The Christian's Enemies

by G. Jarvie | Category: For Young Believers | Nov 1952

Novel reading.-What a grip some books have! and the world is full of them. How cleverly they are written! and how suited to the flesh! Sometimes we are tempted to read books in secret which we would not like others to see us reading. But there are good books, books which will strengthen our faith in God. Let us be frank about it. If we are to be overcomers in this warfare, then there are many books that we must not yield to, and, generally speaking, novels are of this character. At school we cannot choose our reading matter, it is chosen for us, but later in our lives let good books only be our reading companions. If any books take away our thirst for the Word of God, let us shun them as we would shun bad food. We must be outside the camp in this also. If our hearts are fixed on Christ, then the world with all its attractions will have little appeal for us. But if our hearts are divided, then the world will make a constant appeal to us. The danger lies here.

The world wants to keep talking to us, every day and in every way, by its songs, its books, and its pictures, by the newspaper and the radio. And yet it is possible to be in the world, but not of it. What is the secret? Christ! let Him be our continual attraction, and all will be well.

How concisely the apostle John describes the pull of the world, as "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the vain glory of life" (1 John 2. 16)! Yes, they are all there and they grip!

"0 keep each heart at leisure

From all the world beside,

In close communion ever

Thus with Thee to abide!

So all Thy whispered breathings

Of love and truth to hear,

And hail Thee with rejoicing

When Thou shalt soon appear."

Let our hearts be filled with the love of Christ, and then all will be well. But if we love the world the love of the Father is not in us.

"And yet-'outside the camp',

'Twas there my Saviour died!

It was the world that cast Him forth

And saw Him crucified.

Can I take part with those

Who nailed Him to the tree?

And where His name is never praised,

Is that the place for me?"

We have now considered some of our enemies, and how we can be victorious Christians. Certainly we shall need to discipline ourselves if we are to gain the victory. The words of Paul to Timothy were a great help to the writer when he was a young Christian.

"God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline" (2 Timothy i. 7).

Notice that combination-"power and love and discipline". These three are manifest in the lives of all the men and women who have been great for God. May they be manifest in your life, young disciple. Grace be with you.

G. Jarvie | Nov 1952
For Young Believers