[Make the mile-stones used in this talk as large as convenient, and of wood or pasteboard.]
Begin by saying that many years ago there was a very good and brave man, one of the best and bravest men named in the Bible, who said, not long before he was put to death: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course.” Who said that? If the children do not know, tell them a few more facts about Paul, until they have discovered whom you mean.
Paul was looking back over a wonderful life when he said he had finished his course. He was comparing it to a race course or to a journey, and there are many great mile-posts he could see as he gazed back over the way he had come. I will stretch this tape line along the table, and it shall stand for Paul’s course; that is, for his noble life. Now we are going to set up the mile-posts along this course.
The first mile-post we must set up, I am sorry to say, is an ugly black one. Do you know what is the first thing the New Testament tells us about Paul? Yes, that he was helping in the stoning of that glorious martyr, Stephen. He was looking on, and encouraging the men that threw the stones. Those were indeed black days in Paul’s life.
Ah, but the next mile-stone is a very different one. What scene does this beautiful golden milestone bring to mind? Yes, Paul is on the Damascus road now, and the great light is shining around him, and he has seen Jesus. He will never be disobedient to that heavenly vision.
In the same way the speaker will go on, setting up the mile-stones along the tape line, and bringing out with each (using the children’s memories as much as possible) some leading event in Paul’s life. Take them up in chronological order. A sky-blue mile-stone is the appointment as a missionary. A mile-post colored gray to represent stone stands for the stoning of Paul. A silver mile-post represents the call to Macedonia. A mile-post painted to represent marble will remind the children of Paul’s speech among the temples and statues of Mar’s Hill. A post painted to look like iron, marks the place Paul had reached when he told about finishing his course—the prison and iron chains at Rome. Only one mile-post was left—this beautiful post with the green wreath on top, the goal-post. “Henceforth,” said the great Christian hero, “there is laid up for me a crown.” Yes, and Paul said that this same crown is ready in heaven for all who love God.