TH E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
November, 1940
412
there is “whosoever loveth and maketh a lie” (Rev. 22:15). To the Christian, there are no occa sions when a lie is not a lie, because his life is to be of a piece. His conversation is in the heavenlies. Any area of his life' under the control of the devil, the father of lies, is a denial of his" Lord.
As the blood stream extends throughout the body, so the imparted life of Christ is to reach into every extremity of the personality, with no exceptions. Blood poisoning in the finger will affect the whole body. Lying in even a small area of life will affect the whole personality, dangerously contaminating it.
carelessness in handling one’s affairs. It sometimes has serious consequences in fostering an attitude of escape from the realities of daily'life, for the lie is an opportune dodge. The escape atti tude toward life is at the heart of neurotic and psychotic difficulties. Life is to be faced. If an individual has committed a wrong, even one so small as a slight oversight, the thing to do is to admit it and take the consequences even if they are unpleasant. Sin is to be exposed, confessed, and forgiven. What the Bible Says The Bible has much to say specifical ly about the subject of lying. “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where phrist sitteth on the right hand of God . . . Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds” (Col. 3:1, 9). Lying belongs to the life of lost humanity, without God, and without hope. As Christians, we have put on a new life, a new pattern qf conduct. Furthermore, as Christians, " we are witnesses of the One who died for us, and “a faithful witness will not lie” (Prov. 14:5). Lying is not a quality of the right- f eous man. The wise man prays, “Re move far from me vanity and lies” (Prov. 30:8). “No lie is of the truth” (1 John 2:21). Isaiah quotes rebellious Israel as say ing, “We hive made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agree ment . . . for we have made lies our refuge, »and under falsehood have we hid ourselves” (Isa. 28:15). Lies cause people to err and to go farther and far ther from God (Jen. 23:32). According to Jeremiah (23:14) it is the unbeliever who “walks in lies.” The Lord Jesus Christ said that the author of lies is none other than the devil himself. “When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own* for he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44). What about the penalty for lying? The psalmist quotes God as saying, “He. that worketh deceit shall not' dwell with in my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight” (Psa. 101:7). Those who make lies their refuge will find their refuge swept away by the hail, says Isaiah (28:17). Liars are among those prominently-mentioned as being eternally separated from God in the closing scenes of the drama of the universe. Describing the new Jerusalem, John says, “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomina tion, or maketh a lie: .but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Rev. 21:27). Those written in the Lamb’s book of life are in contradistinc tion t o .those who tell lies. In the last chapter of the Bible, among those wick ed sinners who are mentioned as being outside of the eternal city, sorcerers, whoremongers, murderers, and idolaters,
Girls' Query Corner Conducted by M yrtle E. S cott
Questions for answer in this corner should be sent to Miss Scott, 8961 Dicks St., West Hollywood, Calif., and a stamped envelope should be enclosed for reply. No name will appear with 'the questions chosen for publication. Dear Miss Scott:
again. Then ask your Father to show you whether there is anything that you have not surrendered to Him. Do not stop with surrendering things, but, by faith, put self on the altar. Learn to be able to say, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not J., but Christ liveth in me” (Gal. 2:20). Ah, what a different life that is! It is resurrection life. It is His life lived through you in power and glory. Come to the place where you can. be “at leisure from your self” and be occupied with the Lord and His ble*ssed will. You will not then be asking whether people are friendly to you but wjll be seeking how you may win friends to Christ. When you find some who are not/friendly or kind, you will think of it as a challenge and op portunity to live Christ before them. What are you here for—to have your own way and to find the world congenial and kind to you? Or are you here to prove how God can keep you sweet and Victorious in the hard places, thus mak ing your everyday life a testimony for God? Now, take your concordance in the back of your Bible and turn to the words “rejoice” and “joy,” and go through your Bible to see in what cir cumstances you are to rejoice and what things you are to count all joy. My dear, Satan is trying to keep you downhearted and defeated. The very fact that you wrote as you did makes me believe the Lord is speaking to your heart, wanting to bring you out into a “large place” and a life of radiance that will make you a power and blessing' wherever you go. Remember that the Lord Jesus said, “He that loseth his life for my sake shall find it” (Matt. 10:39). A Quick Response > A Presbyterian youth from New Orleans, a wireless operator, having just read the Twenty-third Psalm, and there being no business to transact, suddenly thought he would send the Psalm out over the water. As he is sued the last word, sixteen ships sent a wireless “Amen.”—Christ Life.
I am writing you seeking to learn why I find so little joy in the Christian life. I have given up the things of the World, and I try to be faithful in every thing pertaining to my Christian life, but I do-hot find the joy that the Bible indicates we should have or that other people testify to having. I am even tempted to wonder, at times, whether people are sincere in their testimony or whether they are playing a sort of Pollyanna “Glad Game.” I do not have many Christian friends. It ofJen seems that I find worldly peo ple more friendly and kind than the Christians are. I do not find any real joy in reading my Bible or praying, but I try to be faithful in it, hoping some how to find the joy I know must be there for me. I have searched my heart again and again but cannot find what is wrong. Can you help me? If so, I will be so “Grateful.” My dear Girl: I am sorry you have failed to find the joy in the Lord that the Father has for all His own. The Bible has been the joy and comfort of His people all through the years, and still you are not finding it precious to your soul. Where can the trouble be? Surely it cannot be with the Lord. Then it must be with you, is it not? Something in you is keeping the joy of the Lord from flooding your heart. Either you have not been born again or you have not died out to self. You know you must die before you can truly live. Yes, you must die even to seeking for a joyful experience for your self. Our task as Christians is to glorify the Lord. When we do that, His joy fills our hearts as naturally as air fills the lungs when we breathe. You need to become more occupied with the Lord Jesus Christ and less with yourself. If anything is wrong in your life,' you will be occupied with yourself in your prayer time and can know nothing of true worship and, fel lowship with your Lord. If there is any question about it, make sure that, you have been born
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