The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1918-08-21
SUNDAY SCHOOL NOTES
Side Lights On Next Sundays
Lesson fer Teachers and Pupils
Edited by Charles x. Meyers.

August rs, Christian Testimony.
Acts I, 8; Matt. 10, 1898; James 1,
26, 81.
Christian testimony This is GER
tainly great subject. The bible ref
erence from Acts contains the words
of Jesus just before His ascension,
when He tells His disciples to remain
at Jerusalem until they have power
from on high and then they were to
be. His witnesses to the uttermost
parts of the earth. Here was the COM
mission of the early disciples direct
from the mouth of Jesus. Like Paul
who received his call later, they were
not disobedient to their divine call,
but preached diligently until death
came to take them home to the place
which Jesus had gone to prepare for
them.
The first verses of the reference in
Matthew recall the words of Jesus
when He tells us to fear not those who
can simply kill the body, but those
who can kill the soul and send it to
hell. Then follows the assurance that
God cares for His children. When one
considers what is meant in the early
days to go out preaching the new Cos
pei they will appreciate the need OF
the words of Jesus saying, that none
were beyond His care. Jesus would
infuse into His preachers and those
who want to confess Him, the feeling
that this human life is as nothing be-
side the great future. Our brave boys
in the present war have the feeling
in many cases that one who dies for
his country need have no fear for his
future in the great beyond. We can
not give assurance that one who dies
in battle at the end of a tough career
thus wipes out the past and receives
the well done" of Jesus, but i know
that he or she who loses life for the
sake of preaching the gospel will be
we'll rewarded.
Our lesson verses contain that most
precious promise from the lips Of
Jesus: ~ tsas
whatsoever shall confess Me be-
fore men, him will confess also
before My Father which is in
heaven"
What a great promise is this. Think
of what it means. What else can it
mean than that even the humblest
person who makes confession of be-
lief in Jesus here from day to day,
will have remembrance for this from
Jesus in heaven. It has always seem
led to me that the promise was very
much one sided in favor Of US poor
mortals on earth. With public opin-
ion ready to hear testimony for the
bible and the Jesus religion, there is
every encouragement and no fear to
profess Christ, give thanks for saliva
ton and praise Him. for the bible and
all the blessings which it has given
each individual and the world in gen.
eral. Most of us would be very happy
in the thought that President Wilson,
a great general OF France, England or
America would recognize us by name
and add words of commentator of
our conduct. What, however, is such
recognition beside commentator from
Jesus In heaven before the Father and
the angels? Do not dismiss this ques-
ton hastily for it means SO much.
Jesus when talking says something
else about this matter which presents
the other side Of the picture and He
announced that any who deny Him on
earth these will He deny in heaven. 1t
might be well to remember at all
times that every promise has its re-
verse side, and that all promises are
dependent on obeying God and the
words of Jesus.
There is a command that followers
Of Jesus so let their light shine before
men that they, seeing the good works
Of the christian, may glorify God.
There is the demand for right living
and confessing of Jesus. The words
from James very wisely say IF any
man among you seem to be religious
and bridleth not his tongue, but de.
ceiveth his own heart, this mans re.
ligion is vain" Here again is some.
thing to think upon. 1t is said that
out Of the heart the mouth speaketh
and an unbridled tongue shows bad
heart, and one which is not right with
God. One with such a heart cannot
make a confession of Jesus in the
world which will be of much avail.
The conclusion of the matter is in
part that Jesus asks us to stand for
Him and His gospel fearing nothing;
that He will reward those who truly
do this before the Father in heaven,
but will deny those who are not right
but make false profession. Further,
one who has bad heart, tolerates sin
and who says wrong things, is no true
|christian and his testimony is det-
riment and not help to the cause OF
Jesus.