"A time to love, and a time to hate" (Eccles. 3:8).

"He that loveth his life e shall lose it; and he that hateth his lie in this world shall keep
it unto life eternal" (John 12:25).

COMPROMISE here has ruined the testimony of many. They once made a fair start,
but the fear of man or the love of ease or of social standing or of the approval of
relatives or acquaintances has come between them and the Lord. It is a poor exchange
but many a one has made it and adhered to it to the end. It should break our hearts as
we think of it, and make us hate the thought of compromise.

Let us trace the way of departure. Family influence is in opposition. Simplicity and
faithfulness to Christ are derided; a name of reproach is given to true Christians; and
the soul, because not abiding in Christ, is caught in the snare. Fearful of reproach or
discomfort, the soul gives way and steers a middle course henceforth. Men call it
moderation and wisdom, but the soul has been damaged and is adrift. God is merciful,
but the Word and communion with God and with His people are less and less enjoyed,
and trials and chastenings are too much for the heart. The peaceable fruits of
righteousness do not follow. A sad witness for Christ! Such bear witness in their family
and in the world that godliness is but a name, not a reality.

The fear of man is, however, closely connected with our love of the world in some
form. We are clinging to the world in some way when the fear of God is displaced by
the fear of man, and Satan has power with us. The pride of life_how weak our hearts
that it should ever ensnare us! Ought not a glance at the life of the Lord make us
ashamed? What pure joy is lost by love of social standing; how withering to the soul is
such a preference and such an atmosphere! Self-love and idolatry are thrusting Christ
from the heart. The soul has made an evil choice, and has turned from the narrow way.
Jesus is still knocking at the door, standing there, but He has been left outside.
Friendship with the world is enmity with God.

Commonly in the Church today members of a family who are Christians are so in
accord with the world that their witness gives little or no trouble to those of the same
house who make no profession of faith. Indeed, these Christians would themselves
oppose a plain witness for God as the men of Judah opposed Samson for fear of the
Philistines:"Knowest thou not that the Philistines are rulers over us?" (Judges 15:11).
A shameful admission, but a fact.

But this peace with the world is not Christianity. "Think not that I am come to send
peace on earth:I came not to send peace, but a sword" (Matt. 10:34). The trouble
Samson made was of the same kind the Lord Himself made in this world, and that
every faithful Christian makes. "For I am come to set a man at variance against his
father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother

in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or
mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he that loveth son or daughter more
than Me is not worthy of Me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me,
is not worthy of Me. He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for
My sake shall find it" (Matt. 10:35-39).

Christian, let no one come between your soul and Christ, and let nothing turn you aside
from the cross. Christ has redeemed you by His blood, and has given you the Holy
Spirit. By this great redemption you are separated to God from all worldly friendships
and alliances and purposes. Christ has joined you to His people; for we are members of
His body and members one of another. His sheep can never perish (John 10:27,28). Let
that encourage the heart to rise up and follow Him. He loves His own and loves them
to the end (John 13:1). Hence He washes their feet, cleanses away defilements; for if
He washes us not we have no part with Him. So He restores our souls, never forsaking
us.

Let us flee then from half-heartedness and world-bordering and compromise, in the
family, in business, in the inward exercises of the soul. As Christ has died for us, let us
live for Him (2 Cor. 5:15), and we shall realize the word, "If God be for us, who can
be against us? . . . Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or
distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? . . . Nay, in all
these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us" (Romans
8:31,35, 37). In all these things, in the midst of our fiery trials, Christian, we may be
"more than conquerors" through Him who loves us. With such a word, may we let go
all carnal seeking and carnal shrinking, and go forth upon the water unto Him, go forth
to Him without the camp, bearing His reproach. "For I reckon that the sufferings of
this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed
in us" (Romans 8:18).