THE BUNDLE OF LIFE
OBJECTS: Two Small Bundles Containing a Number of
Articles Described in this Chapter
Text, 1 Samuel 25:29: "But the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the Lord thy God."
Many long years ago David had fled from the angry King Saul who was seeking to kill him. He and a few of his faithful followers had taken refuge at Carmel.
While there the Elect Lady by the name of Abigail brought David and his hungry men "good things to eat." Her gift was 200 loaves, 2 bottles of wine, 5 sheep, 5 measures of parched corn, 100 clusters of raisins, and 200 cakes of figs.
What a wonderful housekeeper she must have been, as we note this fine mixture of good things she had; she prepared for David because she was loyal and true. She was also a brave woman as she broke through the enemy's line to find one who was to be her king and help him. She did more than prepare a table for him in the presence of his enemies, for she comforted his soul not a little. She fell down at David's feet and said: "Jehovah will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord fighteth the battles of Jehovah, and evil shall not be found in thee all thy days, and although men be risen up to pursue thee to seek thy soul, the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the Lord thy God." Perhaps when she used the word "bundle" she was thinking of the bundle of good things she had brought him, so she comforted her king by her strong words of truth. Why should he fear his enemies? He was safe indeed, because he was wrapped up as in a bundle with his Lord.
Yes, Abigail was right, there is a bundle of life, all of us like pilgrims must carry this "pack" to the end of life's journey.
To illustrate this truth prepare two bundles wrapped up as an ordinary bundle. Place them both on the platform table where they can be seen by all the audience. The first bundle you call the "Sinner's Bundle of Life." It contains the following articles: A small paper serpent; a small bottle; a bag with the bottom left open representing a bag with holes in it; a cardboard heart with a large black spot on it. Around this bundle in place of the common cord place a small piece of chain to hold it together. When you are ready to consider this package hold it up and say, "This is The Sinner's Bundle of Life. Note it is bound together by this chain. This teaches us that the sinner is in bondage to sin. He is a slave and chained to the evil one. He is held captive to all the dark things we shall find in his life's bundle." Now unwrap the bundle and produce first the serpent. This teaches us sin is an ugly thing, a deadly serpent. It crept with the bundle of life far back in the garden of Eden and has been there ever since. Only Jesus can cast it out. Now produce the "bag" with holes in it. Drop in it some coins, and they pass out of the holes in the bottom. This illustrates the truth that the sinner's life is one of constant losses. God gives him great opportunities to do right and be right, but instead of holding on to them and making good, he lets them slip out of his life, and they are lost. He is like the children on the sands by the seashore; they gather up a handful of sand, then open their little fingers and let it slip through and back again to the sands of the sea and their little hands are empty. His gold also on the wings of dissipation and foolishness flies away from him and is lost.
Next take out the small-sized bottle. This we will call the tear bottle; in the Scriptural times the ancients bottled their tears and kept the bottle and its contents as a remembrance of their sorrow. So the sinner has his sorrows also. Outwardly he is gay and happy, but if the door of the heart could be open we would behold a house of mourning. A hopeless sorrow, the saddest of all sadness, because there is no Jesus there to bear his sorrow with him. At last produce the heart with a black stain on it; this is to teach us that down in the depths of life, so long as the heart is wrong, all else is wrong, for "out of the heart are the issues of life." What will the angels do with this bundle if it remains as it is until the last day? They will cast it into the pit of destruction, the place where all evil works must go at last.
Let us now consider "The Christian Bundle."
In preparing this package have placed into it the following articles: A Bible; a cross; a piece of white goods; a card with the words "My Soul" marked on it; a card with the word "God" marked on it. Tie this bundle up with a piece of scarlet tape.
In presenting this bundle say: "You will note it is tied together by a scarlet cord. This teaches us that, as in the days of old when the spies were let down from the windows of the house on the wall in the days of Rahab and thus made their escape, so the scarlet thread of salvation binds us together and holds us to the throne of God, and we are safe indeed. We are kept in the hollow of his hand. This cord is the first thing we note because we must seek Jesus and his salvation first. We must seek first the kingdom, and all else shall be added. Let us see what has been added as we unwrap the bundle and look it over.
"First we find the Bible. When this is taken into our life it becomes a radiant lamp. This book is a flaming torch lighting the way. We will never lose our way if we walk in this light. This Book in life's bundle produces a Bible life. This creates the Master Christian."
Next produce the cross. This stands for the fact that we trust daily in the atoning work of the Cross of Jesus. Now bring out the white goods which stands for Peace. The flag of peace waves from over the door of every Christian heart; peace through the Cross of Christ. Next display the card with the words "My Soul" marked on it. This teaches the idea that all these wonderful qualities are soul deep and therefore will go with you into the other life.
At last produce the card containing the word "God" marked on it. This teaches the fact that if God be in us and with us, wrapped up in us, we are safe for both worlds.
What will the angels do with this bundle? They will carry it through the gates, for the soul is in it, and the soul goes up to God. Now make your personal application and say: "We are all packing up our Bundle of Life; may we all make it The Christian's Bundle.
"Do the first thing first, and do it now. Cling to the scarlet thread. Remember Jesus is standing at the door. He is waiting for you to open wide the heart's door. Let him come in, and he will shut the door after him, and when once he shuts the door, no man can open it. You are safe forever more. You are wrapped up as if in a bundle with God. Do it now.
"So you will note there are two Bundles of Life. Which is yours?"
41