Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 203, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 September 1917 — The Need of Divine Guidance [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Need of Divine Guidance

By REV. B. B. SUTCLIFFE

Of the Extension Department, Moody Bible Institute, Chicago

Then I proclaimed a fast.., that we might afflict ourselvesTieforeTTocf to seek of Him a right way.—Ezra 8:21. Perhaps today as never before the Christian needs to be instructed by

God as to the right way. There are three great reasons why divine guidance is needed. I. Because of what we are by nature. First of all we are Ignorant. It is unpopular, but true that “it is not in man that walketh to direct his step s.” So said Jeremiah long years ago. And history shows

all too dearly that the way that seems right to a man ends in death and disaster. There is no way of knowingwhat will take place on the morrow or even within the next hour. An explorer or a tourist going into a strange unknown country will want guidance as to what lies before him. We take much care in securing all the information we can before starting into new territory. Many think it necessary to prepare for passing to the unknown land beyond the grave, but after all each new day brings such dangers and such opportunities that to be ready for them needs to have the feet' guided into the right way. Then by nature man is so self-willed and self-sufficient he needs a higher intelligence, than his own to guide him. This is humiliating but again history tells the truth. Ever since Cain in his self-will chose the wrong way it has been true that “the way of a man is forward and strange,” as the Proverb says. Moses knew something of this when he declared in his 1 ast word to the people in Deut. 36:29, “I know that after my death ye will utterly turn aside from the way and evil will befall you,” _ . Again we are so prone to wandei from the right way. As the prophet says, “All we like sheep have turned everyone to his own way.” Like sheep we wander, go astray and without sense keep on going further and further astray. 11. Because of the Character of the Way Before Us.

It is a difficult way for the Christian in these times. Bogs and mire are on either side and the way daily grows narrower. The master hlmseli warns us in Matt. 7:13, 14, that “wide is the gate and broad the way that leadeth to destruction, and strait is the gate and narrow the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” So difficult is the way before the Christian, beset by the snares, pitfalls and straps of Satan, and so strewn with the allurements and attractions of the world, that left to himself he would surely come to destruction. He needs always the guidance of the one who alone knows all the difficulties and how to pass them. Not only difficult, but dangerous is the way. 111. Because of What the Lord Is as Guide. He knows all the way that lies untried and unknown before the Christian’s feet. He is omniscient. It was the Lord, not Moses, who led the people of Israel of old, and it is the Lord who would guide his people in safety today. A story is told of a little boy

from which we all may learn. During a storm a mother sought to rescue a family of six children. As the water burst open the door of her home, she tied her baby on her shoulder and took a boy of six in her urnis. To Iler four-teen-year-old daughter she said, “you must carry one child.” “Which one,” said the girl. The mother looked at the two, one of four, one of two, unable to choose. Ben, her boy of eleven, said, “Ma, I’ll take the little one." “No, my boy, you can’t.” “I know 1 can’t,” said Ben, “but Jesus can.” “The water is too deep for you,” the dispairing mother said. “It’s deep for true,” answered the boy, “but Jesus is a tall man.” They started, the mother calling to her children, but soon Ben ceased to answer. The mother and the others soon reached a place of safety. When the tide went down next day little Ben tramped to them and put his little charge Into the mother’s arms. Had he followed her the night before he would soon have been beyond his depth. But unconsciously he had turned aside and followed a bank that years before had marked a boundary. The water was to his waist, and a step or two on either side would have been fatal. And he can keep the Christian in the way as well as put him on it. He is the Almighty one. One day is no harderforhim than 'another. Though there be days black with discouragement and foreboding and care, he knows it all and can keep within the narrow way that leads to life and light and Joy. A story is told of ar Alpine guide who put out his hand for a traveler to step up by. When the traveler hesitated the guide said, , “this hand never lost a man.” To al! who will listen our guide says, “I will hold thy right hand saying, fear thot not.* , 1 Jt