40. Christian Warfare
Christian Warfare
WOMAN OF POMPEII.—It is said that among the recent discoveries in the ruins of Pompeii, a city that was destroyed by volcanic eruption in A.D. 79, was a woman in the act of gathering in her apron, rings, bracelets and other valuable articles of jewelry. It would seem that some wealthy persons, aware of the coming destruction, had made their escape and left these things behind, as worthless in comparison with life; but she, hoping to save both life and jewels, delayed the time of her flight, and, alas, was overwhelmed in the terrific judgment, and so lost both her life and the treasure.
KILL OB BE KILLED.—An officer once said to his soldiers, “Unless you kill your enemies, they will kill you.” In like manner may it be said: “Unless we crucify the flesh and resist the Devil, we will be conquered in this warfare.” The flesh is a great enemy; we carry this enemy about with us and it is ever at war against the soul.
KING FOR THREE DAYS.—The Persians, after securing a victory, selected the finest-looking prisoner and made him king for three days. They clothed him in royal robes and granted him all the pleasures he could choose; but, at the end of all, he was to die as a sacrifice to mirth and folly. So all the pleasures of the world and the flesh are short-lived.
ANIMALS OF CORAL REEFS.—Gosse, in his “Romance of Natural History,” tells us of certain animals which inhabited the coral reefs. So long as they keep the passage to the surface clear, they are safe, but when this is neglected the animal finds the coral has grown around it and enclosed it in a living tomb. So it is with the life of the soul here upon earth. The world is around us everywhere; the danger is when we let it grow between our souls and God.
SENTINEL’S DUTY.—A Christian’s watchfulness should be like that of a good soldier. A sentinel, posted on the walls of a fortress, when he discerns the enemy approaching, does not attempt to make any attack upon the foe himself, but informs the commanding officer, and leaves him to take proper measures to vanquish the enemy. We cannot conquer so wily and powerful a foe as Satan, but by watching and praying, we may hope, by the help of God, to resist him.
FIGHTING BEASTS.—When the ancient warriors had no human enemies to battle with, they employed some of their time in fighting beasts. Thus, on one occasion, one of them, desiring to keep himself in action, went out against a bull that had wrought great mischief to the inhabitants. We should keep our armor bright by constant effort to watch and pray.
BRING THE MEN TO COLORS.—It is said that at the battle of the Alma, when one of the regiments was being beaten back by the Russians, the ensign in front stood his ground as the troops retreated. The captain shouted to him to bring back his colors; but the reply of the ensign was, “Bring up the men to the colors.”
SEAMS WON’T RIP.—After a sewing girl had been converted, some one asked her what difference conversion had made in her life. She replied, “Before I was saved my seams would rip, but, please God, they will rip no more.”
WHITEFIELD’S INDEPENDENCE.— Whitefield once declared that he valued no man’s friendship or approval only as it enabled him to further the work of God. “Fear of man bringeth a snare.”