refers to a man who continually sins as having a conscience which has been seared as with a hot iron. This comes from not yielding one self wholly to the Lord Jesus Christ and to the power of the Holy Spirit. Too often we allow ourselves to be subdued by temptations which Satan so cleverly puts in our way. It’s not easy to estimate the wind’s power blowing across an open plain, but when it hits trees, or perhaps a flag, the obstruction shows the wind’s in tensity and velocity. So it is if we would see the power sin has over man. The moment we begin to re sist, its force is clearly evident. Robert Murray MacCheyne, that famed Scottish man of God, died at the early age of 28, having lived more than one lifetime burning out for Christ. He was asked why it was that people came to hear him preach. He responded, “Perhaps the reason so many of the worst sinners want to listen to what the Lord says through me is because they have discovered such a likeness between their hearts and mine.” His exhortation is a good one for all preachers and Bible teachers, who know that they must preach first of all to themselves. So, in this way when we speak to others we’re really telling them how God’s working in our own lives. The prob lem is, however, sin often makes us afraid to know ourselves. Have you ever been injured seriously enough to require some stitches? After the doctor finished bandaging up the wound, we have been hesitant to look at the injured area, knowing how ugly and awful it was. We don’t like to see the hurt part, unless we have some morbid curiosity. Even so, man doesn’t like to have his easy tranquil ity disturbed by spiritual anxiety. Perhaps you have heard of the African Queen who had never seen a mirror. A merchant came to the area, bringing goods to trade. She was to exchange some of her gold for his trinkets which she foolishly considered more valuable. A beauti
ful chrome-covered mirror caught her special fancy, and in bartering, the trader exacted a high price. The ugly queen, however, looking at her self in the mirror for the first time, was so horrified with the apparition that she ordered the trader banished from her coast, declaring that should he ever return to the village, he would surely be put to death. The mirror was dashed into a thousand pieces. She was not willing to see herself, and was furious because she didn’t know any better. A lot of people right here in our own land are even more foolish, as they reject the perfect mirror of God’s Word for they are not willing to see themselves in it for what they really are. The Scripture calls for spiritual cleansing, yet too often we’re not willing to come to the place of com plete surrender to the Lord. We sel dom take time to confess all our sins. We may mention those things which may particularly bother us, and then wonder why we can’t find real joy which God has promised. If we were honest with ourselves, we might say that there are some sins we like just a little too much to give up. Do you rem em ber about the dragon’s head in mythology? When one was cut off, ten more grew in its place. The parallel is that unless sin
Dr. Louis T. Talbot (right), chancellor of Biola, enjoys a time of fellowship with his life-long friend. Dr. Ray A. Myers, chairman of the Biola Board of Directors.
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