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of its influence. Ships at sea passing near the shore of that land
where the mountain was, felt its force on their anchors and chains and
bars. At first their approach to the mountain was scarcely perceptible.
There was a declining from their course which excited very little apprehension.
But the attraction gradually became stronger, until, with ever increasing
velocity, the vessel was drawn closer. Then the very bolts and nails
started from the vessel's beams and planks, and fastened themselves on
the sides of the mountain, the vessel of course, falling to pieces and
becoming a total wreck".
Let
us then set forth a few subtle forms of worldliness which lure us to the
rocks, and wreck our Christian testimony.
Note:
Our dread of tht faces and frowns of worldly men. On the other hand,
what a pleasant morsel is the world's favor and flattery!
The
unwarranted time we can spend over some trifling hobby instead of "redeeming
the time." We call it relaxation, but there may be much worldliness in
it.
The
ease with which we can sit in slippered feet noting the world's news when
we might be giving the "good news" to lost men. We refuse to endure
hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ. Our soft little "world"
has us.
The
prevalent lust for late night lunching and vain-glorious witticisms--cheating
ourselves of the time needed for God's fellowship in the Word and prayer
next morning. Then we go out ungirt and stripped of our armor to
meet the world at large--all because of our own secret inner worldliness.
The
great place we give to likes, dislikes, and personal choices.
How
much we are regulated by public opinion, perhaps religious opinion, rather
than scriptural principle.
How
easily we are content to allow this or that thing, be it ever so innocent
or lovely, to becloud the world to come.
How
little we count it a privilege to suffer shame for His name.
What
expectations we have of great contentment and satisfaction from certain
earthly comforts. How fond we are of nice things and luxuries, and
how unwilling to forego them for the sake of sending the gospel to the
heathen.
How
we abhor being counted eccentric! How unquestioningly obedient we
are to fashion's decrees, not because the styles arc reasonable or right
or decent, for they are often most unreasonable and indecent. We
are so worldly-minded we would rather be indecent than different.
Old King Lust calls thus: "Do this," and many do it as obediently as any
centurion's servant ever obeyed under the lash of his Roman master.
Until
we personally take ourselves in hand we need not wonder at the false doctrine,
the modernistic ministry, the poor church discipline (or none), and the
corrupt practices in the church. The whole root of our ruin is found
in worldliness. As William Law so well puts it: "The heresy of all
heresies is a worldly spirit. Whence is all the degeneracy of the
present Christian church? I should place it all in a worldly spirit."
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