The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-01-29
Get Right
With God
Addsss desyssed 1t Kesw;ek
Coavena;oa By Rev. F. s.
Whshz. On Palm l3o

aNN 10 that all our secret
thoughts are spread before
4% the Lord like an open
VIZ book. and there 10 not =
page hidden from him:
are you glad it Is 70. or does the
knowledge OF Gods penetrating eye
I'LL you With discomfort and alarm!
The psalmist was not afraid Of
Gods knowledge OF him. He opens
this psalm By dwelling upon it.: hs
closes BY returning to the same truth.
and inviting God to make special
search and inspection OF al his tn
most being. David was not afraid OF
this scrutiny. because his whole heart
was set upon being right with God.
The supreme importance. the abso-
lutte necessity. Of being right with
God.-We md this beautifully Mus
tratsd In Sam. AS. And when the
ark OF the covenant OF the Lord
came into the camp. all Israel shouted
with q great shout. 90 that the earth.
rang again" There was tremendous
enthusiasm In the shout The honor
OF the people vas touched. They had
suffered = defeat, their patriotism vas
dred. they were lighting for their
homes and their fatheriand. and their.
religious feelings were deeply stirred.
When they saw the ark come into
their midst they made certain that
God was with them.
The ark was full OF sacred mem
cries. It had wrought wondrous VIC
tories. Before It the water OF Jordan
had failed. ana the walls OF Jericho
had fallen down. So they made sure
that God was with them, and they
shouted with such q shout that the
hearts Of their enemies were 1iued
with dismay.
What came Of 1t all? Nothing but
disaster! The Phiustines triumphsd.
The ark was captured. and the reason
was not far to seek-Hophui and
Phinehas were with the ark.
How could there be victory in the
open field when In the courts OF the
Lords house there was open sinr The
people were not right with God. and
20 the ark could not save them. They
were not anxious, they were not pre-
pared to get right with God. They
were not anxious to md Gods solu-
ton Of their trouble. for him to show
them what was wrong.
They thought they would force the
hand OF God. They said: If We get
the ark into our midst, God 10 sure
to tight for W and to give VI tho VIC
tory" They thought they would
compel God to give them tho victory.
although they had not humbled them
selves to give him the glory.
But they were mistaken. God II a
holy God. He will not allow his hou-
ness to suffer one single faint OF dis-
honor. SO he allowed tho ark to be
captured rather than support the peo-
pie who were harboring sin and hid
ing iniquity in their hearts. Because
they were not willing to be right with
God, the ark could not help them.
The ark would soon have overcome
the Phtlisttnes. II Hophni and Phine-
has and the elders Of Israel had been
overcome BY 1t themselves. Gods
arm IL not shortened: but II you have
come hoping to steal q blessing with
out mounting tho steep path Of per
sooal repentance Of deep conviction OF
sin. OF whole-hearted surrender to
God. then you are absolutely mistak-
en-.
Probably some Of the people said:
"Oh yes. the day Of the ark ID over"
and some say now that the day OF the
old-fashioned Gospel 10 over. It ID not
40. The cross never loses its power.
but you can neutralize tho grace OF
God II you are not willing to get
right With him.
II you will cast yourself upon him,
expecting him to save. to cleanse. ana
to keep-so thoroughly expecting
him that II you fail 1t will be q mat.
ter. not only Of shame. but OF surprise.
because your eyes are ON Jesus. He
has undertaken and you are trusting
II you get into that attitude OF faith,
then the healing and the cleansing
come. and the keeping 10 maintained.
and the heart 10 purified. Then there
10 nothing "common" or uncleaa about
your life: It 10 all sanctified, and you
are right with God. God knows all
about you. and loves you in spirit OF
all he knows.-London Christian.