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<strong>We should learn a lesson from the old heathen artist!</strong><br><br>
&quot;In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah . . . and his wife Elizabeth . . . <em>Both of them were upright <strong>in the sight of God</strong></em>, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly.&quot; Luke 1:5-6<br />
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    This is a beautiful thing which God said of them. Yet, after all, that is the test which every life must endure. It is not enough to have <em>human </em>commendation. The question is — How do we stand before God? How does our life appear to <em>Him? </em>It does not matter how <em>men </em>praise and commend us — if <em>God sees </em>that we are living wrong. The Pharisees were righteous before <em>men; </em>but if you would see how they stood in<em> God's eye</em> — read the twenty-third chapter of Matthew: &quot;You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to Hell!&quot; (verse 33)<br />
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    We are in <em>reality</em> — just what we are <em>before God</em> — <strong>nothing less, nothing more!</strong> The question we should always ask ourselves is,<em> &quot;What does God think of me?&quot;</em> If we would meet His approval, we must first have our hearts right — and then we must be blameless and upright in every part of our life.<br />
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    One of the old heathen artists was chiselling the back part of his marble statue with great pains. &quot;Why do you carve the tresses on back of the head of your statue so carefully?&quot; asked one; &quot;it will stand high in its niche against the wall — and no one will ever see its <em>back</em>.&quot; <em>&quot;The gods will see it,&quot; </em>was the reply.<br />
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    <strong>We should learn a lesson from the old heathen artist!</strong> We should do our work just as honestly, where it will be covered up and never seen by human eyes — as where it is to be open to the scrutiny of the world. For God will see it!<em> We should live just as purely and beautifully in secret — as in the glare of the world's gaze! </em><br />
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    There really is no such thing as <strong>secrecy </strong>in this world. We <em>imagine </em>that no eye is looking — when we are not in the presence of <em>men</em>. But really, <strong>we always have a spectator</strong> — we are living all our life in the presence God Himself! We should train ourselves, therefore, to live for the Divine eye in all that we do — that our life may stand the Divine inspection, and that we may have the approval and commendation of God Himself!<br />
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    &quot;Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account!&quot; Hebrews 4:13