Smyrna times., 1963-05-02

OAhNAOA AllE tlOK = VI AtlG
WORLD
Fear and despair fill the
minds of men. World tensions
deepen. Potential foes grow
more belligerent with eachpas-
sing month. Friends of right
eousness and freedom are be-
ing set one against the other.
Nervous anxiety mounts. Men
worry and wonder.
Governments seem frust-
rated, divided, and seek to avoid
responsibility. Great concern
is shown in how to advance
the party, and little concern
shown In how to maintain the
create principles of justice and
truth.
Materialsim, as a cancerous
growth, is largely to blame for
the world chaos. Materialistic
philosophy came into places of
great prominence about one
hundred years ago. 1t marched
arrogantly into our pulpits un-
der the guise ofmodern thought.
1t repudiated supernaturalism
and declared man to be his own
savior. 1t came boldly into the
school rooms as advance SCI
ence, declaring the brute origin
of man. In the name of SCI
ence 1t affirmed that sin is
but the carry over from the
animal. We were taught that
man by his own effort would
outlaw war, cause vice and
crime to disappear from the
earth, and oppression and pow
erty would be unheard of. We,
by our unaided skill, we're to
build our slower of babel" to
the skies. Man was his own re-
demmer; man was his own god.
We became so in love with
ourselves that we forgot God.
We made lip service to a Su-
preme Being, but ruled Him
out as Creator, Preserver and
Ruler of the world. Jesus, 1t
was affirmed, was the ideal
man, but a mere man, the sta
ture of which any of us might
attain. AS our prosperity in
creased our morals were drug
ged. sit is true." says David
Lawrence in us. News and
World Reports, ''that as ma
tions enjoy a higher and high
er standard of living, they be-
come more interested In pre-
serving their luxlries than In
preserving the ideals which
them great"
The hope of this pleaure-
made, luxury-loving decadent
age is not In materialistic
thought and planning. 1t is In
Jesus Christ the Lord. Let all
who are urging a return to re-
ligion know that there is no
way to God but through Jesus
Christ. ''No man cometh unto
the Father but by me-" are
words of inspired wisdom. To
disregard them If folly indeed.
People who look with envy upon
our possessions must be made
to know of our Christ. Those
who admire our freedom must
be made to see that our free
doms stem from the Living
Word. Unless we are sincere
In our declaration that our
greatness stems from our faith
In Christ we face a twofold
peril. Our enemies will unite
against us to our destruction,
and the Almighty God will pour
out upon us the Walls of His
wrath.
Much will be written about
the birth of the Christ Child,
and none too much, but His
coming was to put away sin.
Unless individuals and nations
put away sin and repudiate the
wrong already done, all pagen-
try and lip service are close
to mockery.
The Hope of the world is
Jesus. Man is walled In by
wickedness which shuts him
from God. Jesus said, 81 am
the door"--the door of escape
from the slavery of sin.
Man is spiritually hungry,
furnishing in the far country.
Jesus declared, "Iam the bread
OF life";; the souls longing may
be met in Jesus.
Man is surrounded by moral
and spiritual darkness. He is
inclined to think good is bad
and bad is good. Jesus said,
II am the light of the world"
Wherever His name is pro-
claimed with authority, there
the effects of moral darkenss
are dispelled and holiness and
benevolences come to bless the
people.
Jesus Crist is the Hope of
the world, and there is none,
other.