“In the case of the desert, it is conversion, pure and simple.  May the heavenly waters of His grace come to each one of us today, whether it be a first decision to be united with Him, or whether it be a decision to return to Him whom we have deserted.

“Our duty toward our fellow men conies before us happily in these words from the prophet Isaiah, ’If thou draw out thy soul to the hungry and afflicted soul, thou shalt be like a spring of water whose waters fail not.’”

REFLECTING AND BLESSING
    —­Helpfulness
    —­Testimony

Those Who Are “The Light of the World” Should be a Guide to Those
Who Are in Darkness.

THE LESSON—­That those who have received the light from God’s Word should gladly reflect that light to those about them.

The central thought of this illustration is the responsibility which rests upon God’s children in the spreading of the brightness of Christianity to those who must receive it through them.  It is appropriate for many occasions and will fit audiences of all ages in which the children form a part.

The Talk.

“It is said that once upon a time a teacher asked a boy to tell her whether the sun or the moon is of the greater importance to the world.

“‘The moon,’ replied the boy.

“‘Why,’ inquired the teacher, ’do you think the moon is of more benefit to the world than the sun is?’

“‘Because,’ said the boy, ’the moon shines at night when we need it, but the sun shines only in the daytime when we do not need it.’

“That was certainly a strange kind of an answer; wasn’t it?  I will draw the earth and the moon to show more plainly just how mistaken the boy was. [Draw the earth circle and the moon circle, and show the shaded parts as you proceed.]

“Here we have the earth with one-half in darkness, and here is the moon with one-half in darkness.  This side of the earth is light, while this other side would be very dark indeed if it were not for the rays of light coming from the moon, like this:  [Draw dotted line showing rays of light going from the moon to the earth, completing Fig. 70].

[Illustration:  Fig. 70]

“Now, then we ask, can the moon shine upon the earth all of itself without any help?  Ah, no—­and that is the thing the boy didn’t know, or he never would have answered as he did.  Where does the moon get its light from?  Yes, from the sun.  I will draw part of a circle to represent the sun. [Draw the sun.] And this dotted line [draw dotted line from sun to moon, completing Fig. 71] shows how the sun sends its brilliant light to the moon, so that the moon may reflect part of it back to the earth which would be enshrouded in darkness if it were not for the sun.  The moon acts just like a mirror which you hold in your hand and use to reflect the sun’s rays wherever you please.

[Illustration:  Fig. 71]

“Sometimes the moon gets between the earth and the sun, and it is then that it does not reflect the sun’s light and it is then that we have nights of inky blackness.