Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1915-09-23

A the d%runkards, the
harlots, tn e
thieves, the murderers, but all are
lost. God, through the Apostle Paul.
says, "All have sinned and come short
of the glory of God" from. S:23). And
the Apostle John adds. "If we say that
we have no sin we deceive ourselves
and the truth is not in us. If we say
that we have not sinned we make him
God a liar" Il John 1:S-1O.) That
is, by so saying we really say to God,
You lie when you say we have
sinned." My friend, let us not make
God out a liar, and let us o deceive
ourselves, nor be deceived by nan
about sin. Yea. rather 'let God be
true but every man a liar" Surely the
testimony of his word is Enthusiastically
clear that all men, because of sin, are
radically wrong. What David says Of
himself is true of every n of us,
Behold. | was brought forth in in
iquity and in sin did my mother con-
ceive me" Psalms 51:5, R. W. No
matter, then, how well born we may
have been, the truth is we must be
born again.
This means that because we are rad
ically wrong we must be radically
changed. How then shall this change
be wrought? To reform oneself does
not effect the change, for, reformation
Is simply an outward process and does
not alter mans essential nature. any
more than to whitewash the pump
changes the water in the well. To
move into a better neighborhood and
into a better dwelling does not effect
the change, for that is simply leaving
a less desirable environment for a
better one. No one would try to
change the character of a balky, kick
ing horse by removing it from a dilapi-
dated shed to a palace stable. The
propensity to kick and balk would re-
main just the same. To cultivate ones
intellect does not alter ones heart, out
of which. says Jesus, are the issues
of life. 1t may refine the sinner, but
it will not save him. The truth is,
man does not have the power resident
within himself to work the change.
Notwithstanding the boasting of his
natural heart, he is absolutely help
less and undone when 1t comes to
making the change that is necessary
If he is to see or enter into the king
dom of God.
But what man cannot do for himself,
God, in infinite mercy, is ready and
willing to do for him. Ample provi-
sion has been made by which man
radically wrong may be radically
changed. First, God sent Jesus Christ,
the Good Shepherd. to seek and save
the lost. Secondly, the Good Shepherd
laid down his life for the sheep. That
Is, on the cross he died for our sins,
the just for the unjust. Thirdly, he
not only laid down his life for the
lost sheep, but he took 1t again. He
rose from the dead and today, as the
Living One, who was dead and is alive
for evermore, he gives life. Hear him
say. For as the Father raiseth up
the dead and quickeneth them, even so
the Son q%uickeneth whom he will"
John 5:2l).
And to whom. W. may well ask,
does he will to give life? To those
and only to those who come to him
for life. Among the saddest words
that Jesus ever uttered are these, "Ye
would not come unto me that we might
have life" John 5:40). That which
was true then, is sadly true now, for
only one thing keeps a man who is
radically wrong from being radically
changed, and that Is his own will.
But how" you say. shall | Gomez"
Come, my friend, just as you are, with
all your sin. God knows, If you do
not, how much you need to be changed.
and God knows, II you do not, that
unless you do come and are born from
above you cannot enter into the king.
dom of heaven.
Perhaps you do not understand just
what 1t is to come to Christ. 1t is just
this and nothing more: to come to
Christ is to receive him by faith as
your own personal Savior: it is to
trust him to do in your life Just what
he says he will do, ave you from sin
its guilt and power. Will you do that?
VIII you believe him? Will you re.
ceive him now? If so, just lift your
heart in prayer to God and say: "Oh,
God, ! now take Jesus Christ as the
saSior and Lord of my life, and ask
thee to make the radical change in
my life that so much need, for | de-
sire to see and to enter into the king.
dom of heaven. DO this, oh, God, for
Christ's sake" Then, having done
this In your heart, read these Scrip.
lures very carefully over again, pray.
ing God to open the eyes of your un'
~derstanding that you may see the truth
of his Word. But as many as received
him to them gave he power to become
the sons of God. even to them that
believe on his name" (John 1:12)
"Whosover believeth that Jesus is the
Christ is born of Cod Il John 5:1)
Then, at the first opportunity you
have, tell sonieone else what you have
done and keep right on telling others,
for Jesus says: whatsoever, therefore,
shall confess me before men, him will
l confess also before my Father which
Is in heaven" Matt. 10:32).