Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-03-12

there is always a
- - sure cure in the
Word OF God. In
this case it is evident that the cause
of the mans fear is this: He is think
ing of saving himself, instead of COM
hitting the case to Christ. He means
to try a little harder than ever before
to do good, but he has failed 80 often
in the past that he has little con-
fdence that he will succeed any bet
ter in the future. And the man is
right. He certainly will fail If he re-
lies upon his own efforts to lead a
Christian life.
The remedy in this case Is to take
the mans attention away from him
self, and fix 1t upon the Lord Jesus,
who alone can save him. Say to him.
my dear friend. the question is not
whether you can hold out, but whether
or not God is able to save you. Let us
see what he says about it." Opening
your Bible ask him to read aloud He
brews 7:25. Wherefore he is able
also to save them to the uttermost
that come unto God by him, seeing he
ever liveth to make intercession for
them" After he has read it, say to
him. "Tf God is able to save to the
uttermost, there Is certainly some
hope for you. With an 'uttermost'
salvation such as Christ offers. there
are no hopeless cases. do you see?"
Yes, 1t does look a little more hope
full. l must confess. but | am afraid |
should fail, IL | started in the Chris
tian life. My bump Of persistence Is
not very prominent. and am easily
discouraged"
THAT may be true, but do you know
this 'uttermost' Savior has made pro-
vision also to keep you from falling?
Read what he says In Jude "a" Now
unto him that is able to keep you from
falling, and to present you faultless
before the presence Of his glory with
exceeding joy
Isn't that splendid? Able to keep
you from falling. and to present you
faultless.' Blameless would mean a
great deal, but without fault means
much more. And that Is the condition
IN WHICH CuTlSI plOhiioCo that sSa
shall be when he presents you before
the Father. (And the Joy referred
to in that verse is not the Joy Of the
sinner, though that will be unspeak-
able, but the Joy Of the Savior as he
looks with actual pride upon his finish
ed work. 1t doesn't seem possible,
does it, that you can be saved so com
IaxaI, onl p,oIa cD parforf and haau-
tiful. that the Lord Jesus will put you
on exhibition as a sample of his handi.
work, with actual pride and Joy? And
yet that Is precisely what he says he
can do, and he certainly ought to
know Now does not your case seem
hopeful, looking a; 1t from Gods stand.
point?"
YES, l must admit that It does, but
you see my case is peculiar. | had a
grandfather who was a drunkard, and
| have inherited from him an appetite
for liquor. Occasionally an awful crav
ing for strong drink m upon me
with irresistible power, and down ! &C
before it. That is the real cause OF
my apprehension. II 1t were not fol
that I think | could be saved. but you
see my case is peculiar"
Eyes, I see your case is peculiar. bu'
do you know we have a peculiar
Savior? In the first place. he was &C
quainted with that grandfather o
yours, and he knows all about that ap
petite. In the second place, he ha.
made ample provision for 1t in thu
Book. Indeed, he has provided a spe
cial promise for just such cases. Reat
II you will l Corinthians 1913, Got
is faithful, who will not suffer you t.
be tempted above that ye are able
but will with the temptation alst
make a way to escape, that we may b
able to bear it.
Now, let us sun 1t all up. Jesu
SAYS that II you will commit the keeT
ing of your soul to him, he Is able t.
save you to the uttermost, and abb
to keep you from falling. Further
more, knowing just how weak you are
he guarantees that no temptation bha
be allowed to come nigh you whicI
Won are not able to bear, and tina
when temptation does comes, as com
It must to all, he will provide som
door Of escape. But this Is not al
He promises that he will present 20
before God so faultless and perfec
that he himself will be proud of yol
Now what will you do? Will you kee
ON trying to save yourself, and fall a
YOU always have, or will you comm
your soul to this 'uttermost' SavioI
who is able to save, and keep, and pr
tect you from every foe?'
II these verses do not lead a pc
son to a decision l have sometime
tried this method: "You are lost nov
ANYWAY. are you not?; Yes, | al
lost now" We'll, II you should tr
the Christian life and fail, you coul
not be any worse of than you are nov
could you?' No" But II you shoul
succeed you would be a great deal be
ter of, would you not?" Certainly
Then 1t looks to me as II you ha
everything to win and nothing to los
by starting, is that not o. I'VE
hut I never thought Of that before
"Will you then kneel right down hei
and commit the keeping OF your so'
to Christi" Il will"
have seldom found a person WI
could not be convinced by such simp
reasoning, II they honestly desired