What Will You Risk for Glory?
By A. C. Gilbert
WHAT is man willing to endure in order to obtain worldly glory?—He is willing to pass through severe hardships and trials, even facing death itself, if only, when he has achieved his aim, he may have as a reward a few brief years of transient glory, of human praise, and possibly a monument to remind his forgetful contemporaries who outlive him, that he lived. What are men willing to risk in order to obtain heavenly glory?—The larger portion of mankind are not willing to consider heavenly honor, eternal life, of sufficient importance to give the subject even a serious thought, much less give the question a test. In planning for eternal life, there is no risk. There is no venture in the whole plan of salvation. It is as certain as the everlasting hills. He who complies with the conditions laid down, by which an eternity of glory, of power, of pleasure, is obtained, will never fail of receiving his reward. Eternal life and glory, uninterrupted association with the angels and the Lord Himself, are held out to every soul. The requirements of heaven for entrance are not difficult. The experience through which each candidate must pass before he is considered worthy of eternal honor and glory, is regarded as but a “light affliction” when compared with the “eternal weight of glory” (2 Cor. 4:17) that is to be the everlasting joy of the redeemed. Strange that men will allow opportunities to pass by for laying hold of priceless fame, unmeasured joy and honor, and instead, they will spend, and risk, and finally lose all in an effort to get a meager amount of earthly glory, which is as unreal as the shadow, and as worthless as glittering tinsel! Were we asked to give up some principle of right, some essential element of character, some valuable talent, before being ready for the kingdom, well might we hesitate to respond to the invitation of mercy, “Come unto Me.” But when we are invited to give up only those things which are harmful, useless, destructive, repulsive, and coarse, how can it be said that the conditions of601salvation are too strict, the way is too strait? Can it be honestly said that it costs too much to obtain an “eternal weight of glory,” when the price asked is simply to exchange our “filthy rags” of sin for the beautiful “garments of salvation”? Isa. 64:6; 61:10; Zech. 3:3-5. It is said that “sensualists look only at the present pleasure, and sell their souls for it. Earthly things are present and pleasant; therefore we so cleave to them, striving like the toad, who falls asleep with mostly earth in his paws.” “Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.” Prov. 15:21. “For bodily exercise profiteth for a little time: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” 1 Tim. 4:8, margin.