Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-07-24

the world, with its
heartaches and sor-
rows, but detachment from the world
is not what Jesus desires; we find
Jesus where the heartaches and needs
are the greatest.
John Bunyan pictures Christian at
the wicket gate Of earthly desires and
fond ambitions up0n his back; but his
entrance is refused till he discards the
pack: then his life is flooded with the
JOY of entering tho Stra!tened gate.
Jesus said it was easier for a camel
to go through the eye of a needle than
for n rich man to enter heaven by
the straitpned way, because almost in
cvitably the cares of his possessions
demand first concern III his life, and #
a man would enter heaven. the abode
Of the eternal. he must give these
things first concern.
There are multitudes Of handicaps
in the way of those who would enter
the strait gate. The danger Of life
is in Understanding difficulties, not
that difficulties are barriers, but diff
ficulties come to MS to be surrounded
lou will always find someone standing
at the entrance of the gate urging you
not to 60 in. Sometimes that some
one is a friend. sometimes the mem
bers Of our own household. sometimes
it is the crowd or the gang with which
we travel. saving to us, don you do
it, you will lose al 1.-The poy Of life. To
such it were far better that a mill
stone were hanged about their neck
and that they be sunken to the bot
tom of the sea.
Then you viii find the false pro
phets who hover about you III sleeps
clothing saying the way is easy and
beguile you into some ism and make
you think religion is all JOY and simp-
ly n great lark: remember Jesus said
the way is strait and encountered with
difficulties.
Then along ZONES the liberal mind
ed personality who snePrs at the strait
gate end the narrow way. The dan
ger of liberality today is that it is
apt to become so broad that there is
no depth of personality at all; all the
soul virtue becomes simply a temper
airy veneer, better be narrow and deep
and have some real burning soul ron
viction. that will burn itself into the
age in which you live. Jesus said.
not every one that saith unto mo Lord.
Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of
God. but he that doeth the will of my
Father who is in heaven
Again the adversary of our souls
lies in wait with special bait: he seeks
10 lull our fears. if he sees that we
have concern about religion, and says.
don't get excited: it seems to be all
right 10 get excited about other things.
but surely We must not get alarmed
about religion. Again the adversary
seeks to Supply our conscience by sat
iSfying US merely with the p~leasurable
things Of life and deadening US to the
greater values Of life.
Entering the straight gate requires
n high type of carnestness. St. Paul
likens the straitcned way journey
10 n who is contnnding for a prize
a public game. If people used the
same type of carneStnrss in trying to
enter the strait gate that they do in
to win the first prize in a game
Of afternoon or evening bridge, in place
of being few there would be many en-
tering the strait gate.
Many are called. but few chosen,
that is. TO many come the invitation,
but comparatively few are willing to
make the sacrifice involved. Many will
seek the broad way because il looks
easier; the broad way is crowded with
travellers, seemingly happy and uncon-
cerned. gathering fruits and flowers
which hang 50 temptingIy by the way
side.
Who are on the broad way? Ma
tons which forget God; statesmen who
leave God out Of their program; schol-
who 90 to seed on mind culture
and have no place for God in their
medItations; poets and artists who do
not recognize the beauty of the holi-
ness of God; strong men and beautiful
are treading the broad way with
mirth and spIendor, joys and ban
quoting, music and dancing. stopping
TO the goddess of Bacchus. who re
gard not the work of the Lord. neither
The operation of His hands.
The broad way looks easier but
puppets of US. The narrow way
ooks more difficult, but the lions disap-
pear as you advance and the longer you
walk it the more delightful it becomes.
The poet gives TO us the challenge
is in walking the straitened way:
My soul. be on thy guard,
Ten thousand foes arise;
The hosts of sin are pressing hard
to draw thee from the skies.
watch and fight and pray,
The battle ra'er give DER;
Renew it boldly every day
And help divine implore.'"