beams of jungle houses. From the out side the structure may appear to be sound. It’s almost impossible to see the minute hole the beetle uses to get inside. Going unnoticed, however, it will bore many tunnels inside the wood until final ly the supports give way and the struc ture collapses. It has been found that the only way to stop this destructive pest is by painting the wood with a special coating poisonous to the beetle. I f the insect has already begun his de structive work, each hole must be plugged. Hearing of this problem we are readily reminded that there is a destroy ing element known as sin that bores into our hearts. A t first it may seem to be a very small and harmless thing. As an example, we may feel that a casual word about someone, or telling a small exaggeration, or cheating just a little bit, or disobeying some unimportant law, will not mean much. The difficulty is that it never stops there. The trouble with giving in to sin and our old nature is that it is never satisfied. It constantly wants more. One lie leads to another. The only way to guard against sin is in dependence upon the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are as sured, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” * * * If you find life empty, try putting some thing into it. * * * DEATH'S DEFEAT Perhaps you remember that several years ago there was a terrible fire in a Chicago school building. More than 90 children and teachers lost their lives, in addition to the numerous others who 22
STILLING THE MOCKER In the little epistle of Jude we are warned that in the days just preceding our Lord!8 return there will come mock ers, not having the Spirit of Christ, but actually ridiculing the Gospel of our Saviour. Certainly if ever there were a word to characterize the age in which we are living it is just that, “mockers.” A wealthy man, who had no use for the Bible and merely considered God dead, if indeed He had ever lived, stopped to visit the Fiji Islands while on a world tour. Because of his prominence he was taken to visit an old native chief who dearly loved the Lord. In a kind and yet positive manner, the businessman scoffed, “I ’m surprised that you fell for the superstition of the missionaries. How could you have accepted Christianity?" The old chief was silent for a moment. Then with a smile he answered, “You see that rock over there? It was on that stone altar that our forefathers slaugh tered hundreds of people, cooking their flesh over that rock fireplace. I f it had not been for the missionaries you would never leave this place alive. We could well be feasting upon your roasted body tonight. Jesus Christ made all the dif ference.” The transformation in life and character comes through salvation. This is what the Apostle Paul meant when writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature, old things are passed away, behold all things are become new.” * * * The greatest of all faults is to be con scious of none. * * * S IN 'S DESTRUCTION In parts of Africa there is an insidi ous insect known as the boring beetle. Obviously it gets its name because of its constant attack on wooden rafters and
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