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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.