Do you remember when the Lord Jesus Christ fed the five thousand? Do you recall how he had them sit down, row by row, on the green grass? Then do you remember how he took the loaves and fishes and blessed them and then broke them and gave to His disciples? And do you remember how the disciples started at one end of the front row and went right along that front row giving everyone a helping? Then do you recall how they turned right around and started back along that front row, again, asking everyone to take a second helping? Do you remember?

    NO! - a thousand times NO!  Had they done that, those in the back rows would have been rising up and protesting most vigorously. "Here," they would have been saying, "Come back here. Give us a helping. We have not had any yet. We are starving: It isn't right; It isn't fair. Why should those people in the front row have a second helping before we had a first?"

    And they would have been right. We talk about the Second Coming of Christ. They have not heard about the first coming yet. It isn't fair. "Why should anyone hear the gospel twice before everyone has heard it once?" You know as well as I do, that not one individual in the company of five thousand men, besides women and children , got a second helping until everyone had a first helping.

    I have never known a minister to have any trouble in the back rows. All his trouble came from the front rows. Those in the front rows are over-fed and they develop spiritual indigestion. They tell him to feed them; when to feed them; when to stop feeding them; how long to feed them; what kind of food to give them, etc., etc., and if he doesn't do it they complain and find fault. If a minister had any sense he would leave the front rows for a while and let them get hungry for once in their lives and go to the back rows; and then when he returned they would be ready to accept his ministry and there would be no murmuring or complaining. My friend, I have been in the back rows. I have seen the countless millions in those back rows famishing for the Bread of Life. Is it right? should we be concentrating on on the front rows? Ought we not rather be training the front rows to share what they have with the back rows, and thus reach with the Gospel those for whom nothing has been prepared?

    Dr. Alexander Duff, that great veteran missionary to India, returned to Scotland to die, as he stood before the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, he made his appeal, but there was no response. In the midst of his appeal he fainted and was carried off the platform. The doctor bent over him and examined his heart. presently he opened his eyes.
    "Where am I?" he cried. "Where am I?"
    "Lie still," said the doctor. "You have had a heart attack."
    "But," exclaimed the old warrior, "I must finish my appeal. Take me back! Take me back! I haven't finished my appeal yet."
    "Lie still," said the doctor. "You are too weak to go back."
But the aged missionary struggled to his feet, his determination overcoming his weakness; and with the doctor on one side and the moderator on the other side, the white-haired warrior was lead again to the platform, and as he mounted the pulpit steps, the entire Assembly rose to do him honour. Then he continued his appeal.

    "When Queen Victoria calls for volunteers for India," he exclaimed, "hundreds of young men respond; but when King Jesus calls no one goes." Then he paused. Again he spoke. "Is it true," he asked, "that Scotland has no more sons to give for India?" Again he paused. "Very well," he concluded, "if Scotland has no more young men to send to India, then old and decrepit though I am, I will go back, even though I cannot preach, I can lie down on the banks of the Ganges and die, in order to let the people of India know  that there is at least one man in Scotland who cares  enough for their souls to give his life for them."

    In a moment young men , all over the assembly, sprang to their feet, crying out, "I'll go!" And after the famous missionary had passed on many of those same young men found their way to India, there to invest their lives as missionaries, as a result of the appeal God had made through Dr. Duff.

    My friend, will you go? Has God spoken to you? Have you heard His call? Will you answer "Lord, here am I, send me"? And if you can not go, will you send a substitute? Will you do somethingfor the back rows? It is for you to decide.

    Why should anyone hear the Gospel twice before everyone has heard it once?