HOW FAR MAY I GO? by T.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 2, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 22.

“HOW FAR MAY I GO?”

By T.

“How far may I go in worldly amusements?” is often asked by young professors of Christ. And older persons, desirous of keeping the younger ones in the church, frequently ask: “How much shall we encourage our young folks in seeking worldly pleasure?” “Shall we have the dance, and throw around it the sanction and watchcare of the church, so as to keep it elevated in tone?” “Shall we have card parties, etc., etc., under the direction and supervision of the church?”

Any one who will seriously raise such questions as the foregoing is really saying in his heart that he regards “Christianity as something necessary to have when we come to die. But in order to have a good time as we go along, we desire to indulge in pleasures that, without doubt, are contrary to Christianity.” In other words, it is literally saying that Satan provides better enjoyment for us than does the Lord Jesus Christ.

What a fatal delusion! The amusements and follies of this world seem desirable because humanity is resting under the darkness of sin, and consequently that which is in harmony with his sinful desires seems to him to be the only thing that can give real pleasure. And if Satan can succeed in keeping mankind deceived, he cheats him out of the only real and perfect joys—joys that are found nowhere except in the true Christian life.

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.” Gal. 6:22, 23. And again, “Thou wilt show me the path of life; in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.” Ps. 16:11. These scriptures present the exact truth in regard to real joy and pleasure. “The fruit of the Spirit” is not only “joy” but it is “peace” as well. And in our Lord’s presence we have “fulness of joy,” and there, too, do we find “pleasures forevermore.”

The Lord does not give us joy that is incomplete. “The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it.” Prov.

10:22. This can not be said of earthly joy. Earth can give no pleasure but it has its pain. Indeed, earth gives no real pleasure at all; for what seems to be pleasure here is only a delusion of Satan, to hide from us the true joys that are so abundantly found in the happy service of God.

So, then, do not ask how far we may go in seeking the so-called pleasures of this world; but rather let us show to all that there is nothing in the service of God but the deepest and most abiding pleasure. Teach the young people who would try to enjoy the world while they also want to profess Christ, that the Word of God is full of rich promises. And if they will feed on that Word, instead of merely reading it as an occasional irksome duty, they will find the well-spring of abiding joy. God’s Word is truth. And when it tells us that the “fruit of the Spirit is joy,” we will experience that joy just as surely as we believe the Word. “O taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.”