Covenanter Witness Vol. 53 - Rparchives.org

LESSON HELPS FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 14, 1954J *"ttlzHELD IS THE WORLD,TVfE S& ( S THE WORD oKGODVOLUME LIII WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1954 NUMBER 17The true Christian is busyUpholdingthe Honor of GodRobert E. CutbirthGod has a reputation to be maintained. His honor must be upheld among men.God's honor intrinsically is inviolate and mancan do nothing that will in any wise do violence to it.What God is He will always be. His love, characterand attributes are unchangeable. However, there is asecond aspect to the maintaining of God's reputation.Each Christian is responsible for its maintenance asit relates to his own life and to the living out of God'slife in him. Actually the Christian can Sdtnrothingthat will harm or hurt it in any way, for it stands asimpregnable as God Himself. But what Christiansdo with God's reputation does determine to a greatextent what the worldlings attitude toward God willbe. It is this particular aspect that concerns us here.For one thing, God has a reputation of love to bemaintained. We rightly insist that God is a God oflove. The Bible declares it and experience proves it.Yet how empty and meaningless the doctrine becomes if His love is not manifested through the onlymedia He possesses for the display of His character,namely, the Christians. What does it avail that werepeatedly assert He is a God of love if we are not apeople of love? Love was the distinguishing badgeof early Christendom. Christian lives deficient in thiswonderful qualitycan render null and void all thebeautiful affirmations of Scripture that God is love.The worldling has a legitimate right to expect tosee love manifested in the lives of Christian men andwomen. The indifference of 'Christians, their coldness, their insincerity, make a mockery of John 3:16and a travesty of First Corinthians 13. A criticalspirit, a gossiping tongue, a judging nature, are thevery antitheses of love, but they are tragically prevalent in Christian lives. God's reputation of being aGod of love can only be maintained blamelessly asChristians sincerely endeavor to manifest this wonderful quality.God also has a reputation for holiness. Holinessis that which God is. To be holy is to be Godlike. Itis useless to declare that the Christian is pure andholy unless we see pure and holy Christians. It isfoolish to insist that the Gospel can change a vilesinner into a pure saint unless we can show examplesof it. Worldliness in any form is opposed to God'sstandard of holiness and is a reproach to it. A superficial, indifferent, inconsistent Christian experience borders upon near blasphemy since it does greatdamage to God's reputation for holiness. Sometimes the harm done is irreparable. Sin of any kindwillfully indulged in is a reproach to His holiness. Ifwe would have the world think highly of God thenwe must show them holy Christians. If we wouldsee a real revival ofearthshaking proportions thenwe must live holy lives. If you would see God movein your own church, then you must live a holy life.When the Church was holy it was powerful. Cannotits lack of power now be an index to its state of holiness ? The holy nature of God is the source of all Hisblessings. Anything less than holy living by Hischildren does great harm to the cause of Christ.God also has a reputation for being passionatelyconcerned for the sinner. This concern, of course,stems from love. The Scriptures repeatedly affirmthis concern. It follows logically that Christians, likewise ought to feel this same concern.It is a serious responsibility to claim to be aChristian. May we each pray fervently that God willhelp us to realize our great responsibility and tolive in such a manner that we may faithfully upholdthe honor of God, and so glorify our Father 'in heaven.Used by permission of The Alliance Weekly, 260W. 44th St., New York 18, N. Y.