Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 February 1915 — A Palace or a Hovel [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A Palace or a Hovel

By REV. WILLIAM WALLACE KETCHUM

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TEXT—For other foundation can a» man lay than that which la laid, which la Jesus Christ. But if any man bulldeth on the foundation gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, stubble; each man’s work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it is revealed In Are; and the fire itself shall prove each man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work shall abide which he built thereon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss:, but he himself shall ba saved; yet so as through fire.—l Cor. t:ll--15 (R. V.). Two workmen are building separate structures. One is a palace of costly

stones, and for embellish me n t, precious gold and silver; the other a hovel, into which he Is putting the flimsiest material wood, hay, stubble. Both workmen are building side by side upon the same foundation. At length the two structures are completed and the builders rest from their labors. Suddenly one day a

fire breaks out It sweeps up one street and down another, licking up the buildings that lie in its path, and finally envelops the palace and the hovel. When the fire ceases, not * vestige of the hovel remains. The flames have wiped out the structure built of wood, hay and stubble; but the palace stands. The marble In It gleams the brighter and the gold and sliver shine the more resplendently. The fire has proved each man's work of what sort it Is. The workman whose structure stood the test receives his reward; while the other, whose hovel was swept away, suffers loss, he himself being saved, yet so as, by fire. Such Is the picture presented by the text, What are some of its lessons? The Only Foundation. There Is only one foundation upon which a man can build a superstructure of works. That foundation Is Jesus Christ. This Is a simple, elemental truth, but one which needs a deal of emphasis in these days, for many have not yet discovered that the divine order in grace is the same order which holds In the putting up of a building—the foundation first, then the superstructure. Salvation first, then works; and not works first and then salvation. "For by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, that no man should glory" (Eph. 2:8, 9, R. V.). Some years ago at Catawissa, Pa., after the destruction of a bridge, the contractor upon removing the first pier, prior to the building of a new one, discovered that underneath there was no foundation. The pier simply rested upon the bed of the river, and when a heavy flood caine the entire structure was washed away. Yet, how many there are who are building a superstructure of works without the real foundation, Jesus Christ! We need to take heed how we build thereon. For it is possible to buil<j on the only foundation a palace or • hovel. ... -- - This is a truth which concerns the saved and not the unsaved. It is not a matter of salvation, but of service. Between salvation and service there is a wide difference. Salvation is a work of God for us and in us and is all of grace. Service is work which those who are saved render unto God, and for which they shall receive a reward, or shall suffer loss. The Testing Day. . A testing day is coming when the character of our work, as Christians, shall be made manifest “The day shall declare IL” Not a day of judgment for our sins, which were judged in Jesus Christ on the cross; but a day when our work shall be made manifest The day when the Lord comes, “who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the hearts” (I Cor. 4:5). Then the fire itself shall prove each man's work of what sort It is. Not literal fire, but the holy, consuming energy of the Lord himself, for "Our God is a consuming fire.” If we have built only a hovel, we shall suffer loss, irretrievable loss, but we shall be saved, yet so as by fire. Must I go. and empty-handed? Must I meet my Savior so? Indeed not for we may build a palace instead of a hovel, and be not only saved but rewarded for our work. That each, man may in that day have his praise from God (I Cor. 4:5), let us, as Christians, in our work heed three simple rules: First, a right purpose: the glory of God (I Cor. 14:3). Second, a right plan: the word of God (11. Tim. 3:16-17). . 5 Third, a right motive: the constraining Ipve as Chri«t (1.1 Cor. 5‘.14)... - Which is It to be, a palace er • brvel! . ... - ■.