Preparation
Proclamation
T HE world and organized religion will never be ready to receive the Lord Jesus Christ. The nations of the earth will continue to “ rage, an d .. .imagine a vain thing.” Satan will take advantage o f every opportunity, not only to prepare, but to enthrone, the man whom he will invest with his power and authority. The true church
W HEN the angels made their proclamation, only a very few were expecting it and had ears attuned to the mes sage o f the heavenly host. Among these who waited for “ the consolation o f Israel” were the expectant parents, devout Simeon, the godly prophetess, Anna, and the poor shepherds, watching their flocks by night. Jerusalem, the center of Juda ism, the seat of Jewish life and religion, was not in a state o f expectancy. Later, when the wise men came to Jerusalem, making inquiry about the young child, none were aware of or concerned with this glorious event. It is significant that when the Magi went outside of the city, they again beheld the star. It is lamentable indeed when religion can obscure the things that are most priceless and essential to life. The Roman au thorities, intoxicated with their temporal power, did not dream that the despised Babe in a manger was the King o f kings and Lord of lords. When the sound of the trumpet announces Christ’s return to receive His own, only a small company out o f the mass o f population or even the devotees of religious organizations will be looking for and expecting His coming. The very lan guage of the indifferent has been predicted, “ Where is the promise of his coming?” The materialistic attitude of our gen eration chills the heart to any such prospect and dims the eye of vision to this glorious outlook. When Christ’s coming was announced by the angel, neither the Jews nor the Romans had a place for Him. Judaism was apostate. The traditions of the elders had been substituted for the “ thus saith the Lord.” The ecclesiastical leaders were so meticulous about the externals o f their religion that when the Son o f God appeared first as a Babe in a manger, and then later as a Teacher and Friend o f sinners, they had no place for Him. They cried, “ Away with him!” The Roman govern ment was all-sufficient in itself, secure in the strength o f its own great armies and defenses. They likewise had no room for Jesus’ saving message or His gracious ministry. As we today anticipate the sound o f the trumpet, there is no evidence that the world as a whole will be waiting to re ceive Him with glad acclaim. We read in Hebrews 9:28, “ So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time with out sin unto salvation.” Today the religious world is badly confused. Man’s opinions have been substituted for divine revelation, character for Christ, the natural fo r the super natural. A program of world conquest to Christianize the whole social order is now being planned, but these religious leaders fail to remember that Christianity begins in the hearts of men, not in their environment. We are in the midst of a new conflict, not so much any more between modernism and fundamentalism, but between true Christianity and a religion with an ever-expanding pro gram o f human betterment without the supernatural. One is the program o f men; the other, the prosecution o f the purpose of Christ. Believers in Christ’s return will share in every good work that will contribute to the highest good of men, but they will not be diverted from the essential task of world wide evangelization. The nations are attempting to make a peaceful world by force. Nothing could be more stupid and hopeless than that, but apparently it is the only course that nations know how to follow. We are now in the midst o f a great war between opposing ideologies. Commentators on world events remind us that the “ one world” idea is fast disappearing. “ Two worlds” seem inevitable, one consecrated to free enterprise, and the other to absolute statism, with its dictatorship. In many coun tries, nationalism and patriotism have become a religion. The stage is being set for the rise of the superman who will ex press the lofty ambitions and human ideals o f the world’s leading nations. But the order that he will instigate will be anti-Christian, not anti-religious, a system in which the Son o f God will have no recognition. The challenge' as we listen again to the angels and await - the trumpet blast is for
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
of Christ should be reminded constant ly o f the need of p r e p a r a tio n for th is g r e a t day of the coming of the Lord. The re sponsibility is a personal one. Shall we not live in the light of this glori ous coming event? Christmas with its glamor, gaiety and giving, may dis tract us from the Person o f Jesus Himself. The cares of this world, the love of pleasure, the pursuit of hap piness, and multi plied Other things may deafen our ears and dull our hearts to the trum pet sound. And as we think of giving, shall we not first give to God our spirit, s o u l a n d body — our past, p r e s e n t and fu ture? Shall we not ask Him to fire our hearts with a new love-flame until we shall be praying fervently, “ Even so, c o m e , L o r d Jesus!”
*Dr. R. R. Brown is pastor o f the Omaha Gospel Tabernacle, Omaha, Ne braska. As minister of the first radio congregation in the United States, he has broadcast the Gospel over Omaha’s Radio Station WOW continuously for over twenty-five years.
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
A P R A Y E R F O R C H R I S T M A S EVE O LORD, there sit apart in lonely places, A t this the gladdest time o f all the year, Some stricken ones with sad and weary faces, To whom the thought of Christmas brings no cheer. For these, 0 Father, our petition hear And send the pitying Christ Child near. A ND there are tempted souls this night, still waging Such desperate warfare with all evil powers; nthems o f peace, while the dread strife is raging, Sound out a mockery through their midnight hours. For these, O Father, our petition hear, And send Thy tempted, sinless Christ Child very near. L ORD, some sit by lonely hearthstones sobbing, Who feel this night all earthly love denied, Who hear but dirges in the loud bell’s throbbing For loved ones lost who blessed last Christmastide. For these, O Father, our petition hear And send the loving Christ Child very near. — Author Unknown.
D E C EMB E R
I 947
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker