“My dear child, to think you would not, would be like expecting you to win the prize as soon as you have started to run the race; to gain the victory as soon as the battle is begun. Not so easily can our spiritual foes, or the evil of our natures, be overcome; the fight will go on till we reach the verge of Jordan.”
“Death, papa?”
“Yes; ’tis only then we can sing the victor’s song. And yet, trusting in the Lord Jesus, who is called ‘the captain of our salvation,’ we may be sure of final victory: certain that we shall be ‘more than conquerors through him that loved us.’”
Max joined them presently, and asked his father what orders he was to carry to the workmen and men-servants.
When that matter had been attended to, the captain, giving the lad a look of proud fatherly affection, said: “Max, my boy, you are growing fast; you will be a man one of these days, should it please God to spare your life; what do you think of making of yourself? I mean,” seeing a slightly puzzled look on the lad’s face, “what would you choose as your principal employment for life?”
“I don’t know, papa,” Max answered, with some hesitation. “What would you like best to have me do?”
“Whatever you have most talent and inclination for, if we can find out what that is,” returned his father; “for that will be the thing you can do with the greatest enjoyment and most successfully.”
“That is very kind in you, papa,” said Max; “but I would rather have you decide for me, you are so much wiser than I; and I don’t think I have any particular fancy for any one thing yet.”
“Well, my son, there is no need to decide in haste,” his father said; “it will be better to take plenty of time to consider the question, as so we will be more likely to come to a wise decision.
“But, my boy, whatever your choice may be, I want you to seek to glorify God in doing your work; to be the servant of God and not the servant of men.