1. Everything created has some kind of likeness I suppose.

2. Many lessons have been taught by comparing something with something else. This was done in the parables taught by Jesus.

3. Jesus, in His parables would say, "The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a mustard seed." or other comparisons.

4. So, we do not feel out of place saying, "A man is likened unto a pencil."

5. Webster says that like means, "having the same, or nearly the same, appearance, qualities, or characteristics as another or others, referred to as a basis of comparison."

6. A slim or skinny man could be like a pencil in that he is slim or skinny.

A. A very skinny man that I knew many years ago and even worked for in his corporation, told me one time that if he were to drink a strawberry drink he could be used as a thermometer.


A. The pencil is made by a creator. So is man. Gen. 1:26,27.

1. The pencil is made to the maker's liking. Man is made in the image of God. "God made man upright." Eccl. 7:29.

B. The pencil wears the name of it creator. Man is to wear the name Christian. Isa. 62:2; Acts 11:26.

C. The pencil either elevates or lowers man's thoughts about its creator by its quality. Man either lowers or elevates what people think of God by his actions. Matt. 5: 13-16.

D. The lead or inward part of the pencile is that part that really produces the desired results. Man really produces the desired results if his inward self is right before his God. Rom. 2:29; Mk. 7:6; 1 Cor. 6:19,20; Matt. 7:15; 2 Cor. 4:16; Eph. 3: 14,19.

E. The pencil has to be sharpened in order to let the lead or the inward part show through. Man must relegate his outward, fleshly self to the background in order for the spiritual or inward part of man to show through. Matt. 23:12; Rom. 7:22, 23.

F. The pencil has an eraser on one end in order to erase mistakes that are made in its use. Man, also, has an eraser for the mistakes that he might make. 1 Jno. 1: 8,9; 2:1,2; Acts 8:18-24.

G. The eraser is not there to encourage mistakes made with the pencil. Neither is prayer to be used as an encouragement to sin. Rom. 6:1,2.

H. The eraser is on the head of the pencil and it must be turned down in order to erase the mistakes made. Man needs to humble himself and bow himself before God when he asks for forgiveness for his mistakes. 1 Pet. 5:5-7; Jas. 4:6,10.

I. The pencil is used up in service to its owner. Man must also allow God to use him up in His service. Rev. 2:10; Eph. 2:10; 1 Cor. 15:58.

J. The pencil is guided into the work by its owner. Man must allow God to guide him. Jer. 10;23; Gal. 5:16-18; 2 Tim. 3:16,17; Rom. 8:14-17.

K. The work done by the owner through the agency of the pencil reflects glory upon the owner. The work done by God through the instrumentality of Christians reflects glory upon God Himself. Matt. 5:16; Eph. 3:20,21; 1 Cor. 6:19,20.

L. The pencil does not try to enact its own laws of labor, but leaves the law-making strictly up to its owner. Man must not try to enact his own law of pardon, but must accept without question the law of God, his owner. Matt. 15:8,9; 2 Jno. 9,10.


1. Many other comparisons could be made in comparing man to a pencil, but these should suffice to give the picture.

2. Do you want to apply these comparisons and likenesses to yourself?

3. You have a Creator, He has the right to tell you what to do and to use you as He desires.

4. Why not wear wear the name of your Creator and do His bidding that you might bring glory to His name?

5. Why not begin this process right now if you haven't already started?

By Jim Sasser

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