The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1940-08-01

GOLDEN TEXT-For the LORD KnoWeth
the way of the righteous: but the way of
the ungodly shall perish.-Psalm 1:6.
The most important thing in life
is living. That is not an attempt to
make a striking statement, but a
sincere effort to present fact
which too often escapes our atten-
ton. We are so concentrated upon
making a living, or making money,
or making a name for ourselves,
that we often fail to make a life.
God is more concerned about what
we are than what we do.
There are only two Ways-the
right way and the wrong way. We
build our life either on the true
foundation or the false. There is no
middle way, no half-good founda-
ton. We must choose, and it is
either one or the other.
/. Two Roads Cps. y.
Scripture is not at all concerned
about mixing figures of speech, so
long as the truth is graphically ex-
pressed and fully understood. Here
it speaks of a man walking in the
way, a tree planted by river, the
chaff Of the threshing floor; and then
returns to the figure of walking in
the way. All of these present the
same truth, for essentially the idea
is that of the two ways in which
men walk.
l. Choosing the Way wv. l, 4, g..
Even the choice of his way of life
marks a man as either blessed or
wicked. Some seem to think that
they can choose or just drift into
the wrong way and still have hope
that all will be we'll Their choice,
or their failure to choose, has put
them in the one class or the other.
Making a choice is a vital and
serious matter. Let us do it care
fully. Walking in the counsel or
philosophy of the wicked soon re-
suits in man lingering in the way
of sinners, and before he is aware
of it he will find himself so at home,
that he will sit among them and
scoff.
2. Continuing in the Way wv. 2-4).
The man who will permit the law
of God to control every detail of
life night and day will never go
astray, but will prosper in every
thing he does. Observe that to pros
per does not necessarily mean to
have money, position or recognition
in this world. 1t means to be a sue
cess in the thing which God has
given one to do.
Much that this world calls pros
perity is nothing but an empty show,
while at the same time some lives
which the world says have been
wasted are prosperous in the sight
of God because His will has been
done.
3. At the End of the Way wv. 5,
g.. Every road of life comes to an
end. cit is appointed unto men once
to die, but after this the judgment
(Heb. 9:2T. All yes-the judgment
what will it be in your life and in
mine?
The wicked cannot stand in the
presence of the divine Judge. All
the bold front and boastful talk
which went over so well before men,
loses its flavor and the wicked man
can only expect judgment. 1t is a
dark and dreadful scene, but man
need not go in the way which ends
there, but may turn to God in faith
and repentance.
ii. Two Houses (Matt 7:24-27.
Two men build houses evidently
much alike, but we find that there
is a great difference between them.
/. The Builders wv. "a, 26).
"Wise" and foolish are the build
ers, and what made them so was
their choice of foundation. No
matter how brilliant a man may
seem to be in the learning of this
world, if he rejects Gods Word he
is foolish and bound to suffer the
loss of everything.
2. The Foundations wv. "a, 26).
The foundation of life is really
everything. Built on the sands of
human philosophy or personal de-
sire and in the rejection of Gods
will, man prepares only for disaster.
But-and here is a glorious thought
the Son of God says that if a man
will hear His sayings and build on
them, no storm can destroy his
building. Blessed assurance!
3. The Testing wv. 25, 27). The
time of testing always comes. 1t
may come early in life, or it may
be delayed, but be certain that it
will come. To the believer in Christ
it is only that-a testing, to prove
that his house will stand. But to
the one who has rejected Christ the
testing time brings dreadful de-
Struction.