The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1922-12-14

%S$#IMH in study Of
@A these to determine
26ka which Is the
~ greatest. The fact
~~A Is each one seems
to illustrate DIFF
ferent virtue Of godly living.
The pen pictures Of Abraham furnish
most Interesting and profitable study
TOR us today. Many chapters are nee
essary to set forth the life of faith
eXemplified in the one who earned the
divine designation, "The Father Of the
Faithful" We Shall endeavor to en-
pfasizc several phases of the life Of
faith In succeeding sermons. We begin
with "rhe Call to Life OF Faith"
There nre only two positions for the
soul In it's relationship to God-fuith
or sight. 1--WE walk by faith not by
sight" is an incscapable differentiation
OF Gods Word. One or the other-a
"by faith" or "by sight" life.
The sight position is the sense posi-
ton. 1t is the pursuit Of the material
satisfied with things that perish;
life guided by natural reason. Faith
is the opposite. 1t is "the evidence
Of things not seen. the substance of
things hoped fora life which can
only find its pleasure in God, taught
by His Word, and guided by His
Spirit.
1t was to life of faith that Abra-
ham, Chadean prince, was called. Tho
glory of God appeared to him, living
In the blaze Of material splendor. He
nht,S. Il t,SL
land, simply trusting in the God who
had promised. Many times since
Abraham's far away day has the vision
appeared and the call sounded TO
Moses. keeping sheep in INDIAN; to
Elisha, blowing in the field; to Isaiah
ministering In the temple; to Amos,
gathering fruit at Tekoa; to Peter.
washing fishing nets; to Matthew, col
iccting taxes; to Saul of Tarsus, bent
f, on persecution. To Cromwell, from
! his farm; to Luther, from his monas-
terry cell; to Carey, from the cobbler's
bench; to Moody, from the shoe store.
And, to every man and woman who has
/ heard the Gospel. the vision Of God
and the voice Of God have come, call
Ing away from sight to faith. This
call involves three things:
Separation.
We have the very words Of the call
in Genesis 2:1-3. "Get thce out of
thy country, and from the kindred,
and from thy fathers house unto a
! land that | will show thee" He was
to sever connections with every phase
cr the old life, It's habits, its associa.
| tons, its environments. This was to
be the magic word opening the dooi
| Of fnith';; treasure house. God could
not perfect His plan or perform His
| promises until Abraham was loose
| from every vcstige of the sense life.
This is the key to the Christian life.
1t alone opens the treasure house. The
measure OF our separation determines
the achievements Of our faith.
Sacrifice.
Abraham was deeply attached to his
kindred his home, his native land. It
was tremendous tearing loose from
all the human heart holds dear. Hc
did not become detached by one act of
cutting off. His kindred went with
him and kept him in IInran, the half
way place. until Terah, his father.
died. Still Lot clung to him and
caused him sorrow and loss until he
moved out One by one the things Of
tic old life must go If faith is to be
triumphant. 1t cost his all.
But this Is the very thing that
makes faith precious. Values are al
ways determined by cost. The things
we get for nothing are worth little
more. Diamonds are more precious
than dirt, therefore cost more. Man
is greater than a shcep--hencc he could
only be redeemed at infinite cost. Sal.
| vation is Gods free gift but the ac-
ceptnnce Of 1t cruciiics us unto the
I world and the world unto us. Sacrl-
| fee is the touchstonc Of Il living faith
Every real advance in the life of faith
involves an altar on which some dear
I; fragment Of the sclf-lifc must die. or
some bit of world possession must be
| offered up. Oh. how few are willing
to pay the price
Submission.
Obedience is not only m act, 1t Ia
attitude. Abraham went out. He ma.
circulated In the school Of faith. MANY
lessons must be learned. Step by step
he must walk, advancing from one
plnne Of experience to another. Test
ed. reproved encouraged. blessed un-
til he becomes the Friend OF God.
taken into the divine confidence. It Is
worth the cost. the separation and sac
riticc to have God nsk. Shall hide
from Abraham, my friend, this thing
that l Will do?" "Ye are my friends
If We do Whatsoever command YOU"
Are you longing for renl true friend.