The citizen., 1913-02-20

ItESSflN IIN /. ftfn. 10 lalss
GOLDEN TEXT The blessing of Je-
hovah, Il maketh rich. aud tie addeth no
SORROWS herewith Prov. 022
During the time that interviewed be-
tween this and last weeks lesson we
read of Abrams journey down into
Egypt" a story that is rich with sug
gestlve typical lessons. Abrams de-
celt IL discovered by Pharaoh and he
Ia driven from Egypt Fear is the
root of unbelief. and when we fall we
are sure To carry some one with us.
But n mans sin is sure to he dlscov-
cred. so Il was that Pharaoh com
mandcd his men. and they sent him
away and his wife. and all that he
had" Egypt. n type OF the world.
turned Abram out tl2: 20l when he
tried the good Lord good devil mode
OF life Compromise and separation
are not compatible.
Lessons Picture.
"Up Out Of EGYPT" w, Is. Again
we have presented the lesson OF seps-
ration This portion IL great pic
ture OF repentance. Abram carried
with him not only his own possessions
but also those OF his nephew Lot No
tice. Abrams wealth did not make
him acceptable In Egypt The world
desires not alone the wealth OF a man.
but also the man back OF the wealth.
Again Abram turns from conflict un-
to Bethel. the house OF God. that place
OF confession. OF conservation. and OF
encouragement
These returning pilgrims were not
ordinary men. no more is the man who
IL in Christ. and God was already
given evidence Of the blessing prom
ised TO Abram n2;2) and OF that ma
terial blessing so definitely promised
to the descendants OF Jacob We
read " 81 their substance WAS
great" But there Is far greater dan
ger however In material prosperity
than in adversity This was a greater
danger TO these pilgrims than that os
the Canaanites who dwelt In the land
IT. "And There Was Strife" w SO
The evidence OF this danger manifest
ed itself when II was found that the
land could not support both Abram and
Lot " 81. Paul calls TImothy's at
tentlon TO this same danger q Tim.
6:9). and We are constantly seeing II
illustrated all about us.
Lots History.
Lot was journeying with Abram
rather than with Jehovah u2;3l.
doubtless in a great measure he was
governed by cupidity and selhshness
when he beheld Abrams prosperity.
Millions In America profit by the Sc
curity and the prosperity of this which
so nearly approaches a Christian ma.
/ tion and yet in scorn or In neglect re
fuse to believe In or 20 serve the God
who sends the blessing The whole
history OF Lot IL one OF selfishness.
which later resulted in sorrow and
sadness and In his being shorn Of all
OF his selnshly acquired prosperity
Lot had no particular claim upon
Abram nor have We In our own right.
or because OF our own merit. upon
or be causcof our own merit upon God
There IL so little that divides most OF
us and 80 much that We hold In com.
mon that Il Is but little short OF Grim
inal 10 waste our energy upon that
which IL ephemeral or OF slight i'm
portance What a difference in tho
choice OF Lot and that OF Abram One
entered into the path OF the wicked.
Prov 4:l&. Is. while the other into
the path that "shineth more and more
unto the perfect day." Prov. AIS.
Ill "And Lot Beheid All the
Plain OF Jordan" w. 1913. Lacking
the counsel and guidance Of Jehovah
Lot followed the choice that which
was pleasing TO the eyes and made
sorry mess OF II. for in the end he was
n great loser. Already the land was
doomed ". lO) and so today the man
who chooses the world In preference
to Christ makes n bad bargain II John
2:I7) and the greater condemnation Is
his for he makes his choice In the blaz-
ing light OF nearly twenty centuries OF
the Gospel Lot made willing com
promise. a superficial choice and came
near losing his own soul. Matt. 1925,
633. lie deliberately entered into
danger when he pitched his tent to-
wards Sodom." The believers peril In
WOrldllneSS lOt journey W ~ lfu
at last to Sodom v ~.
( Abram aspired to know God, Lot
| had an ambition to possess the things
| OF time and sense. Abram coveted
/ righteousness Matt 81. Lot soveted
success In this life only, Well has
/ Goethe exclaimed. Choose WE'LL your
choice is brief and yet II is endless"
Eternity alone will reveal the results
OF our choice OF surroundings. upon
ourselves. upon our families and upon
our friends.
w. "LHt Up Thine Eyes," w. 14-is.
After separation comes fellowship and
fruitfulness. God invited Abram to
arise and TO inspect his promised pos
sessions. SO may we contemplate the
vast possessions God has promised
us In Christ Jesus. Rom. SIT. 2 Cor.
AIS. After our separation and our
fellowship comes true fruitfulness and
prosperity, Tim. 4is. Abram went
to Hebron (which means fellowship.
and there In the midst OF Mamre
(which means fatness) he built an al
tar unto God Worship and sacrifice
| On hand In hand today as they did in