Would some of you young people like to be a Christian if you could keep it all to yourself and your companions never it find out so that they would not make fun and ridicule? Or if you could be a Christian and not be so different from the world, so that you would not attract attention to yourself as being different?
It is not hard to make a profession of being a Christian among those who love the lord Jesus, but it is often very difficult in ungodly, worldly surroundings. But in order to stand in such surroundings you must boldly confess whose you are and whom you serve.
The following story is told in “The Christian,” of a boy who denied his Lord, but was afterward restored in answer to prayer.
It was entirely Harry’s idea that a photograph was ever taken. He was a young blue-jacket, and his ship was under orders to proceed abroad. I might be some years before he returned to England, and there was a certain place and a certain group of people which held a very sacred place in his heart. It was the Sailors’ Home.
An orphan, who had never known a mother’s love or a father’s care, Harry’s heart was soon won by the warm welcome which he received there; while in a Bible-class conducted by two sisters who ran the Home, he heard the call of Christ, and yielded his live to Him.
For about ten months, Harry spent nearly all his spare time at the Home, becoming a useful helper to the two ladies. Then came the news that his ship was leaving, which brought real regret to the hearts of his kind friends.
One bright, summer afternoon, shortly before he left, Harry appeared with a friend who possessed a camera, and gathered several of the Christian men together for a photograph. Harry himself arranged the group, placing the two sisters in the middle at the front in easy chairs, and taking his own stand between them. This photograph was greatly treasured, and he took it with him everywhere.
As the years went by, however, Harry drifted into bad company. How this happened I do not know, but a time came when amid a crowd of godless companions, he produced the photo a laughingly confessed what it was A girl snatched it, and said, “I’d like your photo, but not the Bible-punchers or the old ladies.” Impelled by her request, and the jeers of those who stood around, Harry took out a penknife, cut his own picture out of the group, and handed it to the girl, with the word, “That takes me out of the Bible-class.”
But from that moment Harry never knew what it was to be happy. He would take out the cut photo, and look at it with a sore heart. Then, when he heard of the death of one of the sisters a few years later, his conscience pricked him still more. He tried the world’s pleasures and amusements, but found no peace in them. God was speaking to him, however, and, although he longed for forgiveness, he fought shy of confession and repentance.
Then came the turning point. One night, on board ship, when feeling the burden of sin and backsliding more deeply than ever, he broke down, and asked the Lord Jesus to save him.
Harry did not have an easy time, even after he left the Navy. He still met temptation, but he learned that Christ could give him the victory. Perhaps you sometimes feel like he did – that you don’t want to “suffer affliction with the people of God” by being laughed at because you are a Christian. May this story help you stand firmly, because real peace and happiness are found, not in sinful pleasures, but in Christ, and Christ alone.
Let every one of us who are Christians prove ourselves good solders to the cross.
By A.W.S., featured in "The Shining Path" tract.
All attempt to correct typos has been made.
It is not hard to make a profession of being a Christian among those who love the lord Jesus, but it is often very difficult in ungodly, worldly surroundings. But in order to stand in such surroundings you must boldly confess whose you are and whom you serve.
The following story is told in “The Christian,” of a boy who denied his Lord, but was afterward restored in answer to prayer.
It was entirely Harry’s idea that a photograph was ever taken. He was a young blue-jacket, and his ship was under orders to proceed abroad. I might be some years before he returned to England, and there was a certain place and a certain group of people which held a very sacred place in his heart. It was the Sailors’ Home.
An orphan, who had never known a mother’s love or a father’s care, Harry’s heart was soon won by the warm welcome which he received there; while in a Bible-class conducted by two sisters who ran the Home, he heard the call of Christ, and yielded his live to Him.
For about ten months, Harry spent nearly all his spare time at the Home, becoming a useful helper to the two ladies. Then came the news that his ship was leaving, which brought real regret to the hearts of his kind friends.
One bright, summer afternoon, shortly before he left, Harry appeared with a friend who possessed a camera, and gathered several of the Christian men together for a photograph. Harry himself arranged the group, placing the two sisters in the middle at the front in easy chairs, and taking his own stand between them. This photograph was greatly treasured, and he took it with him everywhere.
As the years went by, however, Harry drifted into bad company. How this happened I do not know, but a time came when amid a crowd of godless companions, he produced the photo a laughingly confessed what it was A girl snatched it, and said, “I’d like your photo, but not the Bible-punchers or the old ladies.” Impelled by her request, and the jeers of those who stood around, Harry took out a penknife, cut his own picture out of the group, and handed it to the girl, with the word, “That takes me out of the Bible-class.”
But from that moment Harry never knew what it was to be happy. He would take out the cut photo, and look at it with a sore heart. Then, when he heard of the death of one of the sisters a few years later, his conscience pricked him still more. He tried the world’s pleasures and amusements, but found no peace in them. God was speaking to him, however, and, although he longed for forgiveness, he fought shy of confession and repentance.
Then came the turning point. One night, on board ship, when feeling the burden of sin and backsliding more deeply than ever, he broke down, and asked the Lord Jesus to save him.
Harry did not have an easy time, even after he left the Navy. He still met temptation, but he learned that Christ could give him the victory. Perhaps you sometimes feel like he did – that you don’t want to “suffer affliction with the people of God” by being laughed at because you are a Christian. May this story help you stand firmly, because real peace and happiness are found, not in sinful pleasures, but in Christ, and Christ alone.
Let every one of us who are Christians prove ourselves good solders to the cross.
By A.W.S., featured in "The Shining Path" tract.
All attempt to correct typos has been made.
DAD COMES HOME DRUNK AND MAD
HE PULLS OUT A GUN
AND SHOOTS HIS WIFE THEN TURNS THE GUN
ON HIMSELF.
THE LITTLE GIRL SITS
BEHIND THE COUCH CRYING
THE POLICE
CAME AND TOOK THE LITTLE GIRL TO AN
ORPHANAGE.
SHE WALKS INTO THE
BEDROOM,AND THERE IS A PICTURE OF
JESUS ON THE CROSS
GIRL: HOW DID THAT MAN GET OFF OF THAT?
TEACHER: HE DIDN'T.
GIRL: YES HE DID.
TEACHER: NO HE DIDN'T.
GIRL: YES HE DID HE ALWAYS SAT NEXT TO
ME WHEN MY PARENTS FOUGHT, AND HE TOLD
ME EVERYTHING WOULD BE OK
POST THIS AS Jesus story (ANY PLACE)?
DONT IGNORE THIS
64 PERCENT OF U WONT REPOST THIS
YOU NEVER
KNOW WHO MIGHT BE WATCHING
REMEMBER: THE BIBLE SAYS "IF YOU DENY
JESUS IN FRONT OF UR FRIENDS HE WILL DENY YOU
IN FRONT OF HIS FATHER
HE PULLS OUT A GUN
AND SHOOTS HIS WIFE THEN TURNS THE GUN
ON HIMSELF.
THE LITTLE GIRL SITS
BEHIND THE COUCH CRYING
THE POLICE
CAME AND TOOK THE LITTLE GIRL TO AN
ORPHANAGE.
SHE WALKS INTO THE
BEDROOM,AND THERE IS A PICTURE OF
JESUS ON THE CROSS
GIRL: HOW DID THAT MAN GET OFF OF THAT?
TEACHER: HE DIDN'T.
GIRL: YES HE DID.
TEACHER: NO HE DIDN'T.
GIRL: YES HE DID HE ALWAYS SAT NEXT TO
ME WHEN MY PARENTS FOUGHT, AND HE TOLD
ME EVERYTHING WOULD BE OK
POST THIS AS Jesus story (ANY PLACE)?
DONT IGNORE THIS
64 PERCENT OF U WONT REPOST THIS
YOU NEVER
KNOW WHO MIGHT BE WATCHING
REMEMBER: THE BIBLE SAYS "IF YOU DENY
JESUS IN FRONT OF UR FRIENDS HE WILL DENY YOU
IN FRONT OF HIS FATHER