478
THE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
YOUNG PEOPLE'S TOPICS
By DR. WALTER L WILSON
With this, the first article on Young People's Topics for 1946, The King's Business takes great pleas ure in announcing that the series for the entire year will be written by Dr. Walter L. Wilson of Kansas City, Missouri. We are indeed fortunate in securing the services of this outstanding Bible teacher, preacher, author and soul-winner, and we are certain that his comments will not only bring great personal blessing to our readers, but will give much practical help to all engaged in Young People's work.
Dr. IValter L . Wilson
Henceforth, he lived for the glory of his Saviour. Not only did Paul estimate himself correctly at this point, but he also properly appraised his work. He was wise in thus weighing both his life and his activities. Had he not done so, he would have continued as a man lost in religion, and under the illusion that zeal, earnestness, and honesty were all that God required. He appraised correctly the person of Christ and the words that He spoke. This brought blessing into his life. II. THERE MUST BE A RIGHT CONCLUSION (Phil. 3:12).. The Apostle Paul had been laboring under false impressions which re sulted in an erroneous conclusion, namely, that a proper preparation along legalistic lines would bring him fame, honor, and income. Evidently, he changed his mind when he met the Saviour on the Damascus road. When Christ revealed Himself as the risen Jesus at God’s right hand, all of Paul’s former deductions were swept away. He discovered that he was on the wrong path, doing exactly the opposite of what.the Lord desired. He was tearing down what God wanted built up. He had mistaken zeal and earnestness for knowledge and faith. He decided that he was wrong and that Jesus was right. What a blessing followed this conclusion! HI. THERE MUST BE A RIGHT DESIRE (Phil. 3:10, 13). Evidently Paul had always desired
J a n u a r y 6, 1946 What Is Life’ s Purpose?
to please God, but He was a stranger to him. He knew the letter of the law, but he was not acquainted with its Author. Formerly, he had longed for glory on earth; now he wanted to bring honor to the Lord Jesus Christ. His goal had been to persecute the Church; now he yearned to exalt Christ Jesus as sovereign Lord. His former aspirations led to cruelty; his new ambitions were to bring blessing to multitudes. He was no longer occupied with religion, but with the precious person of the risen Saviour. The change in his desires took place that day when he first saw Christ in glory at the right hand of God. IV. THERE MUST BE A RIGHT DECISION (Phil. 3:14). It is quite possible to know what is right and what is wrong, and still make the wrong decision. Paul made the right decision on several matters. First, he acknowledged that his own righteousness had no value in God’s sight. He rejected his own righteous ness in order to accept the imputed righteousness given through faith in Jesus Christ (Rom. 4:6). He deter mined to lay aside his plan and to accept God’s plan. He had met the Saviour. This gave him the desire to be all out for Christ. This should be our resolution. Paul gladly served his Lord by life or by death. This, too, should be our resolution. Paul exalted the risen Christ in every way and among every people. The Lord enable each of us to do likewise.
TF life has no purpose, then there is aimless wandering, fog and mist, indecision and failure. A person who has no purpose in life is like a ship without sailing instructions — it has no place to go. There must be a definite goal before the life, in« order that definite progress may be made. Daniel had a purpose, and became the prime minister; Paul had a pur pose, and became the mighty preach er; Jesus set His face as a flint to go to Jerusalem, and became the Saviour of the world. Each person should sit down with the Lord, examine his abilities; ca pacities, and potentialities, and then bend every effort to perfect himself in those lines. This will produce a successful life, filled with interest and joy- For Those Who Have Topics I. THERE MUST BE A RIGHT APPRAISAL (Phil. 3:7-9). Paul appraised his own life in the presence of God. He was, no doubt, a successful lawyer, well-taught and thoroughly trained. Suddenly a rev elation from Heaven convinced him that he was on the wrong track. He saw that, instead of working for God, he was opposing God- He received a vision of the Lord Jesus which made him blind to all other attractions.
<
I
Made with FlippingBook HTML5