Bible Truths Illustrated # 2

Bible Truths Illustrated # 2

Over the triple doorways of a European Cathedral, there are three inscriptions spanning the splendid arches.

Over one is carved a beautiful wreath of roses, and underneath is the lettering:
"All which pleases us - is but for a moment."

Over the other arch is sculptured a cross, and there are the words:
"All which troubles us - is but for a moment."

But on the great central entrance to the main aisle, is the inscription:
"That alone is important, which is eternal."

If we always realize these three truths, we would not let trifles trouble us; nor would we be so much interested in the passing pageants of the hour. We would live, as we do not now - for the permanent and the eternal.

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:18).

One day, Johann Tauler of Strosbourg met a peasant and greeted him, "God give you a good day, my friend!" The peasant answered briskly, "I thank God that I never have a bad day!"

Tauler, astonished, kept silent for a moment. Tauler then added, "God give you a happy life, my friend."

The peasant replied composedly, "I thank God that I am never unhappy!"

"Never unhappy!" cried Tauler bewildered, "What do you mean?"

"Well," came the reply, "When it is sunshine - I thank God; and when it rains - I thank God. When I have plenty - I thank God; and when I am hungry - I thank God. Since God's will is my will, and whatever pleases God pleases me - I am never unhappy."

Tauler looked upon him with awe. "Who are you?" he asked.

"I am a king!" said the peasant.

"A king?" Tauler asked, "Where is your kingdom?"

The peasant smiled and whispered softly, "In my heart!" 
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"Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." (1 Thess. 5:18).

In all circumstances!  This comes as a surprise when one considers the vicissitudes of human life. Sickness and health, poverty and wealth, joy and sorrow - are all ingredients of the cup placed to human lips - so all must come within the scope of thanksgiving. Why be thankful for everything? Because God causes everything to work together for good to those who love Him.
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A godly farmer was asked to dine with a well-known gentleman. While there, he asked a blessing at the table as he was accustomed to do at home. His host said jeeringly, "That is old fashioned; it is not customary nowadays for well-educated people to pray before they eat."

The farmer answered that with him it was customary - but that some of those on his farm never thanked God for their food.

"Ah, then," said the gentleman, "they are sensible and enlightened! Who are they?"

"My pigs!" the farmer answered.
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"A man's life does not consist in the abundance of the things that he possesses." (Luke 12:15).

"Implanted within us is a desire for amusement - the entire suppression of which ids as injurious, as it is unauthorized. The Christian religion is antagonistic only to that which is hurtful to spiritual life. It is not opposed to wholesome amusements. it does not rob us of any pleasures which are consistent with our eternal welfare."

"Healthy recreation should be encouraged, with one proviso - that it never be forgotten that there is a higher end in life than to be amused. Care should be taken, not to suppress the desire for amusement - but to moderate and rightly direct it. The limitation which devotion to Christ imposes, must ever be observed, lest pleasure be made the business of life, instead of life's relaxation."

"The selection of fitting sources of amusement should not be difficult. There are many such, without tampering with questionable ones, which may prove detrimental and even destructive to spiritual life. The question requiring settlement is: "Am I, by the amusement in which I indulge, being spiritually helped or hindered? Is my soul being lifted up - or more heavily weighted down?"

"All things are yours. Take them and use them; but never let them interfere with the higher life which you are called on to lead."

"A ship is all right in the sea - so long as the sea is not in the ship. In the same way, a Christian is all right in the world - so long as the world is not in the Christian."

~J. C. Pittman~

(continued with # 3)