I remember when I went to California, just to try and get a few souls saved on the Pacific coast, I went into a school there to teach.
Well, we got out the blackboard, and the lesson was on "Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven." I asked the class teacher to write the lesson on the board. "Suppose we write on that board some earthly treasures? And we will begin with gold."
Everyone understood this for they had all had come to the Pacific coast hoping to find it.
"Well we will put down houses next and then land. Next we will put down fast horses." They all understood what fast horses were-they knew a good deal more about fast horses than they knew about the kingdom of God.
"Next we will put down tobacco." The teacher disagreed. "Put it down," said I, "many a man thinks more of tobacco than he does of God.
"Next put down rum." The teacher strongly objected to this. He didn't like to put it down at all.
"Write it down," I said. "Many a man will sell his reputation, his home, his wife, his children, everything he has, for rum. It is the god of some men. Many here are ready to sell their present, and their eternal welfare for it. Put it down," and down it went.
"Now," said I, "suppose we put down some of the heavenly treasures. Put down Jesus to head the list, then heaven, then River of Life, then Crown of Glory."
I went on until the column was filled, and then just drew a line and showed the heavenly and the earthly things in contrast. My friends, they could not stand comparison. If a man just does that, he cannot but see the superiority of the heavenly over the earthly treasures.
Well, it turned out that the teacher was not a Christian. He had gone to California on the usual hunt—gold; and when he saw the two columns placed side by side, the excellence of the one over the other was irresistible, and he was the first soul God gave me on the Pacific coast. He accepted Christ, and that man came to the station when I was coming away and blessed me for coming to that place.