:3d—“Ye will not come unto me iliat ye might have life,” The speaker said in part: Of all the words that came from the lips of Jesus, none seem to possess the sadness, disappointment and the sorrow of the text. He came from the glories of Heaven with his arms laden with the blessings of the Father. He came bearing the ?weetest message that ever sounded upon the ears of fallen humanity. But as He stood upon the hills of Galilee and Judea, and lovingly entreated the people to come, they spurned Him and thrust Him out of their lives. Sometimes we look in horror upon these scenes in Jesus’ life, and we wonder how or why they treated Jesus with such scorn, indifference and hatred; why they nailed him to the cross. I feel I have a right to 'make the charge that we are reproducing the spirit and attitude of two thousand years ago, for Jesus comes to us and holding out His arms, He invites us to come. Yat, notwithstanding all His love and entreaty, we turn our backs upon Him and choose the foolish things of this life. I have often wondered why men and women will not come to Jesus. It is not because He has failed to do His part. He went to the cross for us, and has made every sacrifice on our behalf. There is' no man that can look into the face of the man of Galilee and feel that Christ has not done Mis part. He gives to all regardless of race, distinction, color or condition the invitation to come. The scriptures are true when they say : “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” His ringing, whosoever, means you, and every man that lives in God’s world. No man has the right to say: “I am too great a sinner.” The hand of the infinite Christ has reached down and saved the chief of sinners. Behold Saul of Tarsus, as man whose hands are red with the blood of the Christians. See him later as he stands, a. beacon light in the Kingdom of God. You cannot get too far away from the love of God, and the touch of “His only begotten Son.” Some will pot come to Him because they want to have all the pleasure out of this old world that there is in it. I have always looked upon it as a cowardly and unworthy thing to spend one’s life in the service of the world to “burn the candle of life low” and blow the smoke into the face of God. Young men and women, the bids est and holiest thing you could do tonight would be to touch the hand of Jesus Christ, and give Him your life in complete service. Some will not come because it may interfere with their business. God pity the man who will refrain from doing his duty toward Christ for the sake of h few paltry dollars. Long after the gold and silver of this old world will have crumbled into nothingness, the soul will live on and on into eternity. The Wfse thing for any man to do is to sever himself from that which keeps him away from his Christ. There were six confessions at the service. Sunday. promises to be a great day and you will need to come early to enjoy all there will be at each service. _