Friday, July 7, 2017

Dangerous Ground!

A very striking account is given by Dr. Livingstone of the way in which some of the African tribes catch their prey. 

A trap is made, which is called the hopo. 

It is formed somewhat in this way: two fences of great length are placed in the form of the letter V. 

The opening at the extremities of the two hedges is about a mile apart, and at the place where the two meet, a large deep pit is dug, secured on all sides and covered with green bushes.

Hunters then scour the country, and drive the animals into this hopo. 

With shouting and cries and brandishing of spears they drive them on further and further, and before danger is perceived their escape becomes impossible: 

They are forced on in the direction of the pit, and at length they fall in and are thus taken and killed.

This account has often seemed to me as a sort of parable. 

It reminds us of the craft and power of our enemy;

It shows the peril in which many poor souls are placed, before they know it; it teaches the reason why so many fall and perish and are lost forever...

They know not the trap which has been set for them; they are beguiled into a fatal security; 

They know not how danger is closing them in on every side; 

They think that at any time they can easily turn round, while every moment it is becoming more difficult to do so; 

They see not the fatal pit to which their sins are bringing them, and where soon they will be overwhelmed in utter and hopeless ruin.

Consider the path of Herod Antipas

He has taken pleasure in hearing the Baptist preach, he has done many things that he taught...

But he will not give up his adulterous passion for Herodias. 

Hence he is within the fatal fence

He is hurried along an evil course; the early dawn of religious impressions fades away; 

The faithful preacher is no longer heard, but is cruelly imprisoned. 

But he is driven on still further: 

Satan has a fresh temptation prepared. 

On his birthday he makes a great supper, and the daughter of Herodias dances before him. 

He is intoxicated with the draught of vanity and pleasure, and she draws from him a foolish promise: 

He will give her all she desires, though it were up to the half of his kingdom. 

She asks for the head of the Baptist; 

And then he becomes a murderer, yes, and a murderer of one of God's faithful servants! 

Still further does he tread the same path...he becomes a mocker of the Lord Jesus, and then shares with Pilate and the Jews the guilt of His crucifixion. 

Nor have we any reason to think that he ever turned again into the path of holiness and life.

Dear young reader, as you value your peace of mind, as you value your happiness in this life, above all, as you value your eternal salvation...let me most affectionately entreat you to keep away from dangerous ground!  

Do not mingle, more than you can possibly help, in the society of the careless and ungodly. 

Make friends of those who are the friends of Jesus. 

Walk not in the way of the wicked...join not their company, nor take pleasure in their conversation.

To follow this rule will save you from many a dangerous pitfall. 

Avoid very carefully, scenes and places where you may be tempted to evil...the theater, the concert-hall, the dancing-room, and the like. 

Probably Herod would never have slain the good faithful man who had sought his salvation so earnestly, unless he had been dazzled and bewildered by the feasting and the dancing. 

Keep away from such scenes altogether if you would be safe.

You may imagine you can go without any mischief, but you don't know the treachery or depravity of your own heart. 

Not a few, but thousands of young people have been drawn aside at such places from the plain path of peace and virtue...it has been step by step. 

The safe-guard of the fear and dread of evil has been broken down...

Dress and vanity and display have taken the lead, Christ and His words have been forgotten...

The corrupt passions of the heart have been excited and then at Satan's convenient season, temptation has come...

And the young sister whose course might have been so bright and happy and useful, forfeits her birthright and her blessing, and gains instead a harvest of shame and sorrow!

Whatever you may think about it, such places are dangerous ground, and it is safer far to avoid them altogether. 

A young man who was condemned to death for murder was asked how he entered upon a course of crime: 

He gave a very short account of it. He said, "I gave up prayer, I gave up reading my Bible; I took to bad company." 

Be sure these are doors to the pit of Hell...be wise and walk in an opposite direction.

There is another very dangerous spot I would mention...By-path Meadow

I mean that it is wise to watch against the beginnings of anything wrong

Questionable courses, thoughts and feelings and habits that may not seem very decidedly contrary to that which is commanded, but yet are likely to lead you astray...such things are perilous to souls. 

I would name such a habit as loitering near the door or the gate, and wasting, perhaps five or ten minutes, which ought to have been otherwise employed. 

Or, again, taking something from another that you had no right to, or with an idea of restoring it when you had opportunity;

Or asking in a friend to a mistress's house, or going to some other place which you knew was not allowed. 

Things of this kind which you feel are questionable, and make you uncomfortable and afraid of being straightforward with those about you.

Or, again, I might name the danger of yielding to a sullen and discontented spirit, like King Ahab, when Naboth refused him his vineyard. 

Such things as these are like the little thieves which creep in at the window and open the door for the greater ones that follow.

Avoid also, as most dangerous ground, any place of worship where anything is taught contrary to the plain doctrines of God's Word. 

Such places may be very attractive, the singing may be very cheerful and pleasant, but you may there learn to believe that which may ruin your soul. 

Whatever cannot be plainly proved by Holy Scripture, is not to be believed as necessary to salvation. 

There is great peril in looking upon the bread and wine in the Lord's Supper, as so holy that you must bow your head to them; or in thinking you must confess your sins to a priest before you can be forgiven. 

These are only human traditions...do not believe them for a moment. 

By all means go to the Lord's Supper, go in true penitence and faith; you will feed on Christ in your heart, and will find it a precious means of grace. 

But do not regard the bread and wine with superstitious reverence, as if they were the body and blood of Christ. 

Christ's body is in Heaven and not on earth. It is in your heart by faith, and not with your mouth that you can partake of Him. 

Then, as to confession, it ought to be to your great High Priest, Jesus Christ. 

Tell Him all your sins, and He will at once blot them out through His precious blood. 

He has not told His ministers to hear confessions, but their office is to declare and pronounce forgiveness of sins to all those who truly repent and believe.

In all these matters, my young friend, be sure your only safety is to read and search the Scriptures, and receive nothing beside that which they teach you.

If thus you do, the Spirit of God will be your teacher: 

He will guide you into all truth, and your feet will stand firm on the Rock of God's truth which can never be shaken.

Oh, watch young friend, against all these various perils. 

You may be within the hopo before you know it; and when the first step has been taken, it is not easy to retrace it. 

God only knows the terrible end to which it may lead you.

Before I leave the subject, I would address a few words to any who may have been drawn aside, more or less, into crooked paths, and would now gladly return into the way of peace.

Whatever be your present condition, and whatever be your sins, remember there is a Savior, a mighty Savior, who can help and deliver you. 

The trap set for your overthrow may have been well laid. 

Satan, like Nimrod of old, may be a mighty hunter, experienced in catching and destroying his prey; 

Your own efforts to escape the meshes and toils of the snare may be utterly unavailing: but Jesus can save to the uttermost. 

He can open a way of escape...

He can break down the highest fence that your spiritual foes have raised to obstruct you; 

He can raise up a friend to help you; 

He can give you a praying heart; 

He can reveal to you His great readiness to forgive and cleanse you; 

He can overcome your bad habits; 

He can dispose you to think and speak and act aright; 

He can work in you both to will and do of His good pleasure.

Only arise and look to Him for grace. 

Be really in earnest: be willing to take pains and trouble. 

Watch and pray, that you enter not afresh into temptation or yield to old sins. 

Trust only in Him, and He will surely deliver you. 

Your cheerful song shall be that of David: 

Psa 124:6  Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.

Psa 124:7  Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.

Psa 124:8  Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. 

From the arts that would allure us,  From the toils that would ensnare, 

You, who slumber not, secure us  By your ever watchful care;
And if e'er from You we roam, Fetch, oh fetch, Your wanderers home!

~George Everard~

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