p. 5 | CHALK TALKS by J. Grantell

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, Cal. · Jun 25, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 26.

CHALK TALKS.

By J. Grantell

A Word Behind Thee.

LONG, long ago, our loving Father in heaven began saying to those who were living on the earth, "Follow Me." He tried to teach all men just how they might follow; but few understood, and very many did not try to understand. Later He sent His Son, Jesus, to lead the way. How rich and sweet His voice must have been in the ears of troubled, anxious men, as He said, "Come; follow Me."

But even when Jesus could be seen with human eyes, only a small part of the people would follow Him. After awhile He went back to heaven; but He loved us so much that He would not leave us without a guide, so He sent the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to lead us into all truth.

This Guide is everywhere in the world, spending all His time in showing the path; and if we listen to Him always, we shall never lose our way.

Now did you ever hear this Guide's voice? I am sure you have. May be you heard, but did not know who it was. Let us read in Isaiah 30: 21 what the Guide says: "And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left."

Now we will let this tall mark represent the Guide, and the short mark represents you and me. We walk along the way until by and by I see some other path I wish to walk in, and so I turn to the right hand. But my Guide did not lead me there; He never goes out of the way. We become separated a little; but it is not because He went away from me, but because I left Him. Now if I turn to the right hand, where will the Guide be? If the Guide should speak to me, from what direction would the voice come?—From "behind" me, to be sure. And what does the Word say?—"This is the way, walk ye in it." But suppose I go right on in my way until I get almost to destruction, could I not cut across and catch the Guide?—No, indeed; I must go right back just the way I came, to the very place I failed to follow, and humbly, meekly follow on.

And if I should turn "to the left," it would be just the same. The word would come from behind me, saying, "This is the way."

Now do you not see that the only safe way for us, the only way by which we can ever reach heaven, is to listen to the Word? Satan makes the "right-hand" road and the "left" hand road look very beautiful to us sometimes; and they are broad ways, and many are going in thereat, because the other way is narrow, and it is easy to get out of the road when we do not follow the Guide.

But the blessedness of following Him, the Word, Jesus, the Holy Spirit! Do you sometimes think He has forgotten all about you? Just listen for "the word behind thee," and if thou shalt hear it, know that He has not forgotten thee.