CHAPTER XXVII

THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT=

_Objects used: A Tall Candle and a Stub of a Candle_

THE LONG AND SHORT O' LIFE

THIS is a lesson which illustrates how important it is to give God our whole life. Samuel did this. He did not wait until his life was almost burned out, and then give to God the stump which was left, but gave God the whole life, from early childhood to ripe old age.

Secure one full length candle, and also one almost burned out. If both are lit at the same time, the short one quickly burns away while the tall one burns for a long time. "The tall candle stands for youth, and where youth is given over to God, it sheds light for many happy days. We should all offer our whole life to God and not wait till it is almost gone and then offer a few short feeble days to Him. Don't wait until life is almost burned out and only a little stub left like this to offer God." As you say these words, hold up the little stump of candle. "Here is a candle almost burnt out. It will not give light much longer." In the old fashioned days when candle light was used it would be cast aside as good for nothing, and yet the little stump can do a little good for Jesus. Come to Him before it is burnt out altogether. Come now, tomorrow darkness may come and the little candle be entirely consumed.

One evening some years ago, when I was preaching in my Philadelphia church, a sermon called "A Sermon of a Hundred Candles" I lifted up a little stub of a candle almost burned out, and said "This resembles the sinner almost burned out, only a few minutes more and it will be gone. Turn to God quickly before time will snuff out your flickering taper." In that audience that night sat a man well known in river circles. He was known as Capt. Evans, a man that knew the Delaware River like a book. Many efforts had been made to bring him to Jesus, but everything up to this point had failed. He said "That little stub of a candle got me." And it brought him to Jesus, and for the rest of his days was a shining light for the Master. Oh, ye little stubs. Turn to Jesus and shine. You cannot go back to the happy days of youth to begin over again but begin to shine now for Jesus. Hearken, ye youth, boys and girls, of the order of the long candle. Come now to Jesus and shine from the days of your youth until God bids you come up higher and shine for Him in the White City of God.

To elaborate this lesson let a number of boys and girls come to the platform, each bringing an unlit candle which they light from the tall candle on the table called "The Light of the World." And then let them place them back on the table until they are all lit. Don't let them hold them in their hands in a lighted condition as there is danger in this. Ask them to stand around the table while the lights are burning and sing "Jesus bids us shine."

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