The measure to which we belong to the world, is the measure to which we find delight in sin, either in conversation, in participation, in the depths of our soul or by the promotion of sinful ways. Alternatively the measure to which we are immersed in Christ, is the measure to which we are repulsed by sin; firstly and mostly by the sin in ourselves, then in others and in all speech and conduct; by the sin in film and art, a repulsion that is illustrated to oneself by one’s active-hostility and vigilance against the evil thoughts that assault the mind. A lukewarm soul is one who is repulsed by some sin, yet delights in others- they half-serve the world, and half-serve the Lord. Let us serve the Lord, and the Lord alone.

We can ask, ‘What does God know about loneliness?’ That’s a good question. Does he know anything about the loneliness of being deserted by friends? Does he know about the loneliness of one who doubts: in religion, in life? Now suppose there was a figure that came into all of this loneliness, and so immersed himself in it that he would not immunize himself from it—would not cut himself off from it. If there was a figure that came into this world of ours and refused to isolate himself from loneliness and felt it so much that blood poured out from his body, felt loneliness so much that the flesh from his body hung like dripping purple rags—Suppose someone came into this world and went into all this loneliness and took it all and was not overcome by it but conquered it all. Then what? Then I have a captain that did not press a button in Heaven from a celestial command, but I have a captain who stumbled to a throne.