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From Eternity Past
petition of every soul: “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew
a right spirit within me.”
Psalm 51:10
.
Yet we have a work to do to resist temptation. Those who would
not fall prey to Satan’s devices must guard well the avenues of the
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soul; avoid reading, seeing, or hearing that which will suggest impure
thoughts. This will require earnest prayer and unceasing watchfulness.
The abiding influence of the Holy Spirit will attract the mind upward
to dwell on pure and holy things. “Wherewithal shall a young man
cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to Thy word.” “Thy
word,” says the psalmist, “have I hid in mine heart, that I might not
sin against Thee.”
Psalm 119:9, 11
.
Israel’s sin at Bethpeor brought the judgments of God upon the
nation. The same sins may not now be punished as speedily, but nature
has affixed terrible penalties, penalties which, sooner or later, will
be inflicted upon every transgressor. These sins more than any other
have caused the fearful degeneracy of our race, and the weight of
disease and misery with which the world is cursed. Men may succeed
in concealing their transgression from their fellowmen, but they will
reap the result in suffering, disease, or death. And beyond this life
stands the judgment. “They which do such things shall not inherit
the kingdom of God,” but with Satan and evil angels shall have their
part in that “lake of fire” which “is the second death.”
Galatians 5:21
;
Revelation 20:14
.
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