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In India they tell the story of the Golden Palace. Sultan Ahmed was a great king. He sent Yakoob, the most skilful of his builders, with vast sums of money, to erect in the mountains of snow the most splendid palace ever seen. Yakoob went to the place, and found a great famine among the people, and many of them dying. He took all his own money, and the money given him by the king, to build the palace, and gave it to feed the starving people.
Ahmed came at length to see his palace and there was none there. He sent for Yakoob and learned his story, but was very angry and cast him into prison. “Tomorrow thou shalt die,” he said, “for thou hast robbed the king.” But that night Ahmed had a dream. There came to him one who said: “Follow me.” Up from the earth they soared, until they were at heaven’s gate. They entered, and lo! There stood a palace of pure gold, more brilliant than the sun, and vaster far than any palace of earth.
“What palace is this?” asked Ahmed, and his guide answered: “this is the palace of Merciful Deeds, built for thee by Yakoob the wise. Its glory shall endure when all earth’s things have passed away.” Then the king understood that Yakoob had done most wisely with his money.
This story has its lesson of truth. The life thrown away on earth for Christ, spent in his cause, wasted in loving service for him, though it seems to leave no monument, though it receives no honor in this world, is laying up treasure, honor, reward, blessedness, in the unseen world.