Cut it off!
(J.R. Miller, "Daily Bible Readings in the Life of Christ" 1890)
cut it off and throw it away. It is better for
you to enter life maimed or crippled--
than to have two hands or two feet
and be thrown into eternal fire!"
Matthew 18:8
Our life is so full of temptation
and peril--
that even its best things may
become stumbling-blocks. Our
very qualities of strength--
may become fatal forces
driving us to eternal ruin.
Human beauty is a blessing from GOD--
and yet beauty has proved a snare
to many a woman, drawing her
away from GOD.
Ability to make money is a perilous gift--
Ability to make money is a perilous gift--
which has led many a man to spiritual ruin.
It is better to altogether throw away
the money-making ability, and go poor
through life with the talent wasted
and shriveled, and reach Heaven--
than to exercise the ability and grow
rich, and be lost forever!
These are illustrations of our LORD'S
meaning when HE speaks of 'cutting off'
the hand or the foot which causes us to sin.
The appetites, desires, and affections--
are part of the glory of humanity; and
yet, when they are unbridled--
they have whirled many a noble
life to eternal destruction!
A steam-boat came into port which
had long been out on the sea.
An accident had happened which
caused delay. The coal gave out;
then all that would burn--
cargo, stores, furniture--
had to be burned up, in order
to bring the vessel home.
At last she gained the shore--
but stripped of everything of value.
Yet it was better to burn up all
her cargo and stores--
than perish at sea.
Just so, some men can get to Heaven--
only by sacrificing every earthly
pleasure and crucifying every sinful
desire; but who will say that the prize
is not worth the sacrifice?
The hand would be better chopped off--
than steal or strike down another.
The foot would be better cut off--
than carry one into crime or sin.
The eye would be better plucked-out--
than by its lustful gazing set the soul on fire.
A man on a wrecked vessel had
better throw his bags of gold into
the sea and have his life saved--
than hold on to the gold and
sink into the waves!
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