247
May 1930
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
Contrasted Attitudes Toward God’s Promises B y R ev . J ohn G. R eid ( Spokane, Washington) A MAN engages, contracts, promises, to do a certain piece of work for you which you greatly desire. It is important. You look to him to “make good his word.” But he is not as prompt as you desire: seems to be indif ferent. You “call him up,” and, reminding him of his promise, insist that he “do as he said he would.” You do this with vigor and plainness of speech. “See here, Man! You promised to do that work! I need it. I wish it done! I insist upon an explanation, some excuse, or justification of your failure to keep your word, of your apparent indif ference or reluctance to do as you promised!”.. So, too, often, we are disposed to take a similar atti tude toward God and His promises, the attitude of Jere miah in 14 :21 : “Do not disgrace the throne o f thy g lo ry : remember, break not thy covenant with us”; and, without intentional irreverence, to assume the attitude of demand that God make good His word and purge Himself of any suspicion of unfaithfulness! And we call it “boldness” ! It certainly is that! Sometimes we are told to “put your finger on the promise and hold Him to it!” This is dan gerously near to demanding that He prove Himself faith ful, or saying (as in Jeremiah 15 :18), “Wilt thou be alto gether unto me as a liar, and as waters that fail?” Con sider! Is it not so—too often? There is another attitude. A friend whom we know well, and trust, of whose personal interest in us and in our welfare we have no question, engages, promises, to do the same thing for us. Knowing our desire, or oUr need, he says: “I will look after it for you. I will do it.” I f it is not done as promptly as we wish, we may “put him in remembrance” —remind him of his promise. “Do as thou hast said!” But how different our attitude, our tone! Our thought now is not, “He promised and he has got to do as he said, or stand convicted of unfaithfulness,” but, “He promised and just because he promised, I know that he will keep his word.” “I know him whom I have trusted” (2 Tim. 1:12 ). “What he promised he is able also to perform” (Rom. 4 :21 ) and “H e is fa ith fu l who promised, who also will do it” (1 Thess. 5 :24 ). “Sarah . . . . judged Him faith fu l who promised” (Heb. 11:11). “Commit thy way unto the Lord. Trust also in Him and H e zvill [literally, “do the work”] attend to the matter” (Psa. 37 :5 ). Now we can say: “Ah, yes! Amen! Lord, you have promised me this or that. I accept (1 ChroiL 17:25) and have the assurance of realizing the promise, that good ' word which thou hast spoken unto thy servant in which thou hast caused him to hope’ (Psa. 119:49). Thou wilt do as thou hast said” (1 Chron. 17:23). “Have I spoken, and shall I not do it?” (Isa. 46 :11 ; Hab. 2 :3 ; Rom. 8 :25). Is not this the better attitude? Is not this “pleading the promises” in the right spirit? And, what a difference in the effect upon ourselves! In the first instance, we are striving to wrest the fulfillment from Him, as if He were unwilling to keep His word, and we are uncertain as to our success. In the second we know it is sure, and in testi mony of our desire and assurance to be heard, We say1 “Amen!” i.e., “That’s sure!” and have joy and peace (Rom. 15:13). What God promises is “according to H is will” (1 John 5:14, 15). . ..
I f men fade and fall before they have lived out half their days, it is caused by the feverish craving for tem poral things—the insatiate, desire for possessions; the thirst for human knowledge; and the enslavement of a selfish ambition that would sacrifice everything—health, friends and refinement—for position and power. These are the things that plow up the soul, wrinkle the brow, and bring premature age. T he C ure The remedy is found in the spiritual life. To those who have received of that living water, there is no more thirsting for the broken cisterns of this world. The free dom from care and from feverish unrest that faith gives, is a means of prolonging the days of the Christian. Sin and unbelief write quickly the conflicts of life upon the face and form, but righteousness and faith lend strength and courage, so that the years take but small toll from the pilgrim. Jesus of Nazareth was a young man when he ascended from Olivet’s brow to the Shining City, and we have the assurance that the long centuries have not aged the Son of man. When he returns in “the day o f his power” in the morning of a new-born age, He will have the dew of His youth upon Him (Ps. 110:3). The firstborn of a new creation ascended to a glorified state when but thirty and three years of age; and therefore the inhabitants of heaven will be youthful, for they shall be like Him. The Lamb shall lead them unto living fountains of waters, wiping every tear away, an expression which means that the inhabitants shall never grow old. They shall expe rience an ever-increasing life that death cannot touch, that sin cannot blight, and that time cannot age. There are some things that still bear the stamp of their divine origin, as if fresh from the hand of their Creator. The earth has not aged! It is just as young as when its foundations were laid and the sons of God shouted for joy. Its energies are unabated. Every year it clothes itself with garments as fresh and new as in the past; the grass is'just as green, and the flowers are as rich in hue and fragrance. The morning is still young! It has been bringing daily, through the weary centuries, fresh gifts to the sons of men, for “his mercies are new every morning.” It has the same power to chase the night before its radiant face, and to awaken a slumbering world by its gentle touch to new duties, new hopes and happiness. It has even the same interest for mankind. Its charms will continue to furnish material for poet and painter, and it will ever remain a prophecy of that day whose morning shall be without a cloud, and in which all things shall be made new.
Building Securely
Oh, see that ye build securely,. When the time for building comes— With squarehewn blocks of Righteousness, And cornerstones of Faithfulness, And girders strong of Righted Wrong, And the blood of our Martyrdoms. And build on the One Foundation That shall make your building sure—■ The Rock that was laid ere the world was made— Build on Him, and ye build secure. —Evangelical Christendom.
Made with FlippingBook HTML5