The name is absent

A Baccalaureate Sermon 199

long. The conscience within us, which can never be ex-
plained by any materialistic or utilitarian philosophy; the
conscience which distinguishes between right and wrong,
knows that there is a categorical and imperative standard of
value and worth condemning wrong, and confesses an au-
thoritative obligation and responsibility to the right; this
conscience witnesses to the Personal Righteous God and
urges obedience to Him as the first law of life. The deepest
need is not for the bread which keeps the body alive, but for
the bread which can sustain and nourish the moral and
spiritual nature; which can upbuild and establish us in cor-
respondence and companionship with God.

Christ alone is the true Bread; He alone can meet these
fundamental longings of the soul; He alone can reveal the
ultimate ideal of life, assure humanity of forgiveness and
bestow the power through which the ideal can be fulfilled.
As the young man and the young woman go forth to the
chosen work, let them first interpret themselves and their
destiny through Him; and by his leading they can come unto
victory and the joy of a great unity with God. Then, if
the law of love and service is to rule in our relation to
other human beings, it is not conceivable that men will be
bound in full helpfulness to men except as they are bound
first to God, who is the universal Father, and bound to
Christ, who reveals the Father and fulfills a perfect brother-
hood. The full service of man, the true “enthusiasm of
humanity,” the organization of human society on the basis
of men helping and not hurting one another, the abolition of
war in all spheres and the realization of peace and universal
progress—these will not come about through any mere
scientific ethics nor through mere philanthropic programs
of parliaments, but only as men and nations grow in Christ-

<<   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   >>

More intriguing information