Why the Ball was Given up

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A young girl came to me once after a meeting I had conducted, and said,
“I want to follow Christ.”
“Well,” I replied, “we always follow whom we love.”
“But I love the world, too.”
“But,” I said “you cannot love both.”
“There is a ball next week,” she continued; “do you think it is wrong to dance?”
“Well, if you love dancing, go to the ball.”
“What!” she exclaimed, “go to the dance!”
“Yes, if you love it. Why, if I told you not to go, and you stayed away, you would be dancing in your bedroom; but mark my word, if you love Christ, you will not go.”
It was a testing moment for her. She did not go to the ball. Instead of that she made a bold confession of Christ before her companions. What we follow we love, and is the god whom we worship. If it be not the one living and true God, let us turn away from it, and give our hearts wholly to Him.
“The love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if One died for all, then were all dead; and that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again.” 2 Cor. 5:14,1514For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. (2 Corinthians 5:14‑15).
“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.” 1 John 2:1515Love 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. (1 John 2:15).
ML 12/31/1939