| Things to Live For |
Chapter 6 |
Page 3 |
We do not get the best possible out of our church life. The church brings heaven down to earth. It keeps alive in this world the love, the grace, the beauty, of God. Our Sabbaths are oases where we may drink of the pure water that flows from the heavenly mountains, and eat of the fruits that grow on the trees of God, and thus be prepared to go out into the world for a six days’ journey over the hot sands.
Some years since a party of Americans were about to leave Cairo for a journey across the desert. Before setting out, they bought vessels in which to carry water. Each one chose the kind of vessel that pleased him. One found jars of brass, whose designs attracted him. Another purchased porcelain vessels of rare beauty. A third, however, took some plain earthenware bottles. The way across the desert was long and wearisome. The heat was intense. Every drop of water was of value. The brass vessels heated; and the water was made impure, and unfit for use. The costly porcelain jugs cracked in the heat, and the water was lost. But the plain earthenware bottles kept the water pure and sweet until the journey was ended.
We go out every morning to trudge over the desert paths. We should be sure that on the Sabbath we make preparation that shall not fail us on the journey. Mere idle rest will not give it to us. We cannot get it from the Sunday newspaper, from the latest novel, from mere literary books, or from studying works of art. But if we turn our face to God’s house on God’s day, and commune with him, filling our earthenware vessels of faith and love with the water of life, we shall not faint by the way.
Page 3