As Sounding Brass by Max Hill

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Jul 3, 1907

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 33, No. 27.

As Sounding Brass.

By Max Hill

TWO brothers roomed together in college. One was always in trouble and mischief, the other was quiet and studious, a member of the church. One day a brother in the church talked long and earnestly with the erring boy. In the course of the conversation, he remarked: “Your brother is a true Christian. I hope you will make as good a one.”

To this the boy replied, with a touch of mingled sarcasm and mischief: “Yes, I have heard that my brother is a Christian.”

His remark brought the conversation to an abrupt end. Not fully comprehending the full meaning of the boy’s thrust, the older man left him, his own mind filled with questions. Was the model young man a Christian, or was his life but a pretension? Did his brother see that in his private life which did not accord with the pretensions of his public life? Did his brother see that which drove him from the Saviour instead of to Him? O, that that Christian brother might know his responsibility!

Truly one’s own family may know, and does know, whether one is a Christian, whether one lives up to his profession. Tho the world is deceived, tho even our loved ones are deceived, there is One who does see and know. Whatever the profession, whatever the outward show, “all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” The Judge of all will award a just sentence in the day which He has appointed to judge the earth, and from that decision there will be no appeal; whited sepulchers will be revealed, filthy garments disclosed. The word of our associates must not be, “I have heard that he is a Christian,” but, “I know he is a true Christian, for he is like Christ.”

MAX HILL.