Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-04-23

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Gods first n
great commandment for man, and the
Masters answer places him at once
In his true position before the Lord.
What Jesus told this young man Of
loag ago can still be said of many
today: Thou are not far from the
kingdom of God"
/. He was in a very promising posi-
ton. not far from the kingdom"
He was acquainted with the truth to
a certain extent, being in the position
of many today who are able to tell
much about the truth of the Bible;
but they themselve s are still with.
ont"
He also assented to the truth.
This, too, describes many of to
day who make no profession of Chris
tianity: they not only know much OF
the truth, but they are quite ready to
agree that it is truth.
He also admired the One who told
him the truth: he came to Jesus.
And it may safely be presumed that
ne attempted 10 live his creed. He
was a sincere man who caught the at
tention of Jesus and drew fl rom him
this word, Thou are not far from the
kingdom of God" A great truth is
here, viz, that one can be at the very
door of the kingdom and yet be finally
lost. Some who read these words
may be in the same position, at the
threshold-but yet not in.
2. He was in a very painful posi-.
ton; just at the door. but not inside.
He would be condemned by his con-
science because of his acquaintance
with the truth. 1t would ever be tell
ing him that he ought to step inside
and delay no longer. An unheeded
conscience is not pleasant to live
with, and this young mans position
would be painful In spite of its prom
Use.
He would also be condemned by his
reason because of his assent to the
truth. To know that a certain action
is wise and yet not do It, is to dis
honor ones reason. Yet many there
are today who have been brought to
the gates of salvation but who have
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reason and found themselves in the
distressing position of this young man.
He would be condemned. too. by his
life. He had seen the life of the Lord
Jesus and was forced to admire its
beauty and grace. How many times
he would look at the perfection Of
that. life and how far short his W
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to II.
He would be condemned by the
words which Jesus addressed to him
when he said, H"Thou shalt love. the
Lord thy God with all thy heart
Each time he thought of this saying
of Jesus he would feel his position
was anything but pleasant. for he
stood condemned by his conscience,
his reason, his life and by the law.
8. He was in a very perilous posi-
ton; he might never get into that
kingdom from which he was then mot
far"
There was the Danger that he rest
content with mere assent to the truth.
He would be like a traveller who might
go many days and stop just one days
march from his goal; all his weary
journey would be useless without the
final days work. To be within a ster
of the kingdom of God and neglect to
take that last step which would put
one over the threshold is to take one's
place with all the unsaved.
There was the danger, too, that he
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and his conscience become hardened
and leave him without it's warnins
tones.
Almost" cannot avail. almost is bu
to fail;
Sad. sad. the bitter wall. almost. bu
lost"
A distinguished preacher tells of
gentleman who heard someon preacl
from this text, and as the danger O
neglect was presented he felt he wa,
but a step from salvation. Instead
however, of taking that last stel
which separated between his soul an,
life, he put 1t off and returned to hi
home. Retiring, he fell into a restles
sleep and began to dream. Fl
HOu6ht hC saw uAIuScll Ute anu Dolel
his soul leaving his body. But he wa
. dismayed to see a host of sins, whicl
he recognized as his own, pursue hi
soul, and 1t became so terrible h
could bear 1t no longer, but awoke
Springing from his bed he called hi
: wife and telling her the dream declare
that on the next Sunday he would q
to the church and take the last ste
toward salvation. But as he spoke h
gasped and fell at his wife's feet, deaC
| My dear reader, if you find yourseI
. in the promiGing but painful positio
q of this young man, will you not jus
9 now exchange that perilous place fc
the safe place by accepting the or;
: cious invitation of Jesus, Come unit
4 me and ] will give you rest?'