The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1904-11-05

A ND the second motto Is mans side. It
n is not enough that God knows them
that are His. Man must know by his
life and his deeds, by his attitude to-
wards the goodness and truth of God and
his opposition to the evil within and
without, that he belongs to God. 1t is
not sufficient that God should claim us,
and lest any should see but one side OF
Gods truth and should think that it did
not matter how he lived, for God would
save all mankind, the other truth ac-
companies the first, and is as follows:
Let every n that nameth the name
of Christ depart from iniQuity." Liz
cense to sin is not given by the declara-
ton of the first motto of the inscription,
but rather it would imply a life of holy
living. The second motto is a natural
development of the first. 1t is the plans.
the specifications, by which man Is to
build the superstructure. Here Is the
foundation laid by God, Jesus Christ.
Himself, not only being that foundation
but the cornerstone as well. The first
part of the inscription reminds us of the
words of Jesus to His Heavenly Father
when He declared: "Of them that Thou
hast given Me I have lost none" 1t Is a
known and definite factor in the mind
Of God exactly as to who belong to Him.
He knows who the builders are. His
eyes are upon those who are to rear the
superstructure on the foundation which
He has provided, and because God is as
choice and careful of the superstructure
as of the foundation He tells you and me
who are builders on that foundation just
what stately, and solid, and permanent
structure we are to rear. Nothing OF
evil, or error, is to be put there if God
can help it. And for this reason He tells
those of us who name the name Of
Christ to depart from evil" God wants
a building of honor, and beauty, and en-
during character to grace His splendid
and everlasting foundation.
IN referring to the building which the
| Christian is rearing upon the founda-
ton of Christ Jesus, Peter calls us 'live-
ly stones" This allusion to the building
of which all Christians are stones un-
doubtedly has reference to Solomon's
temple. Each individual stone of that
wOnderfut building was carefully pre-
pared for its place in the structure be-
fore it was brought to the scene of the
temple, so that there was no sound of
the workmen'S tools heard as the build
ing was erected. And as stones for Gods
building we are being fitted and pre-
pared to fill a place in that invisible
temple Of the Church of Christ which is
being built. This is the thought in
Pauls mind when in Ephesians he de-
clares that I'VE are His workmanship"
God has a part which He performs for
each individual Christian, and we are
builders with Him in making these liv-
ing stones of just the right proportions
and size to fill the place we may and
ought to fill in His perfect building. We
are to depart from iniquity. That is
every form of sin. No longer are we to
build for the natural appetites and lusts.
but by a deliberate and positive choice
on our part we are to turn from such
things and build into our characters
such things as shall abide.
T HESE things may be likened unto
1 gold, silver, precious stones, to
which reference is made in the third
chapter of first Corinthians, and are
the things which are to- be built upon
the foundation, for they are the only
materials which will stand the test
ing. If a man puts wood, hay, stub
bic upon the foundation. it will be
destroyed, for every mans work shall
be made manifest; for the day shall
declare it, because it shall be re.
vealed by fire; and the fire shall try
every mans work of what sort it is.
If any mans work abide which he
hath built thereupon, he shall receive
a reward. If any mans work shall
be burned, he shall suffer loss; but
he himself shall be saved, yet so as by
fire" Our building is to be severely
tested. We may be able to gid tbs
wood, hay and stubble, so as to de-
ceive the eyes of men, and even our
own, and make 1t seem like the gold
and silver and precious stones. but
III HAT IcSllHS udy Wucu the uT6 Oh
God shall eat through the thin veneer
and lick up the combustible material
We have been putting into our build
ing we shall be stripped of everything
but just bare salvation. The test.
ing is sure to come. We cannot de-
ceive God. What kind of material
are we putting upon the foundation
which God has given us? 1t is an
enduring foundation. and is worthy Of
the structure of gold, silver and pre-
cious stones. which shall prove as en-
during as the foundation itself. Ara
we content to put upon it materials
which shall dishonor the foundation,
and disgrace us in the day of testing?
We cannot find the gold, silver and
precious stones along the pathway of
the old nature. We cannot obtain
them if we have our eyes and affec-
fixed upon the world and tho
things of the world. We must de-
part from the desires of the natural
man, and seek the things of God.
This is mans part. This is his share
in the inscription which adorns that
Il