From the years 1932 to 1967, the city of Sydney was facing a very unique problem. Every few days or so, people walking along the streets of Sydney would find chalk graffiti on public property, walls, benches, streets; there was also an instance where they found the graffiti in the bell of a clock tower of the Sydney Post Office. No one knew who was doing it, the yellow chalk graffiti simply spelled the word ‘Eternity’ and covered the streets of Sydney.
The story soon spread, yet no one knew who the person was and what the motive of this person was. It was not until Rev Lisle M. Thompson, who preached at the Burton Street Baptist Church, saw a church cleaner sneak out a piece of chalk from his pocket and write the word on the footpath. His story was soon revealed to Sydneysiders.
This man is identified to be Arthur Stance. Arthur was born in 1885. He grew up in an alcoholic household. He recalled a time when his family sat around the table crying because there was nothing left to drink, and no money to buy more. Arthur was arrested for the first time when he was 15, for drunkenness and indecency, this, sadly became a regular habit. When he was old enough, he enlisted into the military to fight overseas, but he had to return early because in his time in the military, he suffered respiratory illnesses.
On the night of 6 August 1930, Arthur heard a sermon by Rev Hammond at St. Barnabas Church. He found himself inspired by the words of a sermon, he became enamoured of the notion of eternity and became a Christian that day. Two years later, on 14 November 1932, Stace was further inspired by the preaching of evangelist John Ridley. The sermon that night was titled “The Echoes of Eternity” (Isaiah 57:15) on the hope Christians can have from the eternal kingdom of God. He heard evangelist John Ridley exclaiming “Eternity, eternity, I wish that I could sound or shout that word to everyone in the streets of Sydney. You’ve got to meet it, where will you spend Eternity?”
That evening, Arthur took this call upon himself, a decision he would later attribute to “permission from a higher source”. He transformed from a drunkard who could barely sign his name into a devoted Christian inviting Sydneysiders to seek ‘Eternity’. In the years when he first started writing, it was estimated that through his inexperienced writing hand, he wrote ‘Eternity’ an estimated 500,000 times. No one will ever know how many lives it has influenced. But all it took was for the faith of one man, with one mission, to write just one word. Arthur’s one-word sermon may have indirectly challenged thousands of people in Sydney indirectly to discipleship. Arthur’s life story ended when he passed on in 1967, but the impact of his story has just begun.
Sydney is one of the first major cities to usher in the New Year. In 1999, the world was preparing to usher in the new millennium. This is a huge event as it happens once every 1000 years. This event was the biggest New Year celebration yet. The eyes of the world were on Sydney to deliver the best celebration to usher humankind into the 2000s. The world waited in anticipation, the media were all lined up ready to capture footage of the celebrations. As the clock counted down, as 1999 was gone and year 2000 was ushered in. The clock struck midnight and on the Sydney Harbour Bridge was the word ‘Eternity’ casted on the bridge.
It all started with one man who heard a sermon, submitted his life and participated in spreading the knowledge of the Kingdom of God through a simple chalk. The word ‘Eternity’ which describes the Kingdom of God was seen by billions across the world. What a powerful message from the conviction of the least expected person!
History records for us another unexpected person. A person that Arthur’s one-word sermon points to. A person who was born in a manger, who grew up as a carpenter. But with full authority, knowing the will of the Father, died on the cross for you and I, so that we can have hope in the Kingdom. On the third day, he rose from the dead. My debt is paid and a victory won, Jesus Christ is my salvation! The work was completed on the cross and fulfilled in the empty tomb. Those who believe can now share in eternal fellowship with each other and with the risen King!
Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed!
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