Escalators
Everybody has now become quite accustomed to "moving stairways." As we approach one, we see before us an ordinary looking staircase, but, with this difference, that the whole of the stairs are constantly moving steadily upward. If we wish to get to the top, all we have to do is just to step on, and we are carried up by the staircase. We shall observe, as we travel upward, notices requesting passengers to keep to the "right" to allow those who are energetic enough to do so to climb up a staircase that is already moving upwards, to pass. Some, of course, may be on urgent errands demanding haste, and it would be very selfish on our part to impede them.
In these days boys and girls are having much more done for them than ever has been the case before. Their fathers and mothers had much more difficult stairs to climb—had fewer advantages. Boys and girls! do not abuse all the many privileges that are now yours, but use them properly and unselfishly. We must not stand on the stairs in such a way as to hinder others. We may be standing in the way of some on important errands, or hindering others in performing good and noble deeds.
If we are not able to accomplish things as quickly as others, it is distinctly selfish to stand in the way of those climbing more quickly than ourselves. Do not be hinderers! Be helpers!
Ask yourselves this question: "Am I hindering others from doing the good that it is not in my power to do?" We must be very careful how we live, speak, and act, as we may, and can, hinder others from coming to the Lord Jesus Christ, and from loving and serving Him.
In the New Testament we read about the very religious Pharisees; they "stood on the stairs," in the way of others, they were hinderers. Our Saviour addressed some very severe words to them. This is what He said to those hinderers: "Woe unto you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because ye shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men, ye enter not in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to enter." They were standing "on the stairs" in the way of others. We do this, but we WILL not. Let us help others to rise, in doing so we shall find that we, ourselves, have risen greater heights of goodness. "In honor preferring another."
