The Coolidge examiner. [volume] (Coolidge, Ariz.) 1930-current, 1939-01-19

One of the most heartbreaking eX-
periences we have as Christians is
to find that one in whom we have
had every confidence as true and
faithful follower of the Lord, has
denied Him by going out into almost
unbelievable sin. Often it seems
that those who, like Peter, have had
the loftiest and most inspiring fell
lowship with the Lord, and who
speak with the greatest ease about
His love and grace, turn to the
most reprehensible Of sins.
Lest any unbeliever who reads
this begin to gloat over the failures
of Christians, let him be reminded
now of his own sin which needs his
attention, and of the fact that
though Peter fell, he arose again to
victory and usefulness. May it also
be said that none of us has any
right to a 'holier than thou" atti-
tude toward brother who has fall
en-. Let him that thinketh he
SLdIlQelH tdhG iCCu lCol liz Ae'Ai "
Cor. 1912, and let him in broken
hearted sympathy help to restore
his stricken brother lin the spirit of
meekness: considering myself, lest
thou also be tempted" Gal. GID.
1. Sifted but Not Destroyed wv.
81, 32).
&c - for pr-ffII
spiritual being than most folk think,
is actively interested in tempting
the Christian. He uses many clever
devices. Although he is not
possessed of divine powers, he does
have supernatural cunning and
knows the weakness of each one of
us. He knew the boastful self
assurance of Peter and was ready
to tempt him at that point. Jesus
knew this, and even in this dark
hour shortly before His crucifixion
He takes time to warn Peter, and
with His warning to give the as
surance that though it was to be
tried, his faith was not to fail, and
that he was to be restored to fellow
ship and service when he turned
again." which is the correct trans
lation for the word converted.
III. Self-asSurance and Disgraceful
Failure wv 33. "a, $500.
Peter was sure of himself and Of
his conservation to the Lord. A
man who stands in that place is in
grave danger. 1t is not long before
we find Peter, apparently presum-
ing on his own ability to stand fast,
consorting with the enemies of
Christ, warming himself by their
fire. Someone has suggested that
the great spiritual problem Of our
day is not the conflict between the
Church and the world; nor is it to
determine how the Church can best
serve in the world, but rather what
to do about the world which has
gotten into the Church. How did
worldliness get into the Church?
The members brought it there after
they had gone out and warmed them
selves at the worlds fire, and fell
lowshiped with the world in ungodly
living.
The denials made by Peter seem
almost unbelievable in the life of
one who had been in immediate fell
lowship with the Lord and who had
seen His glory. We have here a
revelation of the fact that 1.-The heart
is deceitful above all things and des-
perately wicked; who can know it?"
Jer l7:9). We agree with DR.. Will
bur M. Smith: This is of the Dew
H. This is humanity sinking to the
lowest plane of base ingratitude.
This is shame upon shame" One
might have hoped that one denial
would bring quick and sincere re-
pentance, but instead it leads the
way to a second and to a third.
There seemed to be nothing that
could stop Peter, until the Lord
turned and looked at him. This
suggests the only effective way to
deal with backsliders. Argument.
pleading, even shaming them, will
do no good. We must bring them to
the place where they meet their
Lord.
Ill. The Look of Love and a Bro
ken Heart (vv. 81, 62).
What was in the look of Jesus is
perhaps best expressed by Alexan-
der Maclaren: 1T spoke of Christ's
knowledge, of Christs pain, of
! Christ's love-"
The backslider needs first of all to
realize that the Lord knows all
| about his denials and sin. He has
been hiding things from his family
and friends, denying accusations,
trying to cover up his guilt. Let him
now abandon every such effort.
Jesus knows all about it.
The second thing to be realized is
that he has added to the pain and
sorrow of his Lord. For a believer
to turn away from Him is no light
matter, to be casually dealt with.
He needs to be deeply conscious of
! the wounding of the heart of the
Lord, as we'll as of the damage done.
But above all it was a look Of