The Dreaded Disease of Modern Times
By David Paulson
THE CONTAGION AND THE ONLY REMEDY
Leprosy was the most dreadful disease of ancient times. Syphilis has well-nigh replaced it in modern times. Leprosy was a most fitting type of moral disease, and syphilis is an equally appropriate illustration of the hideous character of sin. There was no human cure for leprosy. Have we yet a positive cure for syphilis? No one knows how widespread is syphilis, but the conclusive evidences of its ravages are seen on every hand; and like sin, its effects are transmitted to the third and the fourth generation. Syphilis is not satisfied with demoralizing such ordinary tissues as bone, muscle, and membranes, but in a certain number of cases it invades the brain and the nervous system, and thus lays the temple in ruin and wreckage. Locomotor ataxia and general paresis, or softening of the brain, are among its most common manifestations. In the past the victims of this disease have been saturated with mercury and other toxic drugs, which ordinarily succeeded in discouraging the activity of the disease to such an extent that they were supposed to be cured, when in many cases it would break out afresh a little later under some unforeseen provocation. Only recently we were led to believe that Ehrlich, the great German investigator, had finally produced in his famous “606” salvarsan treatment the final and certain cure for syphilis. Those who had been restrained from certain sins because of their possible consequences now began to assume that if they should contract this modern leprosy they could be promptly cured by one or two injections of this magic remedy. But we are gradually coming to recognize that God has not yet given to man the power to change so readily the operation of that emphatic, inspired declaration, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Gal. 6:7. Many eminent physicians are beginning to believe that this new remedy, in many instances at least, tends rather to paralyze the diseased organisms than to destroy them. Attractive Yet Destructive
We are living in an age when almost everything from the highest stratum of society to the lowest hell is calculated to make sin enticing and attractive, but in the last analysis immorality “biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.” Prov. 23:32. It is God’s own verdict that “sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:15. Sin may be ever so fascinating in its beginning, but its full development is hideous and revolting. Perhaps you have strayed into a beautiful, well-kept garden almost overgrown with fragrant roses, and while you were admiring their beautiful shapes and colors you have been startled by the unexpected sight of a hideous snake,—seeming all the more hideous because of its surroundings. Have you not ere this known some charming soul whose very character at first sight seemed to be a veritable garden of roses, lilies, and pinks, and lo, on closer acquaintanceship, you have discovered to your dismay a coiled serpent in the form of a deadly jealousy, some wretched suspicion, or some canker-eating “sensitiveness,” all the more sharply defined because of its exquisite surroundings? Every one of us has inherited this awful moral taint of sin, and unless the divine antitoxin has been administered to our sin-infected system, our very life, although unconsciously to ourselves, reveals to others just such a picture as the one presented; and even if we have succeeded in concealing it from man, it is open and fully revealed to God. You may marvel at and even thoughtlessly criticize some particular manifestation of this moral malady in others, but do not forget that the “sin which doth so easily beset us” (Heb. 12:1) is already slowly infecting the entire moral nature unless it is checked by a power outside of ourselves. Modern science teaches us that the syphilitic organism may innocently slumber for years and then upon some lowering of the vitality can spring into active life and resume its former ravages. So self-mastery and favorable circumstances may enable us for a time to disguise or sugar-coat the hideous monster of sin in our life, but to our dismay and the bitter disappointment of our best friends, when some unusual provocation befalls us, this same identical sin reappears just as virulent as ever. Is there no satisfactory remedy for sin? Is there no balm in Gilead? Most certainly! This besetting sin can be expelled from the soul just as the snake can be driven out of the garden, but the necessary process is as painful as extracting an eyetooth without an anaesthetic. On this account many are undertaking the impossible task of subduing or at least civilizing this besetting sin, or to offset it by more vigorously cultivating some of their good points of character which have never cost them a struggle. In other words, they are trying to raise a more abundant crop of flowers, more effectually to hide the snake from observation. That devilish trait of character that we have allowed Satan to cultivate in our life and which we have ourselves secretly nourished, and which our friends from time to time have been compelled to poultice and otherwise favor in order to live with us, will, unless expelled from the soul, infect the whole life and finally sink us into perdition. You have this disease of sin unless you have taken the “cure.” Jacob tried every9cure but the only sure cure, till finally in a great crisis (and such a crisis comes sooner or later to all who have postponed or refused the pain of taking the real cure), he turned aside to pray, not to “say prayers,” and was filled with one overmastering purpose, namely, transformation of character; and he was cured. Modern methods have developed a fairly reliable test for syphilis, and its use has again and again revealed this hideous disease lurking in a system that was supposed to be absolutely healthy. Fortunately, God has also furnished a certain test for the presence of sin in the human life. The Word is living, active, “and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Heb. 4:12, R. V. When it was applied to Daniel his “comeliness was turned . . . into corruption.” Dan. 10:8. When Isaiah took the same test he made the amazing discovery that he was a man of “unclean lips.” Isa. 6:5. Invariably when it is applied to humanity they discover that their hearts are “exceedingly corrupt.” Jer. 17:9, R. V. And God has provided through the death of His Son an absolutely certain remedy. “Thy word have I hid in mine heart [not upon the shelf], that I might not sin against Thee.” Ps. 119:11. But this remedy must be prayerfully applied each day, for as sure as the devil lives it is his studied purpose constantly to inoculate the children of men with the venom of sin, hence the divine antitoxin must be as constantly applied.