Joshua 24

The Legend Of St. Christopher

Choose you this day whom ye will serve. Joshua 24:15.

Long, long ago there dwelt at the court of a good king a very huge giant. He was so strong that he could take up a church and carry it on his back, and on one thing he had firmly set his mind that he, the strongest man in the world, should serve the strongest king.

For some time he was quite content at the court, but one day a minstrel sang a song about the Devil, and the giant noticed that when the Devil's name was mentioned, the King made a sign with three fingers as if he were afraid, and that he used a charm to keep off evil. So the giant there and then left the court of the good King and set out to look for the Devil.

He had not far to travel before he found him, and he served him most faithfully and thoroughly. Up and down the country they went, burning farmsteads and destroying crops and doing all manner of mischief. One night they were together on a lonely road, plotting harm, when all of a sudden the Devil began to turn pale and to tremble, “Let us go back,” said he, “for I see a Cross at yonder corner.” The giant laughed contemptuously. “A Cross,” he mocked, “what matter's that to thee?” Then the Devil became white with rage, and shook with passion. “What matters it?” cried he, “aye, what matters it? Know ye not that that is the sign of my greatest enemy, who has done me untold harm. He took from me the Cross, the sign of death, and turned it into a sign of victory. He stole the thief who hung upon the Cross. He broke into my kingdom and destroyed my power, and set my prisoners free. And now, wherever I go, night or day, a cross has power to bar my way. If his followers but make that sign, I am helpless.”

“I cannot understand all that thou sayest,” replied the giant, “for I am but dull of wit. But one thing I perceive thou art afraid of thy enemy, and I can no longer stay with thee. I go to find that mighty King who is more powerful than thou art.”

So the giant set out once more on his quest, and came at last to a wood where an old, old man worked among his bees collecting wax for the altar lights. The old man was dressed in white, and round him shone a halo, for he was none other than the Apostle John.

The giant inquired of the old man if he could give him news of the King who was mightier than the Devil; for he desired to become his bond-slave. “News can I give thee,” replied the old man, " for I myself am one of his followers; but his bond-slave canst thou not be, for all his servants are free. But if thou wouldst become his servant, thou must first permit that I christen thee.”

Now after he had been christened, the giant began to inquire how he might serve this King, and the Apostle told him what other men did. “Some,” said he, “serve him by many prayers, and some paint holy pictures, and some carry news of their Master to foreign lands.” But the giant shook his head sadly. “For none of these things am I fitted,” said he, “for I am but a poor wit at the best.” Then the Apostle thought again, and presently he said, “I see that thou art a great and strong man, and thou mayst use thy strength for thy King. Not far hence is a swift and fierce stream, and many travelers in attempting to ford it are swept away by the flood. If thou wouldst please thy Master, go dwell by the stream and bear the travelers across.”

So the giant came to the stream and dwelt by its banks, and many a traveler did he bear across, and many a life did he save.

One dark and stormy winter's night he heard the cry of a child, and on going out from his rude hut, he saw a very small child bearing in his hand a globe. And the little one begged that he might be carried across the river. The giant thought he had a very easy task to perform. Setting the child on his shoulder, he seized the palm tree which served him for a staff and stepped down into the dark waters.

Then an extraordinary thing happened. With each step that he took his burden became heavier, until his shoulders were bowed down beneath the weight, and his staff was bent like a reed. On and on he struggled, the swelling waters now well-nigh overwhelming him, until at length, just as his strength was failing, he gained the other shore.

As his feet touched dry land, suddenly all the air was filled with the ringing of church bells. And when he looked up there was no longer any little child. In his place stood a great and glorious King who was speaking to him in tender accents. And these were his words: “I have seen all that thou hast done to serve Me, and it hath pleased Me well. From henceforth thou shalt be called Christopher, the bearer of Christ, for this night thou hast borne on thy shoulders the King on whom the world is stayed.” (This version of the Legend of St. Christopher is adapted from the poem by R. L. Gales in David in Heaven.)

Boys and girls, this is just a legend, but you know that although legends are first cousins to fairy tales, yet they often contain beautiful truths. And the legend of Christopher contains a great truth which concerns you and me. Like him we have to make a choice whom we will serve. Some people serve wealth, but riches take to themselves wings, and they can never satisfy all our wants. Some people serve pleasure, but pleasure vanishes away and leaves behind it a sense of unrest. Some serve self, and are of all people most miserable.

The best King to serve is the King of Love, the King who died on Calvary. He is a kind Master and a true. He will never leave you nor abandon you; and you will never weary of His service. today He is standing in our midst, and this is His message to every one of you “Choose you this day whom ye will serve.”