THIS is a lesson which illustrates how important it is to give God our
whole life. Samuel did this. He did not wait until his life was almost
burned out, and then give to God the stump which was left, but gave
God the whole life, from early childhood to ripe old age.
Secure one full length candle, and also one almost burned out. If both
are lit at the same time, the short one quickly burns away while the
tall one burns for a long time. "The tall candle stands for youth, and
where youth is given over to God, it sheds light for many happy days.
We should all offer our whole life to God and not wait till it is
almost gone and then offer a few short feeble days to Him. Don't wait
until life is almost burned out and only a little stub left like this
to offer God." As you say these words, hold up the little stump of
candle. "Here is a candle almost burnt out. It will not give light
much longer." In the old fashioned days when candle light was used it
would be cast aside as good for nothing, and yet the little stump can
do a little good for Jesus. Come to Him before it is burnt out
altogether. Come now, tomorrow darkness may come and the little candle
be entirely consumed.
One evening some years ago, when I was preaching in my Philadelphia
church, a sermon called "A Sermon of a Hundred Candles" I lifted up a
little stub of a candle almost burned out, and said "This resembles
the sinner almost burned out, only a few minutes more and it will be
gone. Turn to God quickly before time will snuff out your flickering
taper." In that audience that night sat a man well known in river
circles. He was known as Capt. Evans, a man that knew the Delaware
River like a book. Many efforts had been made to bring him to Jesus,
but everything up to this point had failed. He said "That little stub
of a candle got me." And it brought him to Jesus, and for the rest of
his days was a shining light for the Master. Oh, ye little stubs. Turn
to Jesus and shine. You cannot go back to the happy days of youth to
begin over again but begin to shine now for Jesus. Hearken, ye youth,
boys and girls, of the order of the long candle. Come now to Jesus and
shine from the days of your youth until God bids you come up higher
and shine for Him in the White City of God.
To elaborate this lesson let a number of boys and girls come to the
platform, each bringing an unlit candle which they light from the tall
candle on the table called "The Light of the World." And then let them
place them back on the table until they are all lit. Don't let them
hold them in their hands in a lighted condition as there is danger in
this. Ask them to stand around the table while the lights are burning
and sing "Jesus bids us shine."
=CHAPTER XXVIII
PULLING OUT THE NAIL HOLES=
_Objects: A Small Size Post or Board. Hammer and Nails_