The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-05-23

the heroes of that
titanic struggle.
In the center of jewel-studded gold
and silver, and a perfect riot of color
in silk and satin, is a very lnsignif-
~cant-l0oking decoration. 1t is in the
shape of a Maltese cross. the color of
a dirty penny, and is made Of the can
non captured at the battle Of Sebasto-
pol In the Crimean war. Underneath
the British crest surmounted by a lion
are the words For Valor." 1t is the
Victoria cross-inStituted in 1856 by
the queen of England whose name 1t
bears, and bestowed upon common
soldier and sailor for exceptional
bravery in the face of a forlorn hope.
1t has become the most coveted honor
in the British empire. The bearer Is
entitled to write the letters "N. C."
after his name and wherever he ap-
pears in barracks or on s|hlpboard, due
honors are accorded him. All the
wealth and titles of royalty cannot
purchase this simple insignia. 1t is
reserved for the common man-all are
eligible.
In the fifteenth chapter of Genesis,
we have the worlds first great hero
cited for faith in God. Three times
after he has finished his remarkable
career, he Is called the Friend of God.
Art not thou our God. who dldst
drive out the inhabitants of this land
before thy people Israel, and gayest
il to the seed of Abraham thy friend
%foreyer?' II Chron, POI. But thou
Israel art my servant, JACOB whom l
have chosen. the seed of Abraham my
frlend."-Isaiah Il 8.
And the Scripture was fulfilled
which saith, Abraham believed God,
and it was imputed upon him for
righteousness: and he was called the
Friend of God."-James 2:23. This is
a greater honor than the Victoria
cross-bestOwed not for yalor but for
faith. 1t is conferred upon all who
qualify by daring to believe God In
the face of the most discouraging cir
c~umStances.
|. What Does II Mean to Be the
Friend of God7
Friend is one of the sweetest and
tenderest words in the human Ian
guage. 1t describes the clarifying in
timaey of every relationship in life.
Husband and wife, father and son,
mother and daughter, brother and sis
ter are all enriched by the frienship
enjoyed. Charles Kingsley declared
this the secret of his life-'I had a
friend" One had carved upon his
tombstone, Here Les the friend of Sir
Philip Sydney" Many have sought
to express this summum bonum of the
Christian life, by writing the Won
drous condescension of God, in admit
ting redeemed mortals TO an intimacy
that inspires such songs as, What a
Friend We Have in Jesus Jesus Is
a Friend Of Nine and I've Found q
Friend" But Abraham enjoyed a still
greater distinction He vas called
the Friend OF God" Think what this
means. A friend trusts you and will
not hear a word against you. A friend
sticks TO you in spite of circumstances,
and loves you with all your faults. A
friend is never offended though often
grieved. A friend understands you
without explanation and shares with
you the deepest condolences. Think
of being a friend of God in hat way.
God trusts me, understands me. loves
me. will not hear a word against me
and tells me His secrets. Has earth
anything beyond this?
II. What Is the Basis of Such an
Honor?
Why did God speak of abraham
my friend?" Not because this patri-
arch was perfect II sinless. not be-
cause Of any great service performed,
not because Of charity, philanthropy.
Bur because Of nth and obedience.
abraham believed Cod and acted
accordingly. God tested him TO the
full and he staggered not but dared to
believe the impossible. Aged and child
less. God says, "Caast thou count the
stars? So shall thy seed be-" and he
believed it.
His wife laughed 1t him his neigh
bors said he was %isionary but Abra-
ham was firm In faith, giving glory to
God. No wonder God cited him for
highest honors and decorated him
with this insignia, The Friend of
Cod"
How precious the news that such
honor Is not limited to Abraham but
that all can win this high reward.
Faith and obedience are still condi-
tlonal to friendship. "Ye are my
friends if ye do whatsoever I command
you" This sounds like slavery and in
a sense it is, but 1t Is the slavery of
Joyful confidence in a great and glori-
Gus leader, not the bondage of the gal
ley slave chained TO the oar, but that
of the soldier, fire with enthusiasm
for service. God s looking for men
and women who will believe Him to-
day. abraham believed Cod" VII
you add, II believe God?" Faith Is
the victory that overcomes the world"