Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-01-15

commit sin, than
"the eyes Of them both were opened.
and they knew that they were naked
(Gen. SD. At once they took steps
to conceal their shame by making for
themselves aprons Of fig leaves. How
inadequate was the provision! And
so we read that, later on, after their
trial had been held, the penalty pro.
nounced, and, blessed be God, the hope
Of a Savior held out to them, their
need in the particular was also met.
The text suggests the plan. A lamb
was slain, its blood was shed, and its
covering appropriated for the guilty
pair. The whole circumstance is not
only a beautiful, but a most important
symbol of Gods dealings with the sim
ner in the spiritual realm.
l. Sin is an %eye-opener. And this
may be said even though 1t is equally
true that the sinner is blind. How oft
en- he starts on a new career Of in
inquiry. expecting satisfaction and
pleasure, only to discover himself
woefully disappointed and deceived.
Happy is he, If at such a time, the
power of the Holy Spirit works with
in him that deeper conviction of what
sin really is and does, that may lead
him to seek eternal salvation from it.
2. The awakened sinner not infre-
quently attempts by his own revising
to rid himself Of the consequences Of
sin. The fig leaves he employees are
good resolutions, the temporary re-
linquishment Of some bad habit, the
giving up of some form of vice, stay
ing at home nights, doing some deed
of charity, attending church, perhaps
protesting religion" as 1t is some
times called. But the fruitlessness of
all these things soon appears as the
stress of temptation comes again.
8. God only can cover the sinners
sin. Not by works Of Righteousness
which we have done, but according to
his mercy he saved us, by the wash
ing of regeneration. and renewing of
the Holy Ghost, which he shed on US
abundantly through Jesus Christ our
Savior" This is Paul's testimony to
Titus, and it is the experience Of
every soul that is really saved Titus
8: 6. 81.
4. God covers our sin by a method
of his OWL. AS the prophet Isaiah
sings: II will greatly rejoice In the
Lord, my soul shall be joyful In my
God for he hath clothed me with the
garments of salvation, he hath cover
ed me with the robe Of righteous.
ness" Isaiah 51:10). And Paul speaks
in the same way in his epistle to the
Romans, saying: by the deeds Of the
law shall no flesh be justified in his
sight; but now the righteous
ness without the law is manifested, .
f.. even the righteousness Of God
which is by faith Of Jesus Christ unto
all and upon all them that believe
(Romans 3:20-22).
s. God obtains this covering Of
Righteousness for us by the offering up
Of the life of the innocent for the
guilty. "He spared not his W Son,
but delivered him up for US all" Gro
mans $500. He made him to be sin
for us who knew no sin, that we might
be made the righteousness Of God in
him" e. Corinthians 5:21). Whom
God hath set forth to be a propitia-
ton through faith in his blood" (Ro-
3:25).
Do we not see how purposely Gods
covering Of Adam symbolizes what
he is ready to do in the case Of any
fallen sinner who realizes his need?
Do you realize yours? Are you trying
vainly to help yourself, to your
own spiritual nakedness? Why not
accept Gods covering? Why not take
Jesus Christ as your Savior by faith?
Why not come to him today. and
thus know "the ~blessedness Of the
man whose tra~nsgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered" (Pslam 32:1).
It is so easy to do this. AS an I'M
known author has said so beautifully:
You ask me how I ever came to Christi
I do not know;
There came a longing for Him in my soul
So long ago.
I found earth's fairest flowers would fade
and die, FsgDANtUt
I yearned for something that would sat
isfy;'
And then at last somehow I seemed to
dare
To lift my broken heart to Him In prayer.
I do not know.
I can not tell you how:
only know
He is my Savior now.
You ask me why I ever came to Christi
I can reply:
II IL q wondrous story; listen while
/ tell o why
My heart was drawn at length to seek His
face.
I was alone, I had no resting place;
I heard OF how He loved me, with n love
OF depth so great-of height 80 far above
All human ken,
I longed such love to share.
And sought It then
Upon my knees in prayer. /.
You, ask me why I thought this loving
Christ
Would heed my prayer9
I knew He died upon the cross for mo,
I nailed Him there.
I heard His dying cry, "Father. forgiven
l saw Him drink deaths cup that I might
live:
My head was bowed upon my breast In
shame,
He called me. and Id pcnitence I came.
He heard my prayer
I cannot tell you how.
Or when, or where;
Only ! love Him now.
M H. LaH