Living Messages                                                                   1/11/41

 

Scripture:  II Corinthians 2: 14- 3: 6.

 

Text:  II Corinthians 3: 2;  “Ye are our epistle---known and read of all men.”

 

A minister in Texas, preaching from this text, used as his subject, “Blank Pages or Living Epistles.”  I don’t know what he said, but that subject, with this text, would almost preach the sermon itself.

 

You recall the oft-repeated application of a simple illustration.

A child in school, just learning to use pen and ink.

                        Spoiled page

                        Clean sheet

                        “Do better now, my child”

 

            Poet’s application - a day of life

            Further application in the minister’s sermon subject

 

Each life is a sheet on which vital messages can be written.  Will it remain 1) a blank sheet, or 2) one with just the kind of doodlings one makes on the scratch pad while waiting for a telephone connection?  Or will that life 3) be written full of the real message of living - actions that count - decisions that are good - influence that builds - words that help.

 

You and I are interested in the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We think about it; we study it.  We want to have it taught and preached.  We want it carried to those who have never heard it.  It is the most important message there is for the people of our world.  It is the gospel of God’s love, of his Fatherhood, of Man’s brotherhood, of Jesus’ way of living, of salvation from sin, of the power of the Holy Spirit toward right living, of hope and courage and faith and joy.

 

But the message needs messengers.  There must be a pipe, a bucket, a cup, to get the cold pure water of the spring to the many people who need it.  The messenger is like that.

 

And the one who would be a messenger must be like that.  If the messenger is half-hearted or neglectful, he may be like a rusted pipe which lets the water flow out in the ground (or into the bay as a certain prominent man’s water line did here on Oahu not long ago.) 

 

If you and I are like unwashed cups contaminated with wrong and disease and stark selfishness, others may fear contamination of the water - the message which we bear.

 

The messenger is so important that he is a living message himself.  The importance of people, as living messages, was apparent to Paul when he said, “If meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no meat.”  If what I do is a means of leading another into harm, or wrong, even though it do me no ill, I will give it up.  When one speaks and acts in that vein, that seems to me an exceedingly earnest messenger - a living and practical message himself.

 

We can multiply the illustrations.

 

When I was ordained together with three others to the ministry, one of my teachers, Dr. Arthur E. Holt, made several things clear to us as he addressed us and the assembled congregation.  For one thing he made it clear that the ministry would be judged by us!  It is judged by all ministers of the gospel.  When one minister is lazy or dishonest or unfaithful to his vows, it reflects on all ministers.  When one is distinguished in service, in faithfulness, in integrity, it becomes a credit upon his profession.  The messenger is himself a living message.  It is so in teaching.  It is so in commerce.   (Business adventurers have too often canceled out the missionary abroad -  Orient.)

 

America has been, for better or for worse, judged by the tourists from America who go abroad.  Whether they have always carried the true spirit of America well or not depends on whether they are rude or courteous, scoffing or appreciative, drunken or sober, clownish or poised.  Sometimes the impression is good, sometimes it is not.  And we are all judged by it. 

 

Christianity is judged by those who profess Christianity. 

            Missionary returning to a foreign field several years ago - people in second class - “O mother, aren’t they funny.”

 

            Governor’s launch.

 

            Sea captain approached by Oriental Christian.  “Are you a Christian?”  blow, oath;   “Ain’t I an American?”

 

The message and influence of this church is judged by each of its members - by you and by me.  We are its living messages.  Do we carry a message of cheerfulness, of willingness?  Are we willing to serve and to sacrifice?  Are we loyal to Jesus Christ in word and act?  Do our lives introduce Christ to others? 

 

We are the living messages.  O may our message be recognized as good news!

 

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Dates and places delivered:

 

            Pilgrim Church, Honolulu, October 29, 1939  PM

            Wisconsin Rapids, January 11, 1941