BOB came in breathless from a romp with Fido and sat down in the living room where his father was explaining a verse from the Sunday school lesson to the little boy’s sister.
“We were just saying,” explained his father, as he handed him a Bible, “that Matthew 5:1616Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16) does not mean to let your good works shine before men. That is what unbelievers do; and the moment we make good works the object, we put ourselves on the same ground with them in that respect. To let the Lord Jesus Christ be known is our object. Then good works will follow, which, when men see them, will cause them to glorify God.
Years ago when bands of Indians were still roaming the country, two young men were going across into the wilderness of Upper Canada. One evening, when they were encamped beside a stream for the night, in spite of keeping close watch for their dusky foes, they were overwhelmed by the sudden approach of a band of Indians.
Words were of no effect because the Indians could not understand English, and the young men were totally ignorant of the sign language of the Indians. Presently the savages made a gesture which plainly meant “Come along,” there being no use of resisting, they went.
Soon they reached a large Indian lodge, which they entered. The Indians beckoned to them to sit down in front of a large fire in the center of the lodge. They were offered food, but appetite had been scared out of them. The Indians ate, and then got out knives and hatchets.
“Our time has come,” said one of the prisoners, and his companion thought so, too.
However, instead of falling upon them with the weapons, the Indians procured strips of ash wood and began stripping, measuring, splitting, and bending the wood for making baskets.
After the Indians had worked for some time at the basket-making, their chief suddenly gave a terrible yell. The Indians threw down their materials, and formed a circle about the fire and their captives. The terrible ceremony of death was about to begin!
Then the chief sounded a note with his voice, and all the rest began to sing. The two young men looked at each other in astonishment, for the song was a hymn, the tune of which was familiar to them. After that they sang “Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me”—both of the songs in the Indian language, of course.
The fears of the boys were gone. They joined in their own tongue; and when the Indians had finished their devotions, all lay down, and slept soundly in the warmth of the fire.
The tribe was one which had been visited by missionaries, and the Indians had no other purpose than one of grateful hospitality in bringing these two youths to their lodge.
The next morning the guests ate with gusto the food offered them, and, expressing their thanks as best they could, went on their way.
“That was a good story for this lesson,” said Bob’s sister, “because of the unfavorable way in which the works of the Indians were manifested, and the way their showing forth love for the Lord Jesus removed the fears of the two young men. But do you think these Indians were really Christians, or were they just so in name like so many today?”
“God alone knows the heart, and knows which of them really knew the Lord Jesus as their Saviour, and whether with any the singing was merely a matter of ceremony. This is a very solemn matter to be settled between each soul and God. Certain it is, they who do not have the light which comes from Christ Jesus, cannot let it shine. Those who do have this light must let Christ be known rather than to display their works.”
Can it be that there is one among our readers who is vainly singing hymns which are not meant for him because he has not yet come to Jesus to be saved? Is any trying to satisfy himself and please his neighbors with his good deeds, while
Christ is unknown?
Do believe in Jesus now. Then it can be said of you,
ML 11/26/1933