Flags have a language. They talk to men when they are employed as
signals. The standard signals of the railroad system send forth most
important messages. Let us see what they teach on the Railroad of
Life.
Prepare four common bunting or muslin flags, mount them on a plain
flagstaff about the size of those used by the flagman at the railroad
crossing.
First Flag. A red flag. This signifies danger, and when displayed it
means "Stop." As you wave it, ask the little folks what things that
cross our path need to be stopped. Help them by naming them first.
Profane words should be stopped. The commandment which says, "Thou
shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain" is a red flag
that God waved out from Mount Sinai. Flag profane words which means,
"Stop, don't swear."
Rev. Doctor Scudder, the celebrated missionary to India, on his
return passage, while standing on the deck of the steamer with his
son, heard some one using profane language. "My friend," said the
doctor, "this boy, my son, was brought up in a heathen country, but
in all his life he never heard a man blaspheme his Maker until now."
A man reporting this event said what a shame it was that a heathen
had a cleaner lip than a Christian. He was wrong. The true Christian
never takes the name of his Maker in vain. He always flags that word.
He throws out the red flag of danger.
Stealing needs the red flag also. Boys and girls are often tempted to
take that which does not belong to them. It may be a pencil from the
school desk next to them. Whatever it may be it is stealing. God
flung out the red flag from Mount Sinai when he said, "Thou shalt not
steal."
A boy was arrested in Buffalo recently for the theft of a bar of gold
from a jewelry firm of New York City. The gold was worth $1,500. When
asked why he had taken it, the boy said, "I was tired of working for
almost nothing, and thought I could go out West and lay the
foundation of a fortune with this."
What a foundation that would have been, a foundation made of a broken
commandment of God. There are many people thus building today. They
steal from the poor, giving scant measure to the tradesman, and
stealing the good name of their companions. This is a bad foundation
to build on. Flag the act of stealing.
Second Flag. A yellow flag. This stands for Caution. It means "Go
slow, be careful." There are a great many things in life that may be
harmless in themselves, but must be handled with care. Fire is a very
useful thing. It prepares our food, and gives us comfortable heat for
our homes, but we must handle fire with care, lest it break away from
us and bring destruction to us all. So there are many acts we must
watch, because if we do not heed the Yellow Flag of Caution it will
bring great trouble into the world. We should always plant the yellow
flag in the center of our amusements. Amusements, when they are pure
and good, are right for us all. There is no harm in clean pleasures.
God wants us to enjoy them, because we shall have pleasure
forevermore in heaven, but here below evil pleasures are so mixed
with the good that we must use the yellow flag of caution. Ask the
children to name other things in which we must use caution, by
reminding them that all doubtful things belong to this class. The
yellow flag of caution should always fly over things we are not sure
about.
Third Flag. A blue flag. This flag is called the "working flag." When
it is displayed on the track, it means the trackmen are working
there. Often they are repairing the road, or working on a wreck. The
blue flag, therefore, stands for work. God plants this flag in our
path every hour. Boys and girls with bright eyes see this flag
flying, and start and get busy. There is an office boy in Chicago of
whom his employer is justly proud. He likes to tell how he came to
take him on. Busy at his desk one morning, he looked up to see a
little fellow waiting, cap in hand, to speak to him. He went on with
his work and in about three minutes the boy spoke to him. "Excuse me,
but I am in a hurry." "Oh, you are, well what are you in a hurry
about?" "Got to be in a hurry. Left school day before yesterday to go
to work, and haven't struck a job yet. If you don't want me, say so,
and I'll look somewhere else. I can't waste any time. The only place
where I stay long is where they pay me." "When can you come to work?"
asked the surprised merchant. "I'm here now," said the boy, "and I'd
have been to work five minutes ago, if you had said so."
This lad saw the blue flag hanging from the window of the merchant's
office, and he walked right in and reported for service at once. Over
the gateway of the Lord's vineyard this blue flag is flying today.
Jesus put it there, and on it is written in letters of gold, "Son, go
work today in my vineyard." Let us walk in, and be as anxious to work
for God as the lad was for the merchant. If we have an anxious heart
and want to work with all our heart, we will see the blue flag flying
everywhere. Lift up your eyes, and behold the world waving with blue
flags.
Fourth Flag. A green flag. This signifies "Go ahead, road clear." The
church flies the green flag. Walk in. It is the gate to the road that
has been made clear for you. Walk in. Walk in, the flag is green.
The green flag is waving from the foot of the Cross. All is clear
from that point to go. Go straight ahead. Ride over obstacles in the
road. Keep going, and you will find God with your pardon all prepared
for you and ready for your taking. He will also dispatch a guard of
angels to go with you who will bear the green flag. They know the way
of God; follow them and the green flag.
At last, my dear reader, when the sunset comes and the day of mortal
life is ending, and you are looking out over the sea of eternity, may
you see the green flag flying there. Then you will know "All is
clear--go ahead."
It may give a good setting to this lesson if you should ask a boy or
girl to come to the platform, and hold the flags as you present them
one by one. Hold a grand review of the four flags and ask questions
as to their meaning. This will help you to plant these flags in the
hall of memory of old and young.
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