The Tupelo journal., 1904-11-04

Of God exactly as to who belong to Him.
He knows who the builders are. His
eyes are upon those who are to rea 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.
NVHAT would have been thought in
w Chicago when the foundation for
the Marshall Field building was laid,
that splendid foundation which was
dubbed the centipede because it had so
many massive legs of solid masonry and
iron reaching down to the bedrock far
below, if upon that solid foundation,
able to sustain the largest building
which could possibly be constructed, a
squatty and mean building of one or two
stories had been built. What a dishonor
it would have been to the skill and care
with which the foundation had been
laid! How it would have astonished
and disguised the thinking men of the
city! No. that foundation was prepared
for the magnificent structure which aft
erwards reared it's steel and marble pile
proudly aloft towards the sky. And
Gods foundation has been laid for mans
best effort. He must build after Gods
plans. "a He must put only the very best
of material and workmanship into it.
and to realize this high purpose of God,
"let every one that nameth the name Of
Christ depart from iniquity." The earn
est admonition in 1 Corinthians $40,
"let every man take heed how he build
eth t%hereupon," Is meant for every
Christian. What a solemn responsible
ity! How the builder who puts shoddy
material and poor workmanship into a
building is to be despised and condemned
for his criminal conduct.
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
wonderful 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
Paul's mind when in Ephesians he de-
clares that 1--WE 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.
HESE things may be likened unto
i 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
BILE 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 gild tbs
wood, hay and stubble, so as to de-
ceive the eyes of men, and even our
own, and make it seem like the gold
and silver and precious stones. but |
in fhof fncfino dow uyhoo tho Eve oe
God shall a 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-
lions 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