June, 1941
TH E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
220
War in Which There Is No Discharge By HERBERT LOCKYER
death, dealt the death blow to the enemy of souls, and we must avail ourselves of that victory. Struggle Against Selfishness Moreover, life is a constant battle field upon which selfishness—individual, social, communal, and national—must be daily done to death. Paul refers to a law warring in his members. The law of greedy self still wars among the members of home, business, and church groups. Until our dying day, we will be engaged in the' hot contest against all forms of greed. The subtle foe of selfishness dies hard. It is easy to walk in silver slippers on the sunny side of the street, where self is catered to, and to slink through life and ne.ver strike a blow for the truths the world hates, never rebuke ridicule of holy things, never denounce injustice, never speak against selfish vices. True soldiers, however, daily victorious through the power, of Him who spared not Himself, 'know what it- is to overcome by the blood of the Lamb, and they love not their own lives unto death. Struggle Against Life’ s Cares One translation of Solomon’s preg nant phrase is: "In war there is no furlough.” And how true this is when we consider the cares and responsibil ities of life! The firing never ceases in this battle. Day-after day, we have to endure a great fight of afflictions. The battle goes on until we are taken out of the body in which we work and weep and are translated to the land where there are no burdens. It is an enlistment for life in this war, for man is bom to trouble as the sparks fly upward. In Domestic Life. There are multi tudes of women on whom the burdens of life press heavily. They have only one pair of hands, and they cannot do everything, and those around who could help to'lift the load are not as thought ful as they might be. Are these lines being read by some one who feels like giving up and running away? My dear woman, cheer up! You are serving in the army of the world’s bravest fight-
,"There Is no discharge In that war” (Eccl. 8:8). W HEN WARRING nations de the conflict is over, they are discharged and allowed to return to their own spheres and to more peaceful and se cure occupations. What a blissful world this would be if only the peoples of the earth would stop their fighting! All of us would breathe more freely if only we knew that peace is at hand. But there never will be any permanent cessation of bloody wars until the Lord Jesus Christ Himself comes to usher« in His righteous reign. There are wars we are perpetually in, and from which there is no dis charge. Although Death is the imme diate enemy spoken of in Ecclesiastes 8:8 which is before us, the truth of Scripture warrants our extendihg the application of the verse. Here, then, are some of the foes assailing the peace of man, as well as the life of communities and nations. Conflict with Sin The Bible is full of references to the believer’s holy warfare against sinful foes. Our war is against the world, the flesh, and the deVil. And this is a war from which there is no dis charge. We must remain soldiers until death or the return, of the Lord Jesus Christ makes possible our demobiliza tion. Not for a moment should we lay abide the weapons of our warfare or loosen our armor, for Satan waits to take advantage of the least slackness. "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil!’ (Eph. 6:10, 11). “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds” (2 Cor. 1Q:4>. A t times, we may grow weary in the conflict, but we must wrestle on, appropriating the victory of Calvary. At the cross, Jesus Christ, by His
clare an armistice and peace treaties are signed, millions of men are speedily demobilized. Since
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