The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-04-01

- 80 deep and momen-
tous Importance TO US. As another
says. n one needs to know the num-
he has only to look around him and
compare the ways OF man, with the
word OF God. He will soon come TO
the conclusion, ~ he Is an honest man.
that the saved are few. Il 10 an aw-
full conclusion. and our souls natu-
rally turn away from II. but Scripture
as well as fact shut us up to H. Sal
walton Is offered to all. but few are
willing 20 comply with It's terms.
The Need Of Effort.
Our Lord answers the question IN
an = iirect way by a solemn exhorta-
tioi o this duty. Strive TO enter IN
at t.,e straight gate" Whatever 9TH
ers may think about II. he would have
us feel the need for exertion. This
need Is not because salvation IL so
| difficult In itself. for 10 Is written that
"Whosoever shall call upon the name
OF the Lord shall be saved" tRomans
1919. But the striving g necessi-
tated On by the power OF the counter.
acting influences OF the world. whose
gate is wide" as we see from Mat.
thew 7:i3 and (2) because OF the
subtlety OF false teachers. as we see
In the same Scripture; and finally
(3), because OF the urgency OF the
times. inasmuch as the day 10 CON-
ing. and perhaps sooner than we ex-
pect. when The Master OF the house
shall shut the door"
The self-OeeeIved onea
Our Lord enforces his exhortation
by describing that day. adding: For
many. ! say unto you. will seek to en-.
ter in and shall not be able" The
long-sunering OF God towards men
viii some day have an end. II will be
the day when our Lord shall come
again. and we know not how soon Il
may be. The throne OF grace will be
removed then and the throne OF judg.
ment set up In its olace
But the most astounding part OF Il
IL that so many In that day will find
themselves 10 have been. self-deceiyed.
In this place In Luke. and In the
parallel place in Matthews Gospel.
Christ calls attention TO four kinds OF
self-deception. lie speaks OF those
who have been his guests, so to speak,
eating and drinking In his presence;
he speaks OF those who have listened
to his teachings: OF those who have
taught his word. and OF those who
have wrought his signs. None Of these
on that account merely have any claim
upon his blessing In the life to come.
What need there Is for solemn self
examination here.
The Meaning Of the Gate.
or course when our Lord peaks OF
the gate" he really means himself.
and he said at another time. Il am the
door: by me II any man enter In. he
shall be saved and shall 60 In and
out and find pasture. John i0:s)."
We enter In by believing on the Lord
Jesus Christ as our Savior and con.
Tossing him as our Lord Have you
yet definitely done this, II so. why
not do II now as you think upon these
wordsl The distinguishing mark that
we are saved. that we are his disci.
pies. and that eternal glory is before
US. is the fruit that we bear. Christ
makes this very plain. In this same
discourse. but blessed be his name.
when we receive him as cur Savior
he gives us his Holy Spirit so that we
are enabled to bring forth this fruit.
indeed he himself produces II In US.
Who would not trust himself to such
friendi Let me urge you TO do II
as the first and most important OF all
things for your wellbeing In time and
eternity. know there are other
things, other allurements. holding 20,
back, but what are they in compar.
ison with thisf
There was a shipwieck on the Pa,
cifc one OF two winters ago. when
certain vessel went to pieces. on
which there was passenger who had
with him q bag containing $1,000 In
gold. Survivors said that he fran
tically offered that bag OF gold TO any
one who would place him on shore
but his gold lay on the broken deck.
kicked under foot. no one stopping TO
pick II up. How this impresses US
with the importance Of salvation and
eternal life above all things which this
world can offer. and the importance
OF our striving TO ENTER In AZ the
straight gate" while the opportunity