74 Sermon Illustrations on Christian Life

An infidel landowner, proprietor of a big estate in England, was one

day talking with an uneducated miller who now and then preached to the

people in his neighborhood. The landowner criticized him for it and

expressed his opinion that one so ignorant should not presume to pose

as a religious leader. They were in the nobleman's office, and on the

wall hung a map of the owner's vast estate. The squire, pointing to

the map, said: "Squire, is not that a map of your possessions?"

"Yes," replied he, "I suppose you know all the roads and trails on

this land very well." "Yes," said the owner. "I know them

perfectly." "Well," said the miller, "do you remember how one day you

could not locate the trail through the dense woods, and my little girl

directed you?" "Yes, I remember it very well"; and he graciously

added, "she led me through nicely to where I wanted to go." Said the

miller, "You knew the road on the map, but my little girl knew it from

walking in it. And I too know the way to heaven from walking in it.

That is why I dare to tell others the way." ("Choice Illus."

W.W.Clay pg.75-76)

A great surgeon had a peculiar habit before each operation of going

alone into a room for a few moments. Because of his great skill some

of the younger doctors wondered if that had anything to do with his

success, and one of them asked him about it. Said he: "Yes, there is

a very close relation. Before each operation I ask the Great Surgeon

to be with me and guide my hands in their work. There have been times

when I did not know what to do next, and then came a power which I

know comes from God. I would not think of performing an operation

without asking God's help." The surgeon's story spread, and one day a

father brought his daughter to the hospital asking for "the doctor

that worked with God." ("Choice Illus." W.W. Clay pg. 77)

The Moslems say that the Koran, their sacred book, contains

ninety-nine names for Allah, or God. To help them remember these

names they have strings of beads, which may be gems when the rich

wear them, ninety-nine of them on each string. They also say that

there are one hundred names for Allah, but that one of them is lost.

Travelers who visit Istanbul, the capital, see many seabirds flying

over the waters. They never alight, but sleep on the wing; and when

they nest, do it in other lands. Always they are dipping down to the

sea, as if hunting. The Moslems will tell you that it is not food

they are hunting, but the missing name of God. The Bible gives us

this missing name. There is one important name of God found in the

Bible that is not found in the Koran nor remembered on their strings

of beads. It is this: "God is love." ("Choice Illus." W.W. Clay pg

79-80)

There is a creature that lives in the sea. Early in its life it

attaches itself to another object. A favorite spot for it to fasten

itself is the bottom of a ship. It is too soft to bore into the ship

and thus make it leak. But as it grows and as others of its kind

fasten themselves to the bottom of the ship, it slows down the speed.

Every so often a ship has to go into dry dock and have the retarding

barnacles scraped off. Look out for the barnacles of unsaved

companions, of wrong presentations of life in television and radio,

and of anything else that would hinder our progress to a Christlike

character and the Savior's approval. ("Choice Illus." W.W. CLay pg

81)

A half-century ago, on the island of Martinique in the Caribbean was

the city of St. Pierre, with about forty thousand inhabitants. It was

one of the most godless cities in the world, almost without any

representatives of religion living there. A small band of the

Salvation Army came and began to preach Jesus and His death on the

Cross for sin. After some weeks, at one of their meetings a storm of

persecution arose. Amidst roars of derisive laughter, the mob

proceeded to show what they thought of the Cross by crucifying a pig

in the marketplace. Then the governing body of the city ordered the

Salvationists to leave the city at once, and in a day or two they were

on a steamer returning to their home country. Close to the city

towered Mount Pelee, an inactive volcano. While at times there had

been smoke and some mild shaking of the earth, it had been quiescent

for a century or more. But no sooner had these Salvationists gotten

out in the bay away from the city than God uncapped that volcano and

in a few moments the city was destroyed, with ashes falling hundreds

of miles away. Only eight persons were found alive when searchers

returned. ("Choice Illus." W.W. Clay pg 82)

The Bible speaks both of God finding us and of our discovery of God.

The primary emphasis, however, is always on God finding us. Out on

the timbered mountain of the Northwest a five-year-old boy was lost.

Citizens and rangers were helping the father search for his lost son.

The search was made more difficult by a heavy snow falling through the

night. In the morning the father, who was at that time not far from

his cabin, turned homeward to get a cup of coffee. He stumbled over

something he thought was a log in the path. But the log started

struggling and got to its feet. It was the lost boy. And his first

words were, "O Daddy! I've found you at last." ("Choice Illus."

W.W. Clay pg 84)

An old church caretaker, known for his simple faith in the Lord Jesus,

said in his broad Scotch accent to a young woman: "Eh, lassie, it's

an honored man that I am, to be caretaker of the house of the Lord.

I dust each pew as if the Lord were to be sitting there. I try to do

every stroke of work in this blessed building under His holy eye.

Aye, and I'm seeing more each day that a body may do all his tasks,

even the lowliest of them, for Him." ("Choice Illus." W.W. Clay

pg.85)

Winifred came home one day eager to tell a piece of gossip she had

just heard. "O Mother," she exclaimed "what do you think of Jean?

She--" "Just a minute," said Mother. "Have you put what you are

about to say through the three sieves?" "Whatever do you mean,

Mother?" "I mean before you tell something about another you should

put it in the sieve of truth. Is what you are going to say true?"

And the daughter replied hesitantly: "Well, Mary says that Ethel told

her--" "That is very roundabout," said Mother, "and is sure to be

streched, even if it has some truth in it. Now put it into the next

sieve. Is it kind?" "Not exactly." said Winifred. "Then try it in

the last sieve. Is it necessary to tell it?" "Well,no, Mother, I

can't say that it is." "Then if it need not be told, if it isn't

kind, and if it may not be true, let's not tell it." ("Choice Illus."

W.W. Clay pg. 86)

Robert E. Lee, who headed the armies of the South in the Civil War,

was not only a great general, but a great Christian. After the war,

Lee became president of a college that was afterward to be known as

Washington and Lee University. The salary at that time, however, was

very small. Because of Lee's popularity, his name was often sought as

a recommendation of certain articles of merchandise, and good money

offered him for the use of his name in connection with such products.

General Lee received his best offer from a tobacco company. The offer

was several times his salary as college president, and required only

that he recommend a certain brand of tobacco. Robert E. Lee did not

use tobacco, and did not believe that it was consistent for any

Christian to use it. In spite of his need for the money, he wrote

the tobacco company and declined their offer and told them his reason

for refusal. ("Choice Illus." W.W. Clay pg 87)

In 1876 a law was passed in England that required every ship to have a

mark placed on its side by the proper authorities to indicate the

cargo limit. When the ship sank into the water to that depth it was

not allowed to take any greater load. The compulsory use of this line

resulted in making the long and perilous voyages of that day much

safer. In God's sight, each of us has a similar mark. The burdens and

responsibilities He gives us may seem unbearable. But he knows our

limit, and He will keep us from going through what we cannot bear (I

Cor. 10:13). ("Choice Illus." W.W. Clay pg 88)

Dead-Sea Christians

Read: John 7:37-46

He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. --John 7:38

The Dead Sea is so salty that it contains no fish or plant life. What accounts for this unusual condition? There are absolutely no outlets! A great volume of water pours into this area, but nothing flows out. Many inlets plus no outlets equals a dead sea.

This law of nature may also be applied to the child of God, and it explains why many believers are so unfruitful and lacking in spiritual vitality. It's possible for some people to attend Bible conferences, listen to religious broadcasts, study the Scriptures, and continually take in the Word as it is preached from the pulpit, and yet seem lifeless and unproductive in their Christian lives. Such individuals are like the Dead Sea. They have several "inlets" but no "outlets." To be vibrant and useful believers, we must not only "take in" all we can, but we must also "give out" in service to others!

May the Lord make us refreshing fountains where thirsty souls may drink. Indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we possess the "water of life" and can be channels of blessing to those in need. From hearts of love, let us pour out to others what we have first received from God. If we do, we will never become Dead-Sea Christians. --RWD

Give as 'twas given to you in your need,

Love as the Master loved you;

Be to the helpless a helper indeed,

Unto your mission be true. --Wilson

To be a channel of blessing, let Christ's love flow through you.

The religion of mere brain and jaw does not amount to much. We want the religion of hands and feet. I remember a place in Yorkshire, years ago, where a good man said to me, "We have a real good minister." I said, "I am glad to hear it." "Yes," he said, "he preaches with his feet." Well, now, that is a capital thing if a preacher preaches with his feet by walking with God, and with his hands by working for God.