candles. The prince o f this world has organized the social, educational and political life o f this age so as to smother the devotional life. Any man who sets out to walk with God will find the whole set-up o f modern life in array against him. It is better to be called “ unsociable” and “ not a good mixer” than to lose one’s crown! Nowhere have men succeeded better in stealing our reward than in creating a dull, enervating en vironment for our souls. It is so easy to become submerged in the atmosphere around us. I give my old country father credit for living above a hum drum community in his day. There was very little in the neighborhood to kindle the flame o f the Spir it. But Father lived above it. He fed his soul on the Bread o f Life and exercised himself unto godliness. When times grew darker, he stepped up his pray ing. I used to think he was too strict, Puritanical, but I see the point now. He had resolved from the day he found Christ in the woods below old Corinth Church that he would not be cheated out o f his crown. It was not easy. He was not well in his later years and the infirmities o f the body helped to pall the atmosphere. Old-fashioned revivals used to stir up things at least once a year but they became more stilted. Fortunately, the radio brought in a few voices that sounded no uncertain note. But Father kept his fire burning through to the end and got his crown. He never did let the com munity “ get him down.” He would have thundered his disagreement with modern, weak-kneed par ents who have given up the family altar because “ times have changed.” I f the old practices o f the faith had gone out o f style and “ just weren’t be ing done any more,” that would have been just a reason to Father for doing them! We have run awfully short o f his kind o f character today. This leads me to observe that one’s own family can steal his crown. The believer’s worst spiritual foes are sometimes in his own household. Our Lord never said anything plainer than that He came to divide families (Matt. 10:34-37). He said our love for our human dearest must be as hate compared with our love for Him. Tone that down as you will, it gives no comfort to those who compromise with the devil for the sake o f peace at home. Peace at the price o f principle is as bad in the home as it was at Munich. Relatives have a way o f smother ing our fire even if they use no worse method than keeping us at home from church on Sunday by an ill-timed visit. So it goes. Eternal vigilance here as elsewhere is the price o f liberty. Men can deprive us o f our crown by frightening us with that fear o f man which always brings a snare. Sometimes they do it publicly and unintentionally. Many a preacher has become utterly confused in his sermon when some distinguished visitor appeared in the congregation. Peter Cartwright was preaching once when An drew Jackson came into the church. An excited
preacher, sitting behind Cartwright, pulled his coat and advised him in a whisper to watch his language because Jackson was present. Cartwright replied: “ I f he doesn’t repent, he’ll be damned as quickly as any chicken-stealer.” Jackson said to him later, “ I wish I had an army like you.” Now I would not recommend Cartwright’s procedure fo r general use but better meet the fear o f man that way than lose your crown! The presence o f a celebrity in the congregation need cause no fear. I f he really is “ big,” he will be easy to preach to; if he is not really “ big,” he will need the preaching all the more. I have learned long since when a distin guished preacher appears in the audience, that it is easy to get along with generals in the army o f the Lord. It is the second lieutenants who will give trouble! But, whatever form the fear o f man may take, whether public or private, we need to be on our guard against it. It is so much easier to make our lives a compromise instead o f a challenge. Nobody likes to be thought old-fashioned or queer but as the days grow darker and the end draws nearer, the true saints o f God will stand out more and more in contrast to this ungodly world. It is no time for those human chameleons who like to merge into any sort o f background. There is a price to pay if you hold fast what you have in this crooked and perverse generation. Never forget that the man most likely to steal your crown is yourself! You stand in no greater danger from anyone than from him. You can stand on guard against foes from without and then be ruined from within. So “ keep thy heart with all diligence (marg. ‘above all keeping’ ) for out o f it are the issues o f life” (Prov. 4 :23 ). Watch the sacred deposit entrusted to you as a steward of the grace o f God. Hold fast your profession, your confidence, the form o f sound words, the traditions; hold fast that which is good.
My soul, be on thy guard. Ten thousand foes arise; The hosts of sin are pressing hard To draw thee from the skies. O wateh and fight and pray, The battle ne’ er give o’ er; Renew it boldly every day And help Divine implore. Ne’er think the victory won Nor lay thine armor down; The work of faith will not be done Till thon obtain the erown. Fight on, my soul, till death Shall bring thee to thy God; He’ll take thee at thy parting breath To His Divine abode.
“ Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward” ! BE THE KING'S BUSINESS
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