To be near unto God - pagina 482

antithesis can not be separated from the nearThe nearer we are to the world, ness to God. And the the farther away we are from God. nearer we are to God, the greater the distance between us and the world. If it were possible for us to go out from the world, after we have

come near unto God, there would no conflict break out in the heart and no hatred in the world But this cannot be. "I pray thee against us. O Father, not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that in the world thou shouldest keep them from the evil" (John 17:15). The grave significance of the Christian position is, that with God in the heart, hfe has to be lived midst of a world, the heart and life of It has indeed been tried, as Christian so to appear, that the world hands out a passport and grants you an honorary diploma as one who ''though Christian, can be tolerated;" but this seductive exhibition of favor of is not bought at anytime, save at the price dulling the sharp edges of our confession. If the world could make such separation be-

in the

which reacts against God.

tween you and the God

whom you

profess

and

could prosecute its opposition to God without touching you, it would readily do so. The world still feels itself bound to you as man. But with true followers They are so of Christ, this can not be done. near unto God, that the eye of the world dis-

whom you

serve,

that

it

covers no more distance. And therefore it attacks you personally by making the most of anything wrong it discovers in you, by mocking at every 474

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