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became the seed of the Church. That was the kind of service to which the Lord called them: ia faith, and many a missionary today is as faithfully serving the Lord in this type of service. The “ Forgotten Ones” Finally, some Christians are directed into the strang est service of all. They are those whom God apparently has forsaken. They trust in the promises, but they have not experienced deliverance. These include the multi tudes of saints racked by pain; those who languish in concentration camps because of their testimony for Jesus; outlawed and outcast ones for whom there seems, no help. Let us see the glory of this picture: They are serv ing the Lord Jesus; they are glorifying Him; they are made a “gazingstock” to the world, to angels, and to men. The whole universe must acknowledge the fact that they serve our Lord not for remuneration, for they receive none, but simply because they love Him. Behold them as depicted in Hebrews 11:36-38: “And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; be ing destitute, afflicted, tormented; of whom the world was not worthy; they wandered in deserts, and in moun tains, and in dens and caves of the earth.” God’s state ment concerning all of these: these who served, faithfully in “the pulling down of strongholds” of Satan; these who were “expendable” in martyrdom; and these who lan guished in pain without deliverance—was that they had “obtained a good report through faith.” “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, un- movable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for^ asmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” OUR AUTHORS THIS MONTH Dr. H. Framer Smith formerly directed the Pastors’ Course at Moody Bible Institute and was head of the New Testa ment Department ' of the Omaha Presbyterian Theological Seminary. At present he is engaged in conducting Bible missions throughout the country and in writing on Bible subjects.
Faith in Salvation But now thé uses of faith: The first use is found in salvation. The faith referring to the principle of salva tion found in the Scriptures appeals to the heart as well as to the mind. If the root of sin goes right down into the heart, then salvation must penetrate as deeply. Do you know why David lived a miserable life for nearly a year? Because he kept covering the guilt of sin in his heart. (Psa. 32:1-5). He wallowed around in that state until he had become “ all unglued.” Then he turned his. whoie heart over to God, permitting the Word of God to control. David found faith working in salvation. Faith working in salvation brings personal faith to the faith. Abel’s gift acknowledged the value of the^hed blood. Enoch’s walk acknowledged the value of the Word of God. Noah’s obedience exhibited Noah’s faith acting on God’s warning. Abraham’s separation from the world acknowledged faith in the glory of God’s promise. Moses’ stand demonstrated faith in God’s power to deliver. Therefore, faith is first used in salvation. Faith in Prayer The second use is found as it is linked with prayer —Hebrews 11:6, “He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that dili gently seek him.” Now then, you can add to this, James 1:5-8, 1 John 5:14, 15, and John 15:7. “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shalL.be donje unto you.” Howevpr, in all of this you must beware of the treacherous shoals of presumption and self-will, relying on faith as itself a work. No one is ever going to pass through the portals of Heaven into the presence of the Lord and be able to boast: “Well, I got here and it was my great faith that brought me through.” On the contrary, those who ar rive there will be giving all honor and glory to .the Lamb. The experience of every Christian is that of being taken to the school of prayer by the Lord and being taught what it means to truly abide in Him. Abiding in the Lord refines and alters the desires of the heart. Frequently the Lord may reveal His will by giving an answer to our prayers in one simple word—“No.” If we are abiding in Him, we will rejoice to hear that word as if it were “Yes.” Faith in Service The third use of faith is in Christian service- “What kind of Christian service?” you may ask. The answer is simple: the kind of service to which God calls you. Some are called to service that deals with the pulling down of the strongholds of Satan and advancing the program of God with strength and power. These are characterized in Hebrews ll:33-35a. They are the ones who “through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought right- ■eousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens . . • received their dead raised to life again.” Again, some are led into the type of Christian serv ice which is comparable to men volunteering for the de fense of their country. In Hebrews 11:35b these are de scribed: “ And others were tortured, not accepting deliv erance; that they might obtain a better resurrection.” This can only refer to their reward for service accom plished in the name of our Lord. In writing to the peo ple at Smyrna, thé Lord said through John: “ Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer . . . be thou faith ful unto death, and I Will give thee a crown of life.” The blood of the martyrs -in the early Roman persecutions
Rev. Herbert E. Kann is pastor of the Oliver Presbyterian Church of Minneapolis/ Minnesota.
Rev. Arthur Hedley is a minister and author from Dun stable/ England.
Rev. Robert L. Evans of Pasadena/ California/ is a retired Presbyterian minister.
The writers of the Young People s Topics this month are all graduates of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles: Miss Marguerite Johnson, '43, teaches Euodia and. Eteri classes in the San Joaquin Valley; Mrs. Jack Brown, 41, labors witn her husband at Stay, Kentucky, as a missionary; Rev. Lowell Wendt, *40, is pastor of the Montecito Park Church; and Rev. Paul Roper, former Oregon pastor, is continuing his education at Westmont College.
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