The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1920-08-20


literary lights of
the last generation was standing one
evening on the edge of crowd of gay
young people who were enjoying
dance at a seaside hotel. A bright
young woman of promise paused to
greet him. Being In thoughtful mood
he simply said: "My dear, what are
you living for2' The kindly earnest
ness of that question impressed Itself
upon her heart, and before she slept
that night, she had settled the ques-
ton on her knees. The result was
the dedication Of her life to Jesus
Christ and the turning away from the
ways of the world.
There are two general conceptions
CT the way of life mentioned In the
Bible. They are represented in two
texts, one from the old and the other
from the new Testament. "The fool
hath said In his heart. there is no
Cod" or literally, simply mo God"
Why is II said here that the person
who lives the "no-God" kind Of life
Is a fool? Certainly the term Is not
enc OF determination as commonly
used, but simply means unwise, lack
Ing In good judgment, or common
sense. Why is 1t that the goddess life
is foolish llfei
(1) 1t Is contrary to sound reason.
One who undertakes to live without
God neglects the greatest and most
evident facts In the universe. These
facts appear in nature, history, our
own consciences, our own religious In
stincts, and the fact of the Bible. The
evidence of God, and his relation to
human life In these different phases
finds no explanation outside Of the
necessary and vital relation as ex-
planned In the Christian Scriptures.
(2) The "no-God-life" Is foolish be
cause 1t is self-degrading. Man was
made "a little lower than Cod" He
was given supremacy over nature and
over himself. He lost this supremacy
through sin. Out of relation with
God. he is below the creature. Only In
returning to God through Jesus Christ
can he be restored.
(3) A 'no-God-life" Is foolish be-
cause of its being for time and sense
only. To live such life man must
deny the instinct of immortality with
in his own breast, and he cannot do
this as he looks out upon the world
Of sin and inequality and injustice
without foolishly denying the moral In
tegrity OF the universe.
Contrasted with this life of folly Is
the wisdom of God" Solomon said:
"wisdom is the principal thing, there
fore get wisdom and with all thy get
ting get understanding" Many today
are changing this text. For them 1t
reads, money is the principal thing,
therefore get money. and with all thy
getting ret wealthy. Pleasure is the
principal thing, therefore get pleasure
and with all thy getting. get a good
time. A comfortable home is the prin-
cipal thing. therefore build a beauti-
full house, and with all thy getting, get
well-feathered nest But what IL
the wisdom OF which the wise man
speaks. He answers: "The fear Of
Of the Lord is the beginning" or "the
chief part" "of wisdom" The fear Of
the Lord means the proper recognition
OF Gods place In the universe. and
his relation TO human life. The only
explanation OF these relationships
that has brought any satisfaction TO
the heart of man is found In the rev.
citation OF God In Jesus Christ the
Saviour from sin. He that believeth
on the Son hath everlasting life, but
ne that believeth not on the Son shall
not see life. but the wrath Of God
abldeth on him."
The other way OF life is revealed in
the New Testament text: seek We
nrst the kingdom Of God and his right
eousness. and all these things shall be
added unto you" II Is the "God-de-
voted-life" illustrated In a person who
recognizes his relation TO God as the
thing Of chief Importance In all life,
who having realized his helplessness In
sin has turned to Jesus Christ for sal
walton, and out Of the gratitude Of his
heart. devotes his life to his service
without reserve. whole-heartedly. This
Is the rational and reasonable life for
every man who, ruined In the fall, In
restored through redemption by the
precious blood Of Jesus Christ to q
position higher than that Of the an
gels.