Graham guardian., 1916-02-18

lRA2lSlk kOS9LlLJ speaker ueclareu'
doubtless they
would greatly impress the whole civ
llized world today. The Lord instructs
US that there are only two masters
God and the Adversary. We must
serve one or the other There is no
middle ground As we look over the
world. we see hundreds of millions in
deadly strife. Whom are they serving?
Whom do they profess to serve?
To us the Scriptures clearly teach
that there are no Christian nations.
but that God is preparing new ma
ton which will come into power when
Messiah sets up His Kingdom. We ac.
cept the Bible declaration that these
present kingdoms are of this world
and under the Prince Of this world
Satan. The Apostle tells us that the
fruits of the Spirit Of Christ are meek.
ness. gentleness, patience. brotherly-
kindness. love; and that the fruits Of
the Satanic spirit are anger. malice,
strife. bitterness, hatred. envy, muir
der. AS we Judge according to this
Scriptural standard. we can draw but
one conclusion.
Doubtless there are saints of God In
those nations, but the nations them
selves are surely far from Christian.
Processing 70 serve Christ, by their
works they deny Him. They give
money and send missionaries to teach
the heather nations how to be Chris
tians. how to do right Evidently some
grievous mistake has been made. They
have been serving purely selfish inter
ests. All along the object and aim Of
the nations has been their own ad-
vancement
We are not qualified q judge the
heart. But 1t seems as though there
has been great hypocrisy-a pretend
ing to be what one is not. We may
better judge nations than individuals,
however. Yet wherever we go through
out Christendom, we see churches on
every side. One would think, How
happy these people must be! How
they must love the Lord and their fel
lowmenr' But alas! We find many
things contrary to the Spirit of Christ
What II L. to 6e a Christian.
We ask ourselves. ITO whom are the
majority rendering serviceT' Nearly
everybody seems to be bowling down
to Self. seeking his own pleasure and
profit There are noble exceptions, but
service Of Self seems to be the rule
OF all the various forms of idolatry the
meanest and, worst is Self-wOrship, the
doing of everything merely for Self.
A counterfeit always implies the gen.
uine The genuine Christian. the loyal
Christian. serves the Lord only. Who.
ever would enter the School of Christ
must give himself wholly to the Lord
and then follow the Masters steps,
RenOuncing ones own will is the hard.
est thing that one can do; and 1t would
be Il most dangerous thing to give our
selves to any one except the Lord.
Satan and his evil associates, the de-
mons. seek to gain control Of the hu-
man will, that they may ensnare their
victims and make slaves Of them. The
will should be subjected to no one but
God. not even to husband or wife or
the dearest friend. While we often
may properly submit our course to an.
other. yet the will should never be sub
mitted, except to the Lord. But given
over to Him. it is made strong for the
right: and our highest and best inter
ests are conserved.
To those who desire to follow In the
path of righteousness the Lord says,
Give Me thine heart" This means,
Submit your will to Me He will have
no haIf-hearted service. We must give
all or nothing. We are to have no con.
trary will of our own. Our Lord would
have no other win than the Fathers
will: and He set US an example, that
we should follow His steps TO do so
| Is 10 be Christian.
Whose Servant Am n
The Pastor holds that much Is
taught and practised under the name
Of Christianity which is far from
Christian. Many join the church for
| purely selfish reasons People seem
ready to profess or join almost any
thing whereby they can prosper In
business or In society. While not judg'
ing peoples hearts, nor wishing to con.
denim any individual. he feels sure that
the vast majority know not the frst
principles Of Christianity.
God desires the hearts. the affec,
tons. the will, Of His people These
He graciously condescends to accept
along with our imperfect talents and
to use them in His service. to the
blessing of others. At best we are
still Improbable servants. But He
| lnNlnrlY accents our feehle efforts 10