Genesis 49:4

Stability

Unstable as water. Genesis 49:4.

Most of you know the meaning of the word “unstable.” “Stable” means reliable, firm, or constant; and a boy or girl who is “unstable” lacks these good qualities. What does the word “stable” remind you of? It reminds me of something very unlike boys and girls Aberdeen granite. If you visit Aberdeen, you will notice that the houses are very white and plain: there is little or no ornamentation upon them. Instead of that, straight lines are the principal feature. In other big cities flowers, figures, or beautiful tracery are carved on many of the large buildings. Granite, however, is too hard a stone to carve easily. It is beautiful, but it suggests not so much beauty as stability something that is thoroughly reliable. And all over the world a good Aberdonian is supposed to be firm and reliable, just like his native granite.

Outward beauty, although it is a precious thing, does not always mean perfection. Once an architect designed a great railway bridge that was supposed to combine lightness with strength. When at last it was built, people were very proud of it and said “How beautiful! Strength need not mean ugliness any longer.” But one night the wind blew hard, down came the bridge while a train was crossing it, many lives were lost, and the architect's reputation was ruined. And there is nothing more charming than a pleasant boy a boy with fine manners; but if he is unstable, don't you feel you would very much prefer to have the stability, without the polish?

A distinguished young minister died, and a great friend of his wrote a memoir of him. We hear of him at first as “Peter” a boy of humble birth, who was full of silent determination, and very clever at his lessons. What was most in Peter's mind, however, was religion. He had a mother who spoke to him a great deal about Jesus Christ, and very early he decided to be His follower.

Now Peter did not think of manners; his goodness was in his heart. But he was a boy to be relied on. Some of the plain country people knew that. His home was about three miles out of the market town to which he went to school, and he used to learn his lessons as he walked back. The women who had been in the town buying things, seeing him coming would sit down at the roadside and say “We'll wait for Peter; he'll help us up the brae.”

Years after this, when he was a student at Aberdeen University, and carrying everything before him in the examinations, he went back to his native parish during his holidays, and found that there had been a revival in the neighboring town. Many of his old schoolfellows were thinking a great deal about the life of the soul. Peter did all he could to get them to decide to be Christians. Night after night, he argued with one in particular. This boy could not tolerate being spoken to about religion by anyone else. “You are all humbugs” he said; “I don't believe in any of you but Peter.” He felt that Peter was a man to be relied on, and that if he said a thing, that thing was true. Some day, I hope, you boys and girls will read the life of Peter Thomson.

Did you ever think how much depends on stability? In building it means the safety of peoples' lives; in men, the prosperity of a country or a nation. In boys and girls ask yourselves what it means if a boy or girl is not reliable, not constant. Ask yourselves what it means if, in your own family, one is like that. Whisper low to yourself, “Am I that one?”

One of the great themes of the Old Testament is the stability of God. On that we can always depend. Boys and girls do have times when they feel that their fathers and mothers cannot help them. But they have a firm Friend who is ready to listen to their difficulties at any moment. Children, when you are men and women the days will come when you will feel even more that you want support. To whom are you going for that support?

Soldiers who went through the Crimean War, like our soldier boys in World War I and II, never spoke to their friends of the hardships they endured; but Hector Macpherson, a soldier of his country and Jesus Christ, writing to a friend, told how, by chance, he one day met Duncan Matheson, the Scottish evangelist. They had been old friends. The following Sunday, the two retired to a ravine and there, amid the deafening roar of cannon, they prayed and then sang together the old battle-song

God is our refuge and our strength,

In straits a present aid;

Therefore, although the earth remove,

We will not be afraid.

So strengthened did they both feel that they forgot they were in the presence of one of the greatest woes of earth. And the watchword of the two henceforth was “The Lord reigneth.” Wouldn't it be a grand thing if you felt that God was your King, your defender, and your support?