FAR out in China there is a curious and useful custom in some parts, in connection with farmers sending their rice to market.
In most parts of China there are no railways or good roads on which trains or wagons may travel, and nearly everything is carried on men's shoulders. Once a missionary and his family had just landed in Hong Kong, where they have beautiful roads. He had a good English baby carriage with him, and there was a small box inside it. Even a child could have wheeled it along the smooth asphalt road, —but the coolie who was handling the baggage, got a bamboo pole and some rope,—tied the baby carriage to one end of the pole and the box to the other, put the pole over his shoulder and trotted off down the road. How that missionary laughed,—but he was only beginning to see queer sights.
But I was going to tell you about the rice. It is nearly always carried in two baskets, one at each end of the pole. They are round and have open tops. It would be very easy to steal from them on the way,—so the owner, before the rice goes, marks the character for his name on the smooth top of each basket, with black Chinese ink. It is sealed. If anyone touches it on the road, it will be seen at once. If you have "trusted in Christ", God tells you in Eph. 1:1313In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13) "after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise." When I was a child, after I trusted in Christ, very often I was terribly troubled to know whether I was sealed with the Holy Spirit, or not. How nice to have a verse to tell us this so plainly, and all we need to do is to believe it and thank Him. When the rice was sealed, it kept anyone from touching it. So God seals us that we, too, may be kept safe, till we reach His Home above. We may be sure that not one, whom He has sealed with His Holy Spirit, will ever be lost." Have you "trusted in Christ?" Have you believed what God tells you in Eph. 1:1313In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13) ?
Messages of God’s Love 9/23/1928