The Nevada County picayune., 1923-05-17


 s x Self-exa nina. sss ssss$ssSss x K .>a tion i'll the light of eternity is a very wholesome anu safe thing 10 do. even though to many it is q forgotten arr these ddts 1he real test of a thing, after 3A4t is iios how it will look before men, hui hoN il will appear in the hour of aea.t' the morning of the resurrection, the day of judgment. the light ot elerhitH' and the presence If the Lord Every. thing therefore should be tested ID 1Ae light of that day even our feIlsl9us professions; for except the Lord build the house they labor in vain that build it." IL the all important con cerns of the soul no one should take anything for granted; certainly DO che should let the question of his soul salvation hang en q peradHentnre when there are SD many thus saltH the Lords" to anchor to.
 The people Of the text were sur, prised, then startled, then dumfoand. ed. First 1t is not everyone s-thefe may be profession without salvation. Then the "not-eyery-ouea becomes the "many-will-s in that day, SD there may be great works without sal vation. Then both classes are dis owned and summarily dismissed from the presence of tie Lord and the very works they were trusting in ] beled iniquitous.
 Isn't the whole thing startling Here they had gone long way in religion. and had kept it up long while without the deadly mistake coming to ltsht until they were ush- cred into tie presence of the Lord. and made the awful discovery of their false position from the lips of the very One they had been so freely calling Lord. l say. isn't the whole thing startling
 The question naturally arises What was the matter with them. wherein was their error? Did they not make an open profession? Did they not undertake Christian service If a high elassf Did they not from all appear ance obtain remarkable success Did they not do nil their many wonderful works in a thoroughly orthodox man ner-in the name of the Lord: And did they not cling to the hope If eli tering heaven to the very lasff Most certainly they did, and herein hangs the tale If their terror and crushing . .f,.r | Lord tells them, 'I never kneW YoH. Not tAat l once knew you and cannot own you ne~, but l never knew you as real peHtltents, humble believers, true followers.
 Their trouble was an old ole. as ald as the sacrifice of Cain Their wor- ship was mere will worship, which is as truly idelatrous as heather idol worship | consists In substituting something to take the place of obe#ll- ence 10 the known will of God. That is. they made a practice of doing what they wanted to do instead of what they ought to do. Like the SamaritanS of old thcy feared the Lord but served their own gods. They were great CT al doing than living They were industrious indefatlgable workers. hut not humble. obedient Warshlners They were working wonders but not making the name of Jesus wonderful TO all sach the sentence goes out T never knew you" and all their work is declared inlqultous bv the Lord himself, He knows us only by what He has done in us, not by what We do for the church or society in His name. The mark is not outward Ii Is inward. My sheep hear my voice, and l know them, and they fol low me and l give unto them eternal life To the rich young ruler the crucial test was, Take up your cross and follow me" He becomes inc source of eternal salvation to tbosa only who obey Him "Ye are my dis cipleS if ye do whatsoever command you" The heart of the whole mat. ter, then, is q personal obedience to o personal Christ Does your profession dear reader, measure up to this stand. ard?
 The story is told of a certain ean tain who, essaying to enter the barhar of Liverpool with q storm threatenInc and ignorant of the danger involved was allowing his vessel to drift into the flats where It would be impossihla to handle the boat when the storn, broke The ptIot who .,,oe 1., "