(1) If the attention is aroused and centered upon religious subjects
and interests, then be careful how you treat God. The student who
finds his mind constantly escaping from his books to the thought of
eternity; the business man who cannot possibly escape the thought that
he owes God something and ought not to slight him, these have proofs
that the Spirit is striving.
After an evangelistic meeting which I recently conducted I received the
following letter, which clearly indicates the striving of the Spirit:
"I had not attended the church for years until to-night, but being a
visitor in C. and hearing that you were from the East and a
Presbyterian I determined to go. I was lonely and it may be the Spirit
was calling me. I heard you speak of your little boys and of the
sainted mother who has gone before and my proud heart was touched. I,
too, have two darling boys back in the old state, a loving Christian
wife and a dear old mother who in parting said, 'Dear son, I am old and
I may never see you again on earth, but if I am not here when you
return, remember, my son, my boy, we must meet in heaven.'
"How much that meant to her! I did not quite realize it then, but your
talk to-night impressed me and I believe that her prayers are being
answered together with those of a loving, courageous, steadfast
Christian wife, and that I am at last, at the age of forty-two,
beginning to see how great my opportunities to do good have been and
how my example has been a great hindrance and stumbling block to others
in the way of life. Admitting that this life has no stronger emotion
than our love for our families, how much more I am impressed to-night
with my duty to him who gave his only Son to suffer that we might live
in the life everlasting!
"In a busy business life and career I had drifted away from the safe
anchorage of the church and Sunday school of my boyhood and had almost
convinced myself that by charity and exercising good will and
kindliness in my business I could do almost as much good as if I were
in the church; but I see my mistake. To make an army effective we must
stand in the ranks, must be soldiers in the army of Christ ready and
willing to do at all times whatever we see before us.
"I have written my dear old mother a letter to-night which I know will
please her far more than if I had told her I had found a mine of
California gold; her prayers, my wife's, yours and those of other true
Christian men and women have been answered, and I realize that now,
(not next week, nor next month, nor when I get my business finished and
go back to the East) is the day and the hour to remember Christ and
know that his love for us is greater even than the love that tugs at
our heartstrings when we think of the dear little ones at home who
lovingly call us father, and for whom we gladly endure the heartaches
of separation when we know that our labors will contribute to their
comfort and happiness.
"I realize from the standpoint of a business man how many there are in
the world to criticise your best efforts and your work and how few who
ever stop to say, 'I thank you; you have done me good.' I take time
to-night to do more. I want to say that your message from the King of
kings has not fallen on stony ground. I shall try to enter again the
battle of life, not as only in search of the wealth of this world but
in search of the wealth that the world cannot take away--life
everlasting.
"You were right. Preach and pray the fathers into the Kingdom of God
and the rest is easy, for all unconsciously our children follow in our
footsteps, watch our every word and action; then how much, how much it
means if our example is wrong!"