ing your Bible, you’re giving a wit ness to others. Keep in mind that Satan is going to do all he can to keep you from telling others the most wonderful news in all the world: salvation by grace through the blood of Christ. Q. Denver, Colo. — “I often suffer with pains in my arms. My hands are very stiff. Yet, this physical suf fering is minor compared to my fear of paralysis. In I John 4:18 I am told that, ‘perfect love casteth our fea/r.’ Can you tell me how I can make this real in my life?” A. This is a lesson all of us need to learn throughout our lives. We can truly sympathize with our friend. The impending spectre of illness haunts all of us. It’s even harder to face the future when we’re not well. In this passage, John, under the in spiration of the Holy Spirit, is re minding us that as believers we don’t have to face eternal punishment. Jesus reminds us that while we are in the world, we are to expect tribu lation. I’m thankful, however, that He didn’t stop there. There can be victory because of His indwelling, overpowering Holy Spirit. We would encourage our friend, and others in a similar position, to get all the help possible both through prayer and medical science which the Lord pro vides. Then, rest your whole being, both for time and eternity, in the Lord Jesus Christ. Ask Him to give you a deep, settled, and unwavering sense of His perfect love. He will answer your prayer (Jas. 1:5). Q. Long Beach, Calif. — “I pray for patience every morning. While my day begins well, after school, when the children come home with all their friends, I think I ’m going to be a nervous wreck. Should I keep my children from bringing their friends home with them until my nerves get better?”
find declared in Galatians 4:4, 5. By personal faith in Christ, we are adopted into God’s family for eter nity future. He is God and we are finite forever. Q. Portland, Ore. — “In Exodus 20:4 one o f th e Ten Commandments states, ‘Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.’ Don’t you think some Christians today worship the cross? Isn’t this a sin?” A. To worship anything rather than God would be a sin. Unfortunately some people treat the cross like a lucky piece or amulet. There is no basis in Christianity for idolatry. Q. Tucson, Ariz. — “I ’m a Christian and try to read my Bible every day. Still I find it difficult to tell others about the Saviour. P e rh a p s I ’m afraid. I read in the Bible that if we don’t confess our Lord before men, Christ won’t confess us before our heavenly Father. Could I lose my salvation, or what?” A. First of all, keep in mind that one’s eternal salvation is based only on one factor: personal saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This verse teaches us that our Saviour is con fessing and commending us before our heavenly Father. If we fail in certain areas of our Christian lives there is simply nothing for Him to commend. It is unfortunate, as our friend expressed it so honestly con cerning the fear we have in our hearts in witnessing to others. It may be that our temerity is based on an assumption that we’ll be per sonally embarrassed in some man ner. This, of course, is pride. There are many reasons for fear in testify ing about the Saviour. Yet keep in mind that there are many ways in which we can tell others about Him which are not just preaching. It’s of paramount concern that we make certain our lives are living epistles, known and read of all men. By carry
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