The first magnets were stones discovered in an ancient country of Asia Minor, called Magnesia. The terms magnet and magnetism come from Magnesia. The stones were a type of iron ore called magnetite. Men were puzzled by the way these stones attracted metal. In ancient times, many persons believed magnets were magic stones.
Hundreds of years later men learned that one end of a piece of magnetite was attracted by the earth's North Pole, and the other end was attracted by the South Pole. When the stone was hung from a string, it turned until it was pointing north and south.
This important discovery made possible the invention of the compass. Now sailors could tell which direction they were sailing, even in a storm when they could not see the stars.
In 1600, Dr. William Gilbert showed that the earth itself was one huge magnet, and attracted the ends of the magnetic needle of the compass. No one is exactly certain what causes magnetism, but most scientists believe that it is caused by the way the molecules in the magnet are arranged.
This explains one of the ways a magnet is made. Hold a short iron bar with one end pointing north and the other end pointing south. Touch the north end to the ground in a slant, and strike the south end with a hammer. The bar at once becomes a magnet. The molecules are jarred out of position, and arrange themselves along the earth's line of force.
A scientist was once asked what he considered the most remarkable fact in nature. Without a moment's hesitation he replied: "The most remarkable thing that I know of is the change that takes place in a piece of soft iron when an electric current is passed through it." He then told us the following story.
"Some time ago a party of men were boring a trial shaft for a coal mine. A boring tool broke far down below the surface. The broken parts prevented any further work and they had to be removed before the work could continue. They tried every known device but were unable to get the broken pieces out, and it seemed as if the project would have to be abandoned and a new shaft located elsewhere.
"An electrician hearing this, suggested they might try passing an electric current through a specially shaped piece of iron, and lower it down until it touched the fragments in the shaft. This was done, and as soon as contact was made, the newly charged magnet and the broken tools were so strongly attracted to each other that when the magnet was drawn up, the broken parts were also brought up with it, and the work of sinking the shaft was soon resumed."
What was the secret of this power? This was accomplished without the least apparent change in the iron. Its weight, size, and shape remained the same, and yet there must have been a mighty change somewhere! It had come in contact with a new source of energy from the outside.
But a power far greater than this exists. How much greater must that power be which has the ability to turn a drunkard into a sober and law-abiding citizen, a liar into a lover of truth, a thief into an honest worker for others, a rebel as regards God into a lover of His Son, a blasphemer into a worshiper of God, and a sinner into a heaven-bound saint?
By the powerful touch of the Spirit of God a soul that is born again has these and other transforming miracles wrought within him. He becomes conscious first of his unfitness for heaven by reason of his sins. He then turns to the Savior of sinners, and quickly learns His readiness to pardon, His willingness to bless, and above all, His ability to save a sinner.
So Christ now becomes the center of his joy and happiness, a constant source of satisfaction. God's love now fills his heart, and the God he so dreaded he now adores. He now knows the "love of Christ, which passeth knowledge" (Eph. 3:1919And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (Ephesians 3:19)), and "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding." Phil. 4:77And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7).
Your sins will be forgiven; peace with a holy God will be made yours; your eternal happiness will be secured, and power to please God and to resist the devil will be imparted to you. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31). "Come unto Me... I will give you rest." Matt. 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28).