January, 1945
T
less message brings comfort and cour age to the Christian at all times, and particularly in times of distress. God’s Church The existence of the church Is a mir acle which is being performed every day, before the eyes of the world.. Con sidering the conditions of its existence, the church’s vitality is truly miracu lous. Often rent by schisms and heresies within, the church is hated by evil men outside its borders. All too frequently, pulpits, which have been dedicated to the proclamation of God’s Word, are prostituted to proclaiming political ideologies; buildings, conse crated to the worship of the eternal God, are used for card playing or dancing; rooms set apart for prayer and Bible study are the scene of the expression of the “ best thought of the modern mind.” The winning of souls for Christ has become largely a forgotten art. Considering all these facts, it Is amazing indeed that the church exists. But in spite of all attacks and op position and disorders, the church of Jesus Christ remains, a living organ ism, “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15). Whatever may be wrong with the visible church, the true Church—the real Body of Christ composed pf all born-again believers— is assured that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18). God’s Saints Because the word “saint” has be come synonymous with saintliness, Christians hesitate« to assume that name. It is true that believers should “ adorn the gospel in all things,” should conduct themselves as children of the King. But the word “saint” is simply a family name, the one by which God calls each of His children.
that those things which cannot be shaken may remain” (Heb. 12:26, 27). Thé emergence of God’s throne from the cataclysm of that great day will reveal, what the Christian already knows, that it is a throne, that cannot be shaken, stable and permanent,- without a germ of decay, enduring for ever (Dan. 2:44; 7:9-14). Contemplat ing that throne, the Christian can look upon the toppling of all earthly thrones with entire freedom from fear. God’s Word "For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven,” and that word “ is true from the beginning” (Psa. 119:89, 160). Other so-called sacred writings require amending from time tt> time as new facts or errors are discovered that make the writings obsolete. But God’s Word needs no change. It is true from the beginning. Sometimes science offers hypotheses that seem to impugn the teaching of God’s Word, 'but sci* ènee has yet to find a solitary fact that contradicts any of the Bible’s statements. Every established scien tific fact, in so far as it bears upon anything in God’s Word, fully confirms the Scriptures.' Concerning God’s Word David wrote, “Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name” (Psa. 138:2). The “name” includes all that can be thought about God: His.holiness, right eousness,truth, love, mercy, grace, and so on. A pyramid built of all that God is would have as its crowning capstone His holy Word, magnified above all His name, to ëndure as long as that name endures. Other books run their course and soon become out of date; God’s Word is perennial in its appeal to all gener ations, and continues to be the best seller from year'to year. Its change
lsh, God’s Son will be as He always has been, the “same yesterday, and today, and ior ever.” “Before the hills in order stood, Or earth received her frame, From everlasting Thou art God, To endless years the same.” The archangels, with seraphim and cherubim, and all the saints and mar tyrs, know Him to be the changeless and indestrtictible Son of God, the glorious object of their adoring wor ship. To them His person is eternal, His love immutable, and His grace un ceasing; they know His “years shall not fail.” On the other hand, demons rebel against Him, and men reject His authority. But the day is coming wherein every created intelligence in the universe will acknowledge His Lordship, even though some may refuse His Saviour- hood. It is ordained “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,j o the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:10, 11). Christians may well rejoice in their union with this eternal Person, their Saviour and their Lord. God’s Throne Thrones that once ruled the world, such as Babylon, Persia, and others, have' disappeared. Some of them seemed to have been founded upon Solid ground, but the foundation proved to be but sand. And like dunes beside the sea, the sand shifted and the Ahrones toppled. Even modern thrones totter and fall. It is said that no less than twenty-four were over thrown during World War I, and he is a bold prophet who would predict how many will remain after the present global war. The Christian knows there is one throne with s o u n d foundations. “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his [God’s] throne” (Psa. 97:2, R. V.). Because His throne stands upon such immovable and eter nal foundations, it can be written, "Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom” (Heb. 1:8). . God’s throne will not be shaken in the day when “the sun [shall] be dark ened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken” (Matt. 24:29). It will emerge unshaken from the future upheaval when the word will be ful filled, “Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the re moving of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made,
Begin the New Year Right RECEIVE NEW LIEE: "If any man be In Christ he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Cor. 5:17). RECEIVE NEW JOY: “He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord" (Psa. 40:3). RECEIVE NEW HOPE: "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glori ous appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ" (Tit. 2:13).
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker