The Penn's Grove record., 1914-03-27
FOLLOW THOU me-"
Command Means That Christian
Must Walk With the Savior,
Not Far Behind Him.

CHRIST"S command today, as in the
days when he was gathering the
Twelve about him, is Follow me-"
The company Of those who are so
close to him that they are walking
with him has always been small. But
beyond count is the number Of those
who are following at a distance.
Among the doubtful company are a
great many who are backsliders,
There was a time when they were
near to him. They delighted in his
word, they thought much Of him, they
tried to confirm their lives to his
teaching. They are still following
him, but it is at such a distance that
they would hardly be suspected of
belonging to his company.
There are some in that company
who make no profession Of following
him. Yet without being conscious OF
1t, they have obeyed his teachings and
exhibit those graces of character
(which he exalted. They are following,
but 1t is at a distance.
Whether they are in church or out
of 1t. one of the reasons which keeps
them at a distance is a cold heart. We
might as well expect a locomotive to
keep up with its schedule with ice in
the fire box instead OF fire, as that
g man with a cold heart should follow
Christ closely. Peter did not follow
Christ afar OF until his love had
cooled, and his Lord pointed to that
as his one defect when he asked three
times, Lowest thou me?" If we shirk
work it is because we do not love
it. If we neglect our home It Is be-
cause we do not love it. If we follow
Christ at a distance it is a proof Of
small measure.
Weakness Of Faith.
Another cause for following at a dis
lance is weak faith. Peter had once
confessed his faith in his master as
the Christ, the Son Of the living
God" But he could not have repeated
that confession in the high priests
palace. The weakness Of his faith was
expressed by his distance from Christ.
There is hardly one of us whose life
would not be transformed by a strong
faith. The Lord has said, Seek We
first the kingdom Of God and his
righteousness and all things shall be
added unto you" If men believed
that, our churches would be thronged.
The kingdom of heaven would suffer
violence and the violent would take
it by force. The rush and stir of bust
ness would be transferred to the
church, and the quietness of the
church would settle down upon bust
ness. The Bible says: There is no
other name under heaven, given
among men, whereby we can be
saved" If we believed that, we
would not give other things first place
and ask God to wait our convenience
before We accepted his Son or became
witnesses for him. If we had faith
as a grain of mustard seed we would
walk with Christ. not far behind him.
Must Be No Defects.
Such distant following produces a
most unsatisfactory character. A
great defect in third or fourth rate
work is hardly noticed, but a very
small defect in that of greatest worth
is not tolerated. 1t is an unmistaka-
Bile evidence of the holiness of the
Christian life that a small defect is
SO severely criticised. Even the man
of the world finds fault with a half
and half Christian. Gods estimate is
even more severe. Because thou art
neither cold nor hot, l will spew thee
out of my mouth"
Following at a distance, is a cause
of happiness. If we know enough Of
Christ to follow him at a distance,
something Of the better pleasures he
promises, the better fellowship he Of
fers, the inheritance eternal in the
heavens which he has prepared. we
know too much to be content or happy
SO long as a gap separates US from
him.
The position Of distance is the posi-
ton of danger. The straggler in the
army often runs a greater risk than
the soldier in the front rank. The
master stroke of the enemy is to sepa-
rate us from Christ, then he can easily
overwhelm us. II we follow at a dis
lance we are inviting ruin. We shall
not fall before temptation unless first
the heart is cold and faith weak
Beauty Of character, happiness. safety.
is found only near his side.
Il