Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-12-07

!
er. The scriptures tell US also that it
will be possible for man who has
been fguratively washed from his for
mer condition Of sin-detilement and
who has been clothed of the Lo,d
symbolicaIly in a robe of righteous
ness and who had been begotten of
the holy Spirit of love to turn from
this holy commandment OF iove-to
turn from the way Of righteousness, TO
his former condition of sin-detilement.
The Apostle gives the illustration OF
the SOW that was washed returning to
her wallowing In the mire Gil Peter ii.
22l. But the case of such is hopeless IL
the step be taken with full intention
and deliberation-if the return to a
murderous condition of heart-brother-
hating-be with the full consent of the
heart. The Apostle. however, does init
mate that up to a certain point there
is hope of recovery and hence he
urges all of the faithful to assist these.
saying, HE that conyerteth a sinner
(once brother) from the error of his
ways shall save a soul from death"
ARdiU We ICdQs NV snail
enter into the Kingdom OF Cod q
Corinthians vi. 10l. He surely would
be unfit. This does not. however. i'm
ply that all total abstainers from in
toxicant liquors are tit for the King
dom. Neither does it imply that a
drunkard might not reform and thus
cease to be a drunkard, and by the
Lords grace, become fit for the King
dom. Moreover the word drunkdrd in
the Bible Is frequently used in a Eg-
urative sense. 1t represents an added
condition Of the mind; as for instance,
we read, that Babylon's cup made all
the nations drunk Revelation xviii,
2-3l. This signifies that fellowship
with false doctrines has permeated,
Influenced, bewildered the world in
general Gods people partaking Of
Christ's cup Of suffering are said to
receive "the spirit of a sound mind
clearness of understanding respecting
the Divine character and Plan and the
principles of righteousness. All who
will be tit for the Kingdom may be
expected to have considerable clear
less OIL kCoDCGliuS III
vine thugs. They are to know God,
and by receiving his Spirit, they are
to have understanding of 1.-The deep
things of Cod" which the natural man
cannot understand q Corinthians ii,
10-14). OF this our Lord spoke, saying,
This is life eternal. that they might
know thee the only trne God. and Je-
sus Christ, whom thou hast sent"
The Importance of Fidelity.
Pride is another quality of the heart
which would render its possessor un-
fit for the Kingdom of God. We read
that the Lord ''resisteth the proud aud
giveth grace to the humble" Il Peter v,
81. Pride is one of the things which
God hates. 1t is a foe to righteous
ness in general and leads captive
many into sin. When we read that
God shows his favor to the humble,
we may be sure that the favor Of
joint-heirship with the Redeemer is
for the humble alone. With what
carefulness this should lead us to
search our hearts and put away every
thing In the nature of pride, self-cOn-
ceit. Love is the fulfilling of the Law.
Love is The Law of the New Creation
and pride is a foe to love. 1t Is related
to selfishness. which is a deep seated
foe of every grace of the holy Spirit.
The Lord wishes us to see that the
Heavenly Father is not merely calling
for those who have generally good in
tentions and who would rather do
right than do wrong. We may rejoice
with such that they are better than
their neighbors. but they are not fit for
the Kingdom of God. unless their love
for righteousness, for Truth, for the
will of God, be SO firmly established
that they are ready and willing to ZEN
dure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus
Christ" and to fight good fight" to
the end OF the course. laying hold upon
eternal life and glory and immortali-
ty. One of Gods objects in permit
ting the world and the flesh and the
Adversary to have the power which
they now possess to counterfeit and to
fight against our good Intentions and
good resolutions is explained in the
Scriptures. We read THE Lord your
God proveth you. to know whether
We love the Lord your God with all
your heart and with all your souP'
deuteronomy xiii. 81. If love of sin
or love of self or love of any earthly
thing can overbalance our love to the
Lord aud to his Truth aud his people,
we are not worthy of place In the
Kingdom-not lit for the Kingdom.
Not merely good professions, but faith
fulDess unto death, fxity of charac-
ter, are required of the Lord of such
as he would honor with a share In the
Kingdom.
An Abundant Entrance.
Having noticed that lack Of love,
lack of zeal. lack of constancy, lack of
devotion would unfit for the Kingdom,
let rs notice some of the characters
. tics necessary to a place In the King
dom-some of the qualities, therefore,
which we must each cultivate In our
own hearts, which we must each de-
yelop In his own character. The Apos-
tie explains these aud urges the mat
ter thus. add to your faith fortitude;
and to fortitude knowledge; and TO
knowledge temperance; and TO temper
ance patience; and to patience godli-
ness; and TO goodness brotherly kind
ness: aud to brotherly kindness love.
For If these things be in you and
abound. they make you that We shall
neither be barren nor unfruitful in the
knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. =.
for If We do these things. We shall new
er fail: for so an entrance shall be
ministered unto you abundantly into
the everlasting Kingdom Of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ" III Peter L