"Getting up in the world."
"GETTING up in the world" is not always really getting onward in the right sense. One of the old prophets speaks of the people as forsaking God, and says that they have gone away backward. Every step away from the Lord is really a step backward. It is like turning one's face from the sun, and walking toward darkness. It is leaving home, and going toward eternal homelessness and orphanage. A man may be "rising" in business, in wealth, in his profession, socially, intellectually, even ecclesiastically, and really not be rising at all. There are two standards of life,—this world's and Christ's; we may be making progress according to the former, and at the same time going backward according to the latter. Away from God is always downward, no matter if we are climbing among men. Getting nearer to God in heart, in life, is always getting onward; though in the world's scale we may be descending. We need, therefore, to watch our hearts and our spiritual life when we are prospering in earthly ways. We are likely to be greatly troubled if we lose money, or property, or position; but it is a far worse calamity if we lose faith, or love, or spirituality, or tenderness of conscience, or the friendship of God. We need to beware, lest, while we are going forward enthusiastically in men's eyes, we may be going backward as God and angels see us.—Sel.