Covenanter Witness Vol. 54 - Rparchives.org

once!"
salvation"
pebbles."
sad"
season"
ECHOES NUMBER
LESSON HELPS FOR THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 13, 1955
VOLUME LIV WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, iM* \H$ NUMBER 4
44
Midnight Pebbles"
by
Three horsemen were crossing the Eastern des
ert in the dead and black of night. In the course of
their journey they came to the edge of a dried-up
river bank over which they were about to cross.
Suddenly a commanding cry cut through the
stillness of the night, "Halt! halt at Not
knowing what to expect, they did as commanded.
"Good !" whipped the word of the unseen one. "Now,
dismount and step into the river bed . . The voice
waited until the action had been taken. "Now then,
bend low and brush your hands against the bed.
You will feel the touch of pebbles. Gather up as many
as you can. .
Surprised, the three horsemen did as command
ed. At last with pebbles in hand, they stood in the
dried ground, waiting, wondering. . .
"You are wise men indeed," the voice testified.
"You have obeyed as commanded. Take your pebbles,
put them into your pockets. Then mount your steeds
and continue your journey, without pause nor ques
tion. At the first light of dawn, draw to a halt, pick
the pebbles from your pockets and examine them
closely The voice dropped to a whisper. "Exam
ine them closely. When you do, you will be very hap
py and very sad. .. . . .
The three horsemen waited long after the voice
had spoken, then remounted and continued their
course, scarcely speaking a word, each filled with his
own questions. Whatever could it mean who was the
strange midnight commander what was the purpose
of it all. . .
Then the first streak of the new day's dawn.
Remembering the command they came to a quick
halt, plunged their hands into their pockets, drawing
forth their pebbles. As the morning light played
of startled surprise passed all
upon them, a gasp
their lips together. The pebbles were . . . brilliant
diamonds !
They stared at their treasure with long fascina
tion. . . and then understood the strange final words
of the midnight visitor. "You will be very happy
Edwin Raymond Anderson
. . . and very sad "Happy"
. .
. . . indeed! for the
"pebbles"
in their possession . . .
; "Very for not
having picked all the more when opportunity for
such wealth had thus dramatically presented itself!
This is just an ancient Arabian legend. But like
so many legends, it carries "long
lines"
of spiritual
significance, particularly to Christians. Those "peb
bles"
speak of the "diamonds" of opportunity for
service, for testimony, for activity, for witness on
behalf of Him who has called us out of darkness and
death (John 5 :24) to show forth His praises (1 Pet.
2:9). Far greater than earthly treasure is the value,
the preciousness of speaking "a word in
(Isa. 50 :4) on the blessed behalf of Him who is "the
Way, the Truth and the Life" (John 14:6). Who can
ever adequately weigh the worth of a word, given in
love, under the power of the Spirit, in warm witness
for this Wonderful One
These "pebbles" come in differing forms, each
suited to our talents and capabilities and we are
called upon to engage in "Operation Opportunity,"
with every
spiritual ounce of complete consecration
and supreme surrender (Rom. 12:1, 2). The ancient
Greeks pictured Opportunity as a swift runner, en
tirely bald except for a forelock which could be
grasped if one were alert and waiting for him, but
once he had passed there was no way of laying hold
of him. How swiftly do the opportunities pre
sent themselves . . . and pass on forever beyond
recall . . . have we heard and heeded while it
had been here "NOW is the accepted time, NOW is
the day of
(2 Cor. 6:2), applies to Ohris-
-tians as well.
In a soon coming day, we shall be very happy
for the "plucking of the
. . . and perhaps we
shall also be very, very sad. . . What day the day
when morning shall come and we shall appear before
the Judgment Seat of Christ for accounting which
might prove quite agonizing. Perhaps our record may
occasion great regret and our sparse service bring
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