The Raymer enterprise., 1915-01-28

street ana down another, licking up
the buildings that lie in its path, and
finally envelops the palace and the
hoyel. When the fire ceases, not a
vestige OF the hovel remains. The
flames have wiped out the structure
built of wood, hay and stubble; but
the palace stands. The marble in 1t
CLEANS the brighter and the gold and
silver shine the more resplendently
The fire has proved each mans work
OF what sort 1t is. The workman
whose structure stood the test re-
ceives his reward; while the other,
whose hovel was swept away, suffers
loss, he himself being saved, yet SO
as by fire. Such Is the picture pre-.
sented by the text. What are some
of Its lessons?
The Only Foundation.
There is only one foundation upon
which man can build a superstruc.
ture of works. That foundation is
Jesus Christ. This is a simple. ele-
mental truth. but one which needs q
deal of emphasis In these days, for
many have not yet discovered that
the divine order In grace is the same
order which holds in the putting up Of
a building-the foundation first, then
the superstructure. Salvation first,
then works; and not works first and
then salvation. For by grace have
ye been saved through faith; and that
not Of yourselves, 1t is the gift of God;
not Of works, that no man should
glory" (Eph. 2:S, 9, R. W.
Some years ago at Catawissa, Pa,
after the destruction OF a bridge, the
contractor upon removing the first
pier, prior to the building of a new
one, discovered that underneath there
was no foundation. The pier simply
rested upon the bed of the river, and
when heavy flood came the entire
structure was washed away. Yet, how
many there are who are building
superstructure Of works without the
real foundation, Jesus Christ!
We need to take heed how we build
thereon. For 1t is possible to build
on the only foundation a palace or
hovel.
This is a truth which concerns the
saved and not the unsaved 1t is not
matter Of salvation, but of service.
Between salvation and service there
Is wide difference. Salvation is a
work Of God for us and in us and Is
all of grace. Service is work which
those who are saved render unto God,
and for which they shall receive a re-
ward, or shall suffer loss.
The Testing Day.
A testing day is coming when the
character of our work, as Christians,
shall be made manifest.
THE day shall declare IT, Not a
day Of judgment for our sins, which
were judged in Jesus Christ on the
cross; but day when our work shall
be made manifest. The day when the
Lord comes, who will bring to light
the hidden things OF darkness, and
make manifest the counsels of the
hearts Il Cor. 4:5). Then the fire
Itself shall prove each mans work
Of what sort 1t Is. Not literal fire,
but the holy, consuming energy of
the Lord himself, for Our God is a
fire.
II We have built only a hovel, we
shall suffer loss, irretrievable loss,
but we shall be saved, yet SO as by
FIRE.
Must go. and empty-handed?
Must | meet my Savior so?
Indeed not, for we may build q pal.
ace instead of a hovel, and be not only
saved but rewarded for our work.
That each man may in that day
have his praise from Cod Il Cor. 4:51,
let us. as Christians, In our work heed
lbree simple rules:
First, a right purpose: the glory OF
God q Cor. 14:3). ~
Second, right plan: the word Of
iod (IT. Tim. 3:t6-1D.
Third. right motive: the constrain-
ng love Of Christ Gil Cor. 5:14).
Which is 1t TO be. a palace or a