South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-09-26

hardest and suffer the most. Not only
must effort be made 81 we would wear
the crown Of life. but IL must be "A
sustained effort Jesus warned his
disciples that they could not truly fol-
low him unless they we're prepared 20
leave father and mother. husband OF
wife. or any OF their dearest friends.
should that be essential for the full
accomplishment OF their Cod given
work Working. watching praying
and suffering. are necessary in waging
the battle Of the Christian life. We
have to deny our appetites many
things for which they clamor, our
lower natures must be sUbOrdinated To
our higher interests. II means self
denial OF the strictest kind if we would
eXalt our spiritual natures, and enjoy
the experience Of victory which comes
only To- those who make a success Of
Che life and work which God has given
them. Jesus told his disciples To take
mp their cross daily and follow him;
thus IL is only possible TO be his loyal
followers when We do IL by the way Of
calvary.
Ave must resist temptation or
lose our crown. The temptations
which stand in our way are numerous
and frequently very fierce. There
are the temptations that come from
hshness. To pride, 10 cowardica. all
these and all other temptations which
are included in the scriDtural words,
from the world, TO flesh and the
devil are TO be vanquished II we al
low ourselves To be overcome by these
we make shipwreck of faith, and
finally lose our crown OF glory. 1t
would appear from general observa-
ton and scripture, that those who
he nj hrfaf arfn
here, and who occupy the highest
seats in heaven are those who
have been most fercely tempted.
John in the seventh chapter OF the
Revelation tells US OF a group Of peo-
pie in heaven who seemed TO be enjoy
ing themselves more than the other
angels; they were clothed with white
robes and had palms in their hands:
And cried with a loud voice. saying
salvation to our God which stitch
upon the throne, and unto the Lamb
blessing. and glory. and wisdom,
and Thanksgiving. and honor. and
power. and might. he unto our God
forever and ever" And in answer to
a question from John, one of the
elders in the heavenly city said to
him. These are they which came out
OF great tribulation and have washed
their robes. and made them white in
the blood of the Lamb"
4. We are more than "a match for
all the forces against us. When We
are told 10 hold fast. or to watch
and pray in order to conserve the ex-
perience we have. and attain To the
highest attitudes OF the Christian life
il implies that we are able To do so
God never commands the impossible
1t is true that the fierce temptations
OF life are too much for mere men.
but when we realize the fact that the
holy spirit dwells in the hearts Of
all believers. we can then see that we
are more than a match for all the
enemies against US. and If they were
10 times as strong and numerous. we
could still have the victory. No man
fails in the Christian life because he
could not succeed. bit always because
he would not take the proper steps 10
victory. "It is not by might nor by
power. after a human sort, which
gives us victory in the Christian life,
hut by the spirit of God who dwells in
our hearts If therefore, we will
watch and pray, and do the common
duties of life as we come 10 them and
exercise faith in God. We are sure
to retain the crown of life which the
Lord has placed upon our heads. Re-
member, He that is for us is more
than all that are against us"