118
The Fundamentals But, more than that, we have been led to look, not for earthly happiness or for bliss after death, but for that event, which is nearer still, and which it is the privilege of the believer to expect at any moment, when the Lord Himself shall call upon His own to meet Him in the air (1 Thess. 4:16, 17; 1 Cor. 15:51, 52). And so the grace of God, which brings salvation, hath appeared, “teaching us that, denying ungod liness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us” (Titus 2:11-14). This is not the teaching of the wisdom of this age, nor of the leaders of this age; nor is it the teaching of those professed ministers of Christ who have accepted the gospel of this age— the gospel of its progress and betterment; but it is the teach ing of “the grace of God” and of the Word of God, and we have accepted and rejoice in it. “Yea, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” I t would not be a truthful representation of the matter to make it appear that therp have been no unpleasant experiences attending and resulting from this departure from our old ways and entering upon “the one true and living way.” There has been, of course, much adverse comment, much irritation, much hostility aroused, we have heard many references to “self-righteousness,” “fanaticism,” and the like. To desert the ways of the world is, of course, to condemn those ways; and they who are walk ing in them cannot be expected to take it kindly. They turn away exclaiming, “ ‘Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel?’ (2 Kings 5:12). Then why this narrow-mindedness and bigotry?” And, as might also be expected, the greatest resentment of our conduct has been aroused in those who, while professing to belong to Christ, are casting their lot indiscriminately with them who openly reject Him.
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker