The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1903-12-05

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50 simple and yet
>--@ profound. Paul
-. sent To "preach the Gospel; not In
wisdom OF words, lest the cross OF
Christ should be made void" Ana II
is this simple old story Of the cross
which we want to proclaim that there
by perhaps some may be delivered from
their folly and come to see and Know
in the cross the power OF God. 10 those
who have experienced salvation ana
thus have come to know Gods merci-
ful provision for mankind in His plan
Of redemption. 1t seems strange that
there should be those who fall TO I'M
derstand God or realize their need OF
redemption. And yet such there are.
1t Is condition and not theory which
gre meet. On every hand there are
found those who for reasons which are
manifold do not come to knowledge
of the truth. Skepticism and unbelief
aistort the cross and make Gods mar
xelous plan of salvation appear unreal
and foolish. The finite mind OF man
.,tries to reason out and understand the
Infinite God; he exercises his own wis
dom and evolves his own theories as to
God and His methods with man. Per-
fishing in the very presence Of the cross
because unbelief will not give true
vision of the souls need and Of the
crucifled Lord, even as many persisted
in the wilderness because they would
not turn their eyes to the brazen serpent
which Moses held up. type Of the
Christ.
EvEN as the brazen serpent marked
II the line Of separation between the
dead and the living, so the cross Of
Christ marks the division OF humanity
to-day, between the perishing and the
being saved. This division was strik-
fngly set forth upon thevery day Of the
crucifxion, when between the two
thieves the Christ was placed. To one
thief the cross of Christ meant the
power of God which was able to deliver
his soul from worse death than that
into which his body was sinking. and the
.:SAvfour's promise came to cheer his
heart In the terrible hour: This day
.shalt thou be with Me in paradise y
But to the other thief came no such re-
/. assuring message, for his heart of un-
belief shut out the true vision Of the
{. cross of Christ and made 1t appear as
foolishness unto him. And the line OIL
separation which existed between these
two sinners has continued down to thi.
day. The cross of Christ continues te
those who are perishing, foolishness
bot unto those being saved II Is still the
power of God unto salvation. 1t is tn,
difference between light and darkness
life and death. On one side the eterna
blessing OF God and His Christ is being
shed forth and on the other is found thu
deep shadow OF His judgment. To thos,
standing In the light of the glory Of tina
cross the power of God Is known an,
felt, but where the darkness and shad
Ow are. there the cross appears as fool.
dshness. While the soul Is carrying tn,
burden OF sin the power Of the cross 4
not felt, but when the burden of sill
rolis into the grave at It's foot, then tn
soul knows what God has wrough
Through that cross for him. 1t is n,
longer foolishness, but power and wis
dom Divine.
THE cross Of Christ is the power an,
4 wisdom of God because Of Its ne
cessity. The sin Of the world could no
be atoned for in any other way, 70
without the shedding Of blood is no re
mission" Jesus declared of Himsel
that "as Moses lifted up the serpent Ii
the wilderness, so must the Son OF Ma,
be lifted up, that whosoever believetl
In Him should not perish but have eter
nal life" Gods Justice demanded tn
punishment of sin. Gods mercy pro
vfded sacrifice for sin. The cross re
Ucals the power Of God. The one su
preme thought of God through the age
Was the redemption Of man, and Hi
mighty power and resources were exert
ed In and through man to the accom-
plIshment OF this great salvation" Tn
:. cross reveals the wisdom Of God. HI
planned from the foundation df TIL
world for the redemption of man. An,
how marvelously He has wrought on
His plans through the ages. Only tn,
INFINITE wisdom Of great God coul,
Bring them to successful elimination
Tue cross Of Christ reveals the love o
Hold. That wonderful sixteenth ycks,
q the third chapter OF John declare,
chat "God so loved" His love was 81
fmmeasurably great that the best gift II,
could offer was mono too good for Hin
% give. and so He gave His only be
soften Son. Some one has said tina
r there Is any bright side to human sin
n q that II serves as background OF
Wi1ich God can paint with rainbow
neightness the colors Of His grace and
'Iose: II Il that II serves to bring ou
lAsauties In the Divine character which
Dossibly We could not know II We had
.not rehelled against Him. Oh, the love
- God which passeth all Understandings