The Farmville herald and farmer-leader. (Farmville, Va.) 1934-1957, 1954-12-03

they did not pray -
for them to hap - - -
pen but rather DR.. Foreman
that they would not happen. Still
as We saw last week. even in the
midst Of terrible troubles they
could sing because they knew that
God is over all and they felt
themselves on his side, at his
side
sFsaklng With God
But what happens when a man
cannot feel that ne is on Gods
side How does it feel to know
God is against you. not for YOU"
How does ii feel 10 be on the
other side OF wall from God?
Some OF the Psalmists had been
through an experience which we
call by the simple name OF Sin.
Now sin is not merely single acts.
ii is the whole dark business OF
brc aking with God Sin is the
state of things when man and
God are no longer partners Sin
is losing the one support man
can count on in time or trouble
II the worst comes to the worst,
II is not death or pain or failure
that is most to be feared. il is
being loose and lost in the world
without God God never breaks
with man unless the man has
broken first But when a man
has as good as acted as II there
was no God at all; when he has
$ good as said to God, Go your
way and III 60 mine when ne
has done what Gcd does not want
done and failed TO 90 Wha, God
wants done; when hc has refused
Gods help, refused to associate
with Gods people. refused even
TO speak to God what can God do
with such a man? He could blast
him out OF existence in a twink
ling, or he could compel his obedi-
ence; but God does not operate
that way In the simple chilling
words Of St. Paul Romans II
God gives up such man He
lets the man go his own way
Without Hope
50 long as a man is unaware Of
his sin in God 3 sight he can be
pretty gay. A good many Jolly
people have gone the broad road
to destruction But once a man
begins to see that there is d
break between him and God once
he realizes what he has done he
enters the most terrify ing expert
ence ii is possible for human be-
ings to have. For now he knows
and how can he mend it, How
his friend he would MOI fear any
enemy. any trouble any dlsas-
ter. Even death would only bring
him to the presence 81 his heav-
emily Father But what il he has
thrown away and deSpiSed the
friendship OF God7 What il death
only brings him face to face with
the condemning judge? man
who has become aware Of what
sin is what his own sin is, knows
that unless God can do something
about it, he is without hope III
this world or the next 1t is Of no
use to believe in the victory OF
eternal love il he himself has
been fighting on the wrong side
Even if he makes complete
turn-a bout this very day, what
about all the worSe-than-Wasted
days before. He has done the
damage. he has let loose evil
in the world. Unless God comes
TO his rescue he is truly lost; but
what claim has he on God Why
should God bother with him.
man who has never bothered
about God,
'Thsu Hast Delivered Ny Sour
Those who have known and
loved God best have thanked him
for many blessings; but like the
Psalmists of old, the greatest
blessing and the one which under
lies all others and makes them
bright. is the forgivlnE love OF
God Gods forgiveness is not at
all the same thing as looking the
other way as a careless police
man might when a driver runs
through red light. II is not
Gods saying that 1t really makes
no difference. 1t is Gods uncon-
ouerable love reaching across the
gulf between himself and us who
have sinned. Three things We
need to remember about this one
is that God forgiveness is never
forced on any one, never prom
ised TO those who do not turn from
their sins TO God. One IS that
when man has known the real
forgiveness OF God he shows it in
changed life.
tBAsed on eatIines eep,risktss b. tss
I nivi>isr 81 Christian EdHeatisn, Ma
tieral Council 81 the Churches 81 Christ
Ia the L. s. A. Released BY Com munilT
Press Servieeo