Two men were talking about the relative merits of the automobiles they had just purchased. With good humor, each was giving reasons why he thought his car was better than the other. A mutual friend happened by, and they tried to enlist him in their friendly argument. “Which car would you rather have?” they asked. Not wanting to be drawn into the dispute, he merely said, “Oh, I don’t know. I suppose one is as good as the other.” “One as good as another?” Maybe, regarding some things, but certainly not all things. Is one husband or wife as good as another? Is one house as good as another, or is one food as good as another? The Bible teaches that Jesus built His one church, purchasing it with His own precious blood (Acts 20:28). That is the church about which we need to be concerned. One is added to this church as he expresses his love for Jesus and obeys His commands. Where are you, in the Lord’s church, or in some other?

Christians can never be at home in this world below. It was said of G. Campbell Morgan’s father: “He lived with a Bible in his hand and his face toward a better world.” Such is a worthy slogan for any Christian! Does not the thought of going to heaven thrill us anymore? John said, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the list of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world” (1 John 2:15-16). Unfortunately, the church has changed from her first century, out-of-this-world mentality, to our present day at-homeness with the world and all the slop that is in it. We have ceased to look for the Lord from heaven, and we have settled down comfortably like Lot did in Sodom. We have forgotten that we have no home down here. We sing, “set our affections on things above, not on things of the earth” (Colossians 3:2). We must not seek great things for ourselves (Jeremiah 45:5), but “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). Demas, once faithful and fruitful, began to feather his nest in this mundane sphere (2 Timothy 4:10). Did Demas perhaps end up with stocks and bonds? By contrast, the only stocks and bonds Paul could boast of were the ones on his feet and

Gospel Gleaner, 19:2 (2003): 11. Men and women of God who would not think of gambling, drinking or committing an act of fleshly evil, may otherwise be guilty of a sour disposition with an envious, bitter or negative frame of mind. An individual may quote Scripture, pray fervently and have an unblemished attendance record at worship services, yet may possess such a critical and negative attitude about life that others actually wish to avoid them. Are sins of the flesh less harmful than sins of the spirit? The sin of a bad attitude can cripple, if not kill, the progress of the Lord’s church in any community. A weak brother may have the foulest, most profane tongue of anyone in the town and the church would not want him to serve publicly in the worship assembly. Rightly so! But if a brother has a sour spirit and is known to be a habitual discourager of others, he shall be used!!! Regardless of daily news, sorrowful circumstances or stormy weather, each of us has a duty to show ourselves true men and women of God and be of good cheer. The Bible says: “…greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John