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Cross in Accepting the Truth
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pride of life, for the treasures of the world? Choose between Me and
the world; the world has no part in Me.”
I saw your feet faltering, your faith wavering. Doubt and unbelief
were enclosing you about, and the light of Jesus was departing.
Vanity is one of the strongest principles of our depraved natures, and
Satan will constantly appeal to it with success. Persons have not
been wanting who were ready to aid Satan in his work—to flatter
you, to present your ability and the influence you could have in
society, to urge that it would be a great pity for you to unite your
interests with a people of humble faith and mingle in a class of
society, as they regard it, beneath you. It has seemed to you that
you were making a great sacrifice for the truth. It is true that the
masses who possess influence do not choose to sacrifice their worldly
ambition, to separate their affections from the world, and turn their
footsteps into the narrow, humble path traveled by the suffering Man
of Calvary. They consider their talents and influence too precious
to be devoted to the cause of God, too precious to be given back to
glorify the Giver who lent them these talents to be improved upon
and returned to Him, both principal and interest. For the temporal
advantages they hope to gain they will sacrifice the eternal. For the
flattery of men they will turn from the approval of the Lord, the
Maker of the heavens and the earth, and will forfeit all right to the
honor which cometh from above. How few know what is for their
best interest! You do not appreciate this. Jesus, through a life of
unexampled suffering and an ignominious death, has opened a way
whereby man may follow in His footsteps, and finally be exalted to
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His throne, and receive the reward of immortality and eternal life.
For a life of obedience he will receive an immortal inheritance, a
treasure undefiled that fadeth not away.
In the First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians we read: “For
the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but
unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I
will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the
understanding of the prudent.” “For ye see your calling, brethren,
how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not
many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the
world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of
the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things