The Titanic's Last Hero by Moody Adams Page A

SAVIOR, mighty to save?
    See, faithful to Christ, his Master,
    Intent on the task He gave,
    On the eve of the dire disaster
    One is telling His power to save.
    If sinks the sun with so pure a light,
    It will rise again both serene and bright.
    The death of the righteous who dieth
    Is gateway to life evermore;
    The joy that all glories outvieth
    For him is laid up in store.
    Painless and tearless,
    with “no more sea,”
    Beauteous indeed
    shall the morning be.
    —Horace E. Govan

CHAPTER 18
    FOUR SERMON OUTLINES BY
JOHN HARPER
    I. “Christ’s Chosen Ones”
    “THEY ARE NOT OF THE world, even as I am not of the world” (John 17:16).
    1. His chosen ones were given to Him by the Father, verse 6.
2. For them He prays—not for the world, verse 9.
    3. They are hated by the world, verse 14.
    4. He seeks that they be kept from the evil of the world, verse 15.
    5. He sends them as He was sent Himself into the world, verse 18.
    6. He desires their unity to convince the world, verse 21.
    7. He shows that the Father is not known to the world, verse 25.
    The words of the text (verse 16) present to us:
    1. A DISTINGUISHING TRUTH OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH
a. Christians are not of the world in the origin of their life—They are born from above.
b. Not of the world in the character of their service—The Christian life consists in doing the will of God.
c. Not in the world in the nature of their conduct—They follow after holiness. They abhor sin.
d. Not of the world in the sources of their joy—Their joy is in God; the world finds pleasure in sin.
e. Not of the world in the theme of their conversation—Their desire is “tell me more about Jesus.”
    2. THE WORDS OF THE TEXT PRESENT US WITH A SEARCHING TEST FOR THE CHRISTIAN HEART.
a. If not of the world this will be seen:
i. in the hour of bereavement and loss
ii. amid trial and perplexity
iii. in the decisions and choices we make
iv. in times of prosperity and success
    3. THE WORDS OF THE TEXT SUGGEST TO US THAT THERE WILL SURELY BE TRIAL IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.
a. The world will reject us.
b. The world will not love us.
     
    II. “Who Is the Fool?”
    “ I have sinned I have played the fool” (I Samuel 26:21).
    The text clearly indicates that:
    1. THE MAN IS A FOOL WHO SACRIFICES HIS LIFE AT THE SHRINE OF SINFUL INDULGENCE.
    “ Fools make a mock at sin” (Proverbs 14:9). Another reading is, “ Sin makes a mock at fools.”
    It mocks men by promising what it never performs. Men sacrifice all and gain nothing.
a. Sin robs of peace of conscience.
b. Sin robs of purity of mind.
c. Sin robs of health of body.
d. Sin robs of the hope of heaven.
2. THE MAN IS A FOOL WHO SHROUDS HIMSELF IN INFIDELITY.
    “The fool hath said in his heart there is no God” (Psalm 14:1).
a. Is he not a fool who gives up light for darkness?
b. Is he not a fool who gives up home for hopelessness?
c. Is he not a fool who gives up gospel comfort for a cheerless philosophy?
3. THE MAN IS A FOOL WHO PUTS OFF THE DECISIOIN FOR CHRIST TILL HE IS DYING.
    He is a fool because he is a present loser.
a. He loses true joy of heart.
b. He loses peace of conscience.
c. He loses victory over sin.
d. He loses capacity to enjoy life.
    He may be an eternal loser. He may delay till too late.
     
    III. “Love to Be Remembered”
    “Draw me, we will run after Thee: the King hath brought me into His chambers; we will be glad and rejoice in Thee, we will remember Thy love more than wine” (Song of Solomon 1:4).
    In this verse we have love’s three-fold resolve:
1. A RESOLVE TO FOLLOW
a. It is eager following: “We will run after Thee.”
b. It is close following. Not Peter-like, afar off. But David-like, “My soul followeth hard after Thee.” Note that it is following, not running before Him. “He will run after thee.”
2. A RESOLVE TO BE GLAD AND REJOICE
a. Note the source of the believer’s joy. It is “in Thee.”
b. Not in the “good ointments” (verse 3)—symbols of the graces he bestows.
c. Not in the