The interesting thing about the author was that Mrs. Lemmel her self was completely blind. Yet she had a much greater spiritual per ception than many people who have their full physical faculties of vision. Of course the world will ask, "Well, what happiness is there in turning away from the things of this earth?" Let us never forget that the world is dead in trespasses and sins. Humanly speaking, un saved people can see nothing but the passing fancies of this life. This is not to infer that things on earth are always sinful in themselves. Yet even that which is harmless becomes dangerous when it is giv en a place above Christ. He should be pre-eminent. As an illustration, there is nothing intrinsically wrong with the newspaper, but when we spend more time reading that, or some magazine, or perhaps watch ing television, than we do in study ing and meditating upon the Word of God, we deprive ourselves of the spiritual nourishment so vitally needed and available only from God. I personally do not believe there is anything wrong with at tending football, baseball or some other game. Sports and athletics are healthful and relaxing. Yet, if we deprive ourselves of fellowship with God's children in church or if we have not personally spent time alone with the Lord — this can be harmful. This is that about which Scripture warns when it tells us not to set our affections upon the things of this earth. Further, consider the car you drive. There is nothing wrong with possessing an automobile and there is noth ing wrong necessarily with owning a higher-priced model. But when
a person does this to the exclusion of investing in God's program of redemption and the proclamation of salvation around the world, then he has set his affections upon the things of this earth and not upon the things of heaven. This truth penetrates every area of our lives. Everything we do should be examined in the light of the question, "Where are my af fections really centered?" Make no mistake, we do not secure salva tion by the kind of life we live. We are not saved by what we do, but by what we become as children of God through faith. Where we are and what we have become obli gates us to a life of Christ-likeness. This can certainly be underscored again and again in our daily exis tence. In Colossians 3:3 we are re minded that we are dead and our lives are hid with Christ in God. There is both a positional and a practical aspect to salvation. When we receive Christ as Saviour, posi tionally, we are sanctified. But keep in mind, there is something more than this for there must follow the daily growth or the spiritual ma turity. This is not perfectionism as far as sin is concerned but pro- gressionism in the stature of Christ that we may grow more in the like ness of the Lord. During World War II, sailing across the Pacific, I can remember seeing the first mate compute the ship's position by studying past movements recorded in the log book. Even without astronomical observations, due to cloudy weath er, a position could be determined. This was called "dead reckoning." We know that the Word of God is the Christian's Log Book. There
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