46
"THE WORDLESS BOOK"
OBJECTS: A Small Book with Five Colored Pages[1]
Some years ago in one of the mining-towns of central Pennsylvania, a Christian English miner was noticed going to a secluded spot every noon, and holding in his hand a small red book. He seemed to be reading it, and was deeply interested in its contents.
This caused his fellow workmen no little astonishment as the book was so small that he could easily read it through in a few minutes, yet he continued to keep the book before his eyes each noon for many long months. What could he be doing? Was he reading it or just looking at it?
That was the big question they all had in their minds. At last they determined to find out the truth about the book if possible, so one day they approached him with the question: "What makes that little book so interesting to you? It certainly must contain a most wonderful story to engage your attention for so long a time." The man made a courteous reply by saying: "It is a wordless book, and you are quite correct when you say it must contain a wonderful story, for it does record the most wonderful story the world has ever heard; it is the story of salvation." He then showed them the book. It was a book of colors only, not words, It was the Story of Salvation in Colors. He then explained: "The first page is black; that stands for sin. The second page is red; that stands for the blood of Jesus which covers the black. The third page is white; that stands for righteousness. And the last page is yellow; that stands for heaven with its streets of gold. This is the most wonderful story of the world, because it is the Story of Redemption which never grows old, and I never grow tired of thinking about it and seeing it by colors."
Years ago when I was a child I saw a little book just like that. It was published in London, England. When I first began to use object lessons in talking, I made an enlarged copy of it.
Later I got out an improved edition of this book, using one additional color (green) and have put it on the market. It is called the "American Improved Wordless Book."
With but little difficulty you can make one for your own use. This is the way to do it. Secure an ordinary note-book and cover the two open pages with black paper; this stands for sin. Cover the next two open pages with red paper, which will stand for the blood of Christ. Cover the next two pages with pure white paper without the ruled lines on it; this will stand for righteousness. Cover the next two with green paper; this will represent fruitfulness or good works. Cover the last two open pages with yellow; this will stand for heaven, with its sheets of yellow gold. You may make this book as large as you desire, and when you have finished it hold it up before your hearers and open it at the black pages and say, "The black stands for the sinful heart of man."
Read the following Scripture, "By one man sin entered into the world, so death [black crape] passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Rom. 5:12). Quote also John 3:19, "Men love darkness [black] rather than light because their deeds are evil" (black). Romans 6:23 is also a black verse; it reads, "The wages of sin is death" (black). Ezekiel 33:11 is another black verse. It says: "Turn ye, turn ye from your evil [black] ways; for why will ye die?" (Black.)