The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1912-05-24

might have a vision of that city
That 1t might see that this world j.
not all of life. The resurrection
message of Christ is IL am he that
llveth aud was dead, and behold
am alive f6revermore," And che
that liveth and believeth in Ne shall
never the"
II is the business of the church
with its Gospel message to give the
world such vision of the resurrec-
ton life. He should 50 live and ca
minister that as men come under his
minlstrations, they would be con-
strained to say this is none Other
than the house of God and the gate
wsy 20 Heaven. The church of
Chrlst on earth is a type of the
heavenly city and as such il sbouId
give men a vision of the new .Jeru-
lsaiem, the home of the sJul. Tho
church that thus teaches men the
value OF human life and the human
SOU, that inspires in men faith in
Chiist and gives a vision of the life
beyond Is indeed and in truth tho
light of the world.
But how shall the church set abopt
her divinely appointed taskY This
IS an age of invention and discovery
1t IS an age of research and inves,;,
CATION, it is an age of doubt aud
skepticism. Never before in all III.
history of the past has there been
80 mach progress made along ali
une. Men are cOndueriny the Garth
lie sea and the air. They ara at'
tacSing the very foundations of onr
faitl denying the existence of God
saying that Jesus was a pretende,.
and the Bible only tumble of MYTH
and fables. What shall the church
and the people of God do In Tho
lace OF all this worldhness and nm
godllness9 How shall the church
let Its light shine in the midst of ali
this darknessa This is what she
must do.
1. She must first preach the Cos
pei, the old story of Jesus and his
love for lost and dyino meh with
more zeal and eagerness than ever
before. Christ revealed to the world
what he thought of his Gospel. When
gave the great commission. said TO
the Disciples, $50 and disciple the
nations. baDtize. teach. T., nm,
WITH you unto the ends of all the
1aVS; 1t was n message for all men
III All ages of the world. Christ was
TO be with them wherever thew went
IN his name. And he has been with
has people and blessed their {ohors
and he Is leading us on to still great
er victories. He is the same yester-
day, to-day. forever. God hath
chosen that by the foolishness of
preaching men should be saved. Not
foolish preaching. but through the
fundamentally of man speaking
Gods message to men is they shonld
ne saved, this the world calls n fool
Ism thing. yet it is Gods wav and
Goo > plan. The Gospel message is
not out of date. it is still ''the power
OF God with salvation TO everyone
that believeth" and whenevef. the old
story Is presented in its purity and
simplicity. it still finds place in
the hearts and affections of men.
Perhaps the church will have to
change its methods to meet the new
conditions. but it will be the eosnel
Tor all time. even unto the end. The
church has grown rich in this worlds
Goods Gods people number ara,no
them the best talent of the world.
Ihev must 90 forth to disciple the
nations to baDtize and To teach. I'M
III every creature shall have heard
ana we have given our witnesses for
Christ to everv man. Nothing sho,4
OF TINS Is the mission and duty of
Christs people.
:. Secondly, the church. Gods
people must give the world n splen-
did example of Christian living.
Someone has said there has been
too much preaching, and not enough
practice. There has not been too
much preaching. but there has been
little practice, on the part of pro-
Tossing Christians. The world is
demanding that we live up to our
professions and if the church is T.,
be light in the world. the city set
on the hill, she must live as she
breaches. What blessed privilege
thus to be light and to shine amidst
the darkness. The grandest thing in
this world next the radiance that
flows from the throne of God is the
light of a noble and beautiful life, |
shedding its rays of love and hope |
into hearts darkened by sin. This
Is the happy privilege of the church |
and people of God.
The church is like the great LIGHT
house on some rock bound coast |
that sends out its friendly light in