Moody in the Far West
The sermon emphasizes the superiority of heavenly treasures over earthly ones and the power of the gospel to transform lives.
D.L. Moody shares his experience in California, where he aimed to save souls on the Pacific coast. He used a blackboard to contrast earthly treasures like gold, houses, and tobacco with heavenly treasures such as Jesus, heaven, and the crown of glory. This visual comparison helped illustrate the superiority of spiritual wealth over material possessions. The teacher, initially focused on earthly gains, was moved by this lesson and ultimately accepted Christ, marking a significant moment in Moody's mission. Moody emphasizes the importance of recognizing the eternal value of heavenly treasures over temporary earthly ones.
Text
I remember when I went to California just to try and get a few souls saved on the Pacific coast, I went into a school there, and asked, "Have you got some one who can write a plain hand?" "Yes." Well, we got up the blackboard, and the lesson upon it proved to be the very text we have tonight. "Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven." And I said, "Suppose we write upon that board some of the earthly treasures? And we will begin with 'gold.'" The teacher readily put down "gold," and they all comprehended it, for all had run to that country in hope of finding it.
"Well, we will put down 'houses' next, and then 'land.' Next we will put down 'fast horses.'" They all understood what fast horses were; they knew a good deal more about fast horses than they knew about the kingdom of God. Some of them, I think, actually made fast horses serve as gods. "Next we will put down 'tobacco.' " The teacher seemed to shrink at this. "Put it down," said I; "many a man thinks more of tobacco than he does of God. Well, then we will put down 'rum.' " He objected to this; didn't like to put it down at all.
"Down with it! Many a man will sell his reputation, will sell his home, his wife, his children, everything he has, for rum. It is the god of some men. Many here are ready to sell their present and eternal welfare for it. Put it down;" and down it went. "Now," said I, "suppose we put down some of the heavenly treasures. Put down 'Jesus' to head the list, then 'heaven,' then 'river of life,' then 'crown of glory,' and we went on until the column was filled, and then just drew a line and showed the heavenly and the earthly things in contrast.
My friends, they could not stand comparison. If a man just does that, he cannot but see the superiority of the heavenly over the earthly treasures. Well, it turned out that the teacher was not a Christian. He had gone to California on the usual hunt--gold; and when he saw the two columns placed side by side, the excellence of the one over the other was irresistible, and he was the first soul God gave me on the Pacific coast. He accepted Christ, and that man came to the station when I was coming away, and blessed me for coming to that place.
Sermon Outline
- The Superiority of Heavenly Treasures
- The Contrast Between Earthly and Heavenly Treasures
- The Power of the Gospel to Transform Lives
- The Folly of Chasing Earthly Riches
- The Dangers of Idolizing Material Possessions
- The Superiority of Heavenly Treasures
- The Irresistible Power of the Gospel
Key Quotes
“Many a man will sell his reputation, will sell his home, his wife, his children, everything he has, for rum. It is the god of some men.” — D.L. Moody
“Now, suppose we put down some of the heavenly treasures. Put down 'Jesus' to head the list, then 'heaven,' then 'river of life,' then 'crown of glory,' and we went on until the column was filled, and then just drew a line and showed the heavenly and the earthly things in contrast.” — D.L. Moody
“If a man just does that, he cannot but see the superiority of the heavenly over the earthly treasures.” — D.L. Moody
Application Points
- We must prioritize our relationship with God and recognize the dangers of idolizing material possessions.
- Comparing earthly and heavenly treasures can help us see the superiority of the heavenly and understand the dangers of materialism.
- The gospel has the power to transform lives and bring people to a deeper understanding of God's love and redemption.