THE THREE GRACES

White Ribbon, Volume 44, Issue 539, 18 November 1940, Page 1

THE THREE GRACES

"And now ahideth Faith, Hope, Love. But tlu* greatest ot these is I M Love. Who among us has not been thrilled I>\ Pauls beautiful “Song of Love” in Ins epistle to the Corinthians? How we lia\e wondered that so glorious a tribute to Love should come from the pen of Haul the Persecutor. It seems more in keeping with the genius of John the Beloved Disciple. But diving deeper into the heart of the matter we have realised how Paul in his endL conflict with evil had learnt to appreciate the power of love to endure persecution and to conquer every evil. In memory we hold a picture of the I'lirce Ciraces once seen in a tableau. 1 nth looking upward and heavenward, Hope looks expectantly forward to atch the first glimpse of wliat the future ha> in store, but Love look" down upon a sinning and suffering world, eager to see bow help may be gi\ cn to it. Let that Faith into your life and in communion with Christ rise to heights m service and sacrifice. Let Hope ever sing her song of ultimate victory. Listen as she tells you that “No question is ever settled until it is settled right.” Yes, Faith and Hope have their place and influence in every trium--1»1 ant Jife, but “Love is the fulfilling *» tlu# Law." How strange the paradox in the Ifivine command, “Learn to know the l< e of God, which passeth knowledge.” OUR MYSTERIOUS UNIVERSE. This question has occupied the a* it ntion of scientists for cel tunes How did it begin? When and he .v will it end? Their work is highly

technical and we must take the verdict of scientists, who carefully observe, weigh, calculate, check and recheck their findings. Prof. Millikan m his careful study of Cosmic Radiation suggests that it may originate in the process of building up heavy atoms out of simpler light atoms and interprets these wonders as evidence that The Creator is still on His job. He is! And what the scientist is dimly feeling, Faith lias never doubted. The Creator, the wonderful Sun of Righteousness, the Great Power House of the Universe is still shedding upon that universe the glorious rays of Light and Love. Light to illuminate our path, and Love to cheer us on our way. He is not only the Creator whose job was to start a machine and then leave it to go its own way. He is at the very centre of all being for "In Him we live and move and have our being.” HIS GIFT. The Creator so loved that He gave. He sent His Son Jesus to reveal Him to the children of .Earth. Christ revealed God as a loving Father. He pictures that Father through long years waiting and watching for the return of the prodigal. The son who sinned against love must suffer. Sin must not he punished, it must he eradicated. All nations, irrespective of race, creed or colour, are His children, tenderly loved, but when they sin against that love they must suffer until they learn the lesson of Love Triumphant. The hate, the lack of love written into the Treaty of Versailles sowed the seeds of the terrible contest now raging and only love can heal the breach.

CHRISTIANS! CHRISTLIKE! \Y. T. Stead used to quote, “lie a Christ” not “Be a Christian.” Our late beloved Dominion Treasurer, Mrs. Bendelv often said to us “W e are not Christian, we are learning to he Christians.” Some of God’s children are in the infant class, some have reached University standard, hut none are perfect. Let each elder brother and sister give of their best, give royally to teach the younger ones the lesson of love. OUR PATTERN Jesus Christ, the outstanding figure in history ; none other has so influenced this world as did this Jew, son of a carpenter, horn in a manger, a despised Nazarene. Crucified at the age of 33 years. Why is His influence so great? Because lie rose triumphant over death and He still liveth. For “The resurrection of Christ is as well attested as any fact in history.” Study Jesus, read the gospels, east out of your mind all that men have said about Him and listen to what Jesus sa v s Himself. “1 and the Father are one.” “Because 1 live ye shall live also.” “He that dwelleth in Love dwelleth in God.” Over the fireplace in Frances Willard’s Den iiung this motto: — “Let Something (rood he Said.” The hour is coming when Men’s holy church Shall melt away in ever-widening walls, And he for all mankind; and in its place A mightier Church shall come whose covenant Shall he the deeds of love. Not Credo then —

Amo >*iall he tin passport through gates. Man shall not ask his brother any more “Believest thou?” but ‘‘Lovesi thou? and all Shall answi r at (iod’s altar, “Lord I love.” For hope may anchor, faith may guide; but love, Great love alone, is captain of the soul.” _ % 4. 4