ON THE LEVEL by Dr. Ralph L. Ketper
I N order to know how to gauge and improve our spiritual beauty we need a practical guide or text book to follow. One very vital portion with in the Bible is Proverbs. In chapter 6 verse 22 we read, “When thou goest, it (the Word) shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.” Notice the verbs “go,” “sleep,” and “awake.” Every phase of our life is covered here. All of us travel every day, from New York to Los Angeles, from one room to another, or from one idea to another. The Lord God wants to lead us. The only provision is that we must be willing to be led. The Psalm ist gave testimony of the Lord, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go; I will guide thee with mine eye.” The true child of God never needs to be ignor ant about spiritual matters. We are not the victims of superstition or spiritual darkness. We have been re deemed that we might be filled with the knowledge of God. No wonder Paul testified, “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have com mitted unto him against that day.” Some time ago I was invited into a home of a famous preacher. During the course of the dinner I noticed that the children were very polite. When my water glass was empty one of them filled it. When my bread was gone, one wanted to get me another piece. Another saw to it that I had
enough on my plate at all times. Af ter dinner and the children had gone to play, I remarked to my friend about his interesting children. I wanted to know how they had been trained. He responded by telling me that before company comes they always have a “briefing” session. “I say to the chil dren, ‘Now what I want you to do is to watch my eye. If I’m looking at our guest’s water glass, then offer him some water. If I look at the bread plate, offer him some bread. If I’m looking at his plate, be ready to pass him some additional food.’ We have trained the children to have their eyes watching my eye. I guide them that way.” But someone may immediately ask, “How may we follow God’s eye? In Psalm 5:8 we read, “Lead me, 0 Lord, in Thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight be fore my face.” David brings to us the importance of Bible study. He points out that it is not a means whereby we are to change the world but a purpose whereby the Bible is to change us. The word “righteousness” is inter esting. It means “to be on the level.” In classical Greek this word might well be used for the instrument a carpenter uses when he wants to square one piece of wood against an other. David knew the greatest thing he had to learn was to be on the level with God. You and I must learn this secret too if we are to "have His spir itual beauty and blessings. There is 16
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