Here’s a word from my Uncle Malcolm, written at the tender age of 19, showing incredible maturity for his years.
In this sermon he urges us to persevere through the trials we experience in our faith and not to give up.
J.M Rowland
5, Tichborne Street,
Leicester
To Central Juniors on ‘Motto Sunday’
5th January1941
Let us first have a look at our Motto Card.
On it we can see one man, probably the more experienced climber of the two, who has wedged himself in a single spot in a cleft in the rock – called, I believe, a ‘chimney’ – and this man is watching his companion negotiate what looks like a very difficult piece of rock surface.
Can we imagine, for a moment, the situation a little while before this ‘photo’ was taken?
The experienced climber has just reached the position in which we see him, while his companion is still at the bottom, paying out the rope.
Now, everything is ready and Jack – the man at the bottom can start his ascent as soon as he likes.
But now he has a decision to make.
The rock face looks terribly steep, offering few footholds, it will be very strenuous going, clinging on with toenails, teeth and eyebrows!
Jack can either decide to set out, following Tom’s good example, or decide to pack up and go home for lunch.
Well, we can see from our picture that Jack took the manlier course and set out.
Well, I believe that there is some chap here today, who has got to make a decision like Jack had to.
It says in 1 Peter 2.21 that, ‘Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow in His steps.’
That boy knows that his example has been set by Our Lord Jesus Christ and now he must decide whether he will follow Him up the climb of life, or whether he will give in to the difficulties and temptations and simply turn his back on Christ’s example.
Well, it is for that fellow to decide for himself, here and now, this afternoon.
Now let us consider the situation at the moment the photo was taken.
Jack has reached a sticky bit in the climb and this is where the first part of our motto comes in.
We can imagine him saying to himself ‘It’s not as though I had already attained (or reached) that cleft where Tom is.
If I had, I could have a bit of a rest and enjoy the scenery.
But I’ve not reached it and I mustn’t slacken off here at any price.
If I had a bit of a rest here I should soon get into difficulties – I can’t stop here.’
And you know, I believe Jack I once again like some boy here this afternoon.
That boy has already faced that decision which Jack had to make and, like Jack, he decided to follow his Example.
But now things are getting a bit tough in his Christian life, he is slipping about a bit and he is sorely tempted to “take a rest”.
He thinks to himself, “Well, I am a Christian, I have obtained forgiveness for my sins, I can afford to slack off a bit now.
I can let my quiet times slide a bit now, I needn’t go to Crusaders so regularly now.”
Most Christian chaps are tempted like this at some time or another.
Well, our motto warns us against the temptation.
Think what would happen to Jack if he eased off his exertions and say, “It’s not as though I had already attained.”
That us Christian chaps here would say that he has never fallen in his Christian life.
We all fall, and only too often.
But I wonder do we all get up again when we fall?
Do we clamber to our feet and fight on, or do we lie on the ground, despondent, and thinking that this Christian life is too much for us, that our strength is not sufficient for our task?
I have known several Christians who were like that and they’ve all gradually drifted until now they are far from the Saviour, whom once they loved so well.
But I also know of another Christian.
He too was also falling, but what is far more important, he was always getting up!
His name was Simon Peter, and I always love poor old Peter, in spite of all his failings because he always got up.
David too had something to say on this subject and he tells us the secret of where we can gain strength to get up.
Look at Psalm 37.23-24.
The only time when anybody in this physical world doesn’t get up after falling, is when they can’t because they haven’t the power.
When a Christian falls in his Christian life he can never say that he hasn’t the power to get up, “…for the Lord upholds him with his hand.”
And so, shall we all be resolved to be a company of Peter who GET UP when they fall?
Shall we pray to God that when we slip up on one of the Devil’s temptations and fall into the snows of sin and misery and despondency we may GET UP;
That when, in our fight with Satan, he knocks us down, we may be game enough to GET UP;
That in the great Game of Life, when we find ourselves being rolled in the mud rather a lot, we may serve Him faithfully by GETTING UP and playing on?
And you know, I believe Jack is once again like some boy here this afternoon.
That boy has already faced that decision which Jack had to make and, like Jack, decided to follow his Example.
But now things are getting a bit tough in the Christian life, he is slipping about a bit and he is sorely tempted to ‘take a rest’. He thinks to himself, ‘Well I am a Christian,
I have obtained forgiveness for my sins, I can afford to slack off a bit now.
I can let my Q.T’s slide a bit now, I needn’t go to Crusaders so regularly now.
Most Christian chaps are tempted like this at some time or another.
Well, our motto warns us against the temptation.
Think what would happen to Jack if he eased off his exertions and say, with him, ‘It’s not as though I had already attained.’
Encouraging word. Thanks.