The Tupelo journal., 1903-10-23
Of Gods Children Suffer

just enough religion TO be miserable.
When they were cropping in the blindness
of the unsaved state, they permitted
Jesus to touch their eyes and give them
enough sight to see men as trees, walk
Ing, but they have never desired to obtain
any clearer sight. They are near
sighted. They do not see beyond present
conditions, nor do they feel beyond pres
ent desires. Esau sold his birthright
for a mess of pottage, because he was
hungry. He was near-sighted enough
to let a bowl OF cooked vegetables eclipse
q sacred birthright. A five-cent piece
held near enough to the eye can shut out
the great sun. And many a Christian is
near-sighted enough to let the perishable
things of time shut out the things of
eternity. Lot was troubled with near
sightedness. He could see only as far as
Sodom and Gomorrah, and all the glories
: OF that eternal city in the Heavens which
filled the vision of Abraham were shut
out. And see how much he lost through
his near-sfghtedness! See how much he
suffered! The glitter of this life, of pres
ent ease, and gain and pleasure, held his
eye, but he lost it all and barely escaped
with his life. On the whole, l think, you
will be willing to admit that Abraham
had a better time of it. He got more out
of this life, and he is enjoying more in
Heaven to-day, l believe, because his
eye of faith penetrated the things of
time and fixed itself upon the things of
eternity. He developed a large capacity
| for HpoVon Whi1a r ~ ef.rxyoJ hio cD"l
ON the husks of the world and barely got
into the Eternal City.
TAKE your Bible and search through
L It's pages for the long list of near
sighted followers OF God. Some suf-
fered from intermittent attacks of the
disease. others suffered perpetually
from the distressing condition. Saul
belonged to this latter class. His per-
sistent near-sightedness kept him con-
tinually out OF the pathway of Gods
Will and purpose for him. He would
not see that his course led down and
away from God. And how many are
there who are running perilously neal
10 the course which Saul took to his
destruction. A near-sightedness which
shut out all but the present purpose,
or plan, or desire. Then there are those
VINO suffer from the intermittent at
tacks of near-sightedness. There was
David. A night of debauch and pleas
ure cost him days and weeks and
months of agony of soul. and
distress and disgrace of life. One
a only to read the fffty-first Psalm
to know what his near-sightedness cost
him. Sorrow and distress and trou-
Die ultimately are the lot of the near
sighted Christian. He may forget that
there is an accounting day coming.
The near-sighted Christian does not
look over into the to-morrows, but sees
only the desires and attractions and
ambitions of to-day. He lives from
hand to mouth, and gulps down any
thing that comes along. No wonder
there is spiritual dyspepsia, that there
are deformities and monstrosities.
Near-sightedness brings in it's wake
a distressing array of difficulties and
troubles.
A ND when the consequences Of near
~ slghtedness are realized what
sense of regret there is that n has
allowed himself to fall into such error.
And a new danger is encountered here.
Ii realization of past near-sightedress
Is not followed by a treating and cur
ing OF the disease, there is O fur
incl cause to mourn continued near
slghtedness. If l know that | have a
certain disease, prudence and necessi-
ty demand that l take means to cure
that disease. How foolish for me to
mourn the ill effects suffered from the
disease without taking corrective stems
to prevent further evil consequences
And yet that is exactly the way in
which so many, many Christians 20
olundering through life. Their career
Is one long-continued story of regret.
regret, regret, but corrective measures
are not taken to prevent the reason for
regret in the future. It is easy to look
backward and realize past near-sight-
edness, but it is another matter to have
that near-sightedness cured. Why go
on laundering? Why not call in the
Great Physician and seek His aid in
effecting a cure? But it is n thing
to call in the Saviour and have Him
diagnose the case, and it is quite an
other thing to take His medicine
When He prescribes more faith: more
active, positive goodness; more pa
tient waiting, you must take them all
if you would be cured. Near-sighted-
ness limits the vision to the present.
but faith reaches up and on until the
certainties of God are laid hole of.
Near-sightedness prevents one from
seeing the opportunities of being good
and doing good. 1t destroys the de-
sire to do good. Spiritual near-sight-
edress tends to selfishness and self
seeking. But let works, the hand
maiden of faith, have her rightful
place in the life, and another long
step is taken in effecting a cure. The
near-sighted Christian may be busy
saying, Lord, Lord" and Withholding
the cup of cold water which will win
the recognition and approval of the
Master. And with faith and works
must be mixed a liberal amount of "a
thence. The near-sighted Christian
knows not the meaning of that word
patience. He does not know how to
wait. His near-sightedness results in
Impotence. He cannot see far enough
to wait for things; near-sightedness
tells him he must have at once or not
at all. But patience must be taken IN