GIL DODDS TH E FLYING PARSON By Mel Larson Over a microphone of a nation-wide hook-up came these words: fT thank the Lord for guiding me through this race and once more seeing fit to let me win. I thank Him always fo r His guiding presence .J Thus spoke Gil Dodds after his world record race at the Chicago Stadium. This gripping life story flashes his training technique, his family life, his movie experience, humor and hidden strength. Says Gunder Hagg, Swedish track star :“ May God give you fame in your chosen profession, the ministry.” Dr. V. Raymond Edman,Presi dent of Wheaton College: “ A great heart who loves God and man. He has thrilled young people everywhere.” 100 pages, 25 choice pictures. A t your bookstore or from Department KB E V A N G E L I C A L B E A C O N , 4211 N. Hermitage Ave.
t
USE STANDARD’S COURSES Vacation Bible in struction is impera tive in wartime. Standard’s Vaca tion School Courses are complete to the last detail. Bleven teachers’ manuals,
PRICE $ J 2 5
Ì T H E
Chicago 13, III. “Like a Mighty Army . . . ” this appealing book leads to true spiritual victory. Stories! of %)vmn$ Wt Hohe B y Cecilia M argaret Rudin, M . A.
one for each year o f Kindergarten, through Intermediate. Manual has everything needed for conducting each day’s program . . . music, Bible stories, plans for Bible expressional work, games, handwork pat terns . . . all designed to im p ro ve the child’s Bible knowledge. Each manual $2. Send today for free prospectus. The Standard Publishing Co. 8th and Cutter Streets, Cincinnati 3, OhiA
Here’ s the book o f deeper meaning that touches the very roots of spiritual strength. Contains 88 pages of inspiring, authentic stories o f our great hymns and their writers and composers. Arranged in chronological order and covers 400 years of Christian hymns. Has 120 stanzas, distinguished illustrations—St. Cecilia, Luther, “ Home, Sweet Home” and its author—John Howard Payne, andover30 decorative titleheadings. 155 subjects,authors and composers. You will get a closer kinship with the hymns you sing when you read this delightful book. Artisticallybound, price of this“ gem” volume o f 88 beautiful pages only $1.00. A perfect Easter Gift. Order TODAY through your bookstore or direct. I f l l l f c l D l i n i M © P A M D A K I V I U P P u b /ish ers o /T H E B O O K O F L IF E JU tlN KUU IN OC UU IY IrAN Y IN L . 1018S . Wabash Ave., Dept. KB-45 Chicago 5, III.
CAN M A K E
THE WO R LD A BETTER P LAC E TO L IV E IN Yes, you can help make this world safe for your children and for their children too. For when you help spread the Word of God, you help combat the pagan forces which have been destroying our world—and you speed the day mankind will live in peace and security. The need is urgent if our civilization is to survive and progress. That is why the American Bible Society must ex pand its War Emergency Fund. Send your contribution today! Or
36 PAC E S OF B EAUT I FU L SONGS in m usical settings never before available in Gospel, m u sic! They are based on the Gospel o f Jesus C hrist, w ritten by persons w hose nam es are fam iliar in the Gospel field and ar ranged by outstanding radio arrangers. SONGS THAT TOUCH THE SOUL reveal the beauty o f Christ and m ake the lost yearn for the fold. SUPERB for w om en’s voices, trio or chorus. Ideal for soloists. DO NOT NEGLECT this opportunity to help your church, revival cam paign, or radio program .
better still, why not secure an Ameri can Bible Society Annuity Agreement, which helps in this vital work and at the same time provides a generous life time income for yourself or for a loved one. Investigate this Christian Plan. Write for the interesting booklet, “ A Gift That Lives!’
Bound in beautiful cover. Price Per copy, 50c postpaid. Send money order or coin (no stamps accepted) today to
r
American Bible, Society, Bible House, New York 22, N. Y. □ Please send me, without obligation, your booklet KB-56 entitled “ A Gift That Lives” □ I enclose $........... for the world-wide distribution of the Scriptures.
UNIVERSAL PUBLISHING CO.
4403 Sheridan Road
Chicago 40, III.
Send .................................. ............1— ..cop/es to Name ..... .................................................................... Street.................................... ..................................... CHy . ............. ............................... State.............
Mail This Coupon Today Without Fail!
Name ..... Address- City ........
State .
April, 1945
121
Attend Summer School at the Bible Institute o f Los Angeles June 18-July 27, 1945 SPECIAL SIX WEEKS 1 COURSE For Pastors, Students,Missionari es, and Christian Workers
COURSES:
HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE SCRIPTURE WORD STUDY
NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS CHRISTIAN EVIDENCES
Reid McCullough, B.A., B.D., D.D. HOW TO INTERPRET THE BIBLE DOCTRINE OF MAN AND SIN Bernard Ramin, A.B., B.D. CHAPTER SUMMARY TYPOLOGY Bertha Pentney, A. B. PUBLIC SPEAKING Ruth Ender, A.B.
lone Lowman, B.S., M.S., Ph.D.
HOW TO TEACH THE BIBLE RECREATIONAL LEADERSHIP Clifford Larson, A.B., B.D. EXPOSITION (Daniel and Revelation)
S. H. Sutherland, A.B., Th.B., D.D.
PRIVATE MUSIC LESSONS Various Teachers.
CLASSES AND CREDIT: Classes each morning, Monday through Friday. Five hours of instruction in each subject per week. Full Day School credit. Regular faculty.
RECREATION: Afternoons, evenings and Saturdays. (The Insti tute is conveniently situated in the heart of the city for all transportation lines.).
COST-NO TUITION CHARGE Registration fee: For credit — $10.00 for term; auditors — $2.00 weekly. (Maximum auditor’s fee —$6.00.) Rooms per month: Single $19.00; double, $12.50 each. Board at popular priced cafeterias, tea rooms, and restaurants.
nimulimili! il nsinis 55S So. Hop« Street • Les Angeles 13, California
Write to :
TH E K I N G ’ S B U S I NE S S
12z
THE KING'S BUSINESS
The Bible Institute of Los Angeles, Incorporated
Published Monthly by And Representing
No. 4 William W . Orr, D.D. Associate Editor
Vol. 36 Louis T. Taibot, D.D., Editor-in-Chief
April 1945
Ransom Marvin Staff Artist
CONTENTS :
Cover — “ Portals of the Past” — Golden Gate Park,
San Francisco, California
Courtesy of George R. King, Photographer
Page The Mock Angel by Vance Havner .............................................................123 Editorially Speaking ............. ................. ............................................................124 The Man in the Glory by J. C. Macaulay .................................................126 Caleb in Old Age 'by Ruth Paxson ............................................................ 128 Montgomery Man of Prayer by Mel Larson ............................................. 131 The Bible in the News......... ................................................................................133 Junior King’ s Business by Martha Hooker.. ............ ..............................135 Sunday School Lessons ..."......... ............... ..J ......................................................137 Young People’ s Topics ....................................................................................... 145 Dr. Talbot’s Question Box.................................: ............................................ 147 Biola Family Circle by Leonard Gaylord ................................................... 148 Devotional Readings ................................ .................................................... ....150 Book Reviews by Mildred M. Cook ................................................... .......154 Speaker’ s Scrapbook .......................................................................................... 155 SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION —“ The King’s Business" is published monthly; $1.50, one yr.; $2.00, two yrs.; 75 cents, six months; 20 cents, single copy. Clubs of three or more at special rates. Write foj* details. Canadian and foreign subscriptions 25 cents extra. It requires one month for a change of address to become effective. Please send both old and new addresses. REM ITTANCE— Payable in advance, should be made by bank draft, express, or post office money order payable to “ The King’s Business." Date of expiration will show plainly on outside wrapper or cove*- of magazine. ADVERTISING —For information, address the Advertising Manager, 558 South Hope Street, Los Angeles 13, Calif., Or our eastern representative, Religious Press Asso ciation, 51 No. 52nd St., Philadelphia 39, Pa. MANUSCRIPTS —“ The King’s Business" cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to manuscripts sent in for consideration. Entered as second-class matter November 7, 1938, at the Post Office at Los Angeles, California, under the Act of March 3, 1879. Acceptance for mailing at special rate of postage provided for in the Act of February 28, 1925, embodied in paragraph 4, section 538, P. L<. and R., authorized October 1, 1918, and November 13, 1938. ADDRESS: The King’s Business, 558 So. Hope St., Los Angeles 13, Calif.
April, 1945
THE MOCK ANGEL By Vance Havner
themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” What a fearful thing to be the minister of the devil! And Paul warned again and again of these false preachers. He spoke of those who cause divisions and offences, who serve not Christ but their own belly, who by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple (Rom. 16:17, 18). Much of the. Corinthian letters, Galatians and Colossians is taken up with warning against Satan in angelic garb. Timothy and Titus are put on their guard. John cries against false teachers and Jude makes it even stronger. But today it is thought unethical to point out these wolves in sheep’s clothing who come with eloquence and elegance, creeping into houses, leading silly women astray, whose words are smoother than butter, but whose hearts are full of rage. I am not half as afraid of wild extremists, tearing their hair in lurid sensationalism, as I am of these mock angels. Yet if we point out these disguised devils, we are told to preach Christ. Very well. Paul puts it this way: “Christ in you, the hope of glory: WHOM WE PREACH, WARNING EVERY MAN . , . ” (Col. 1:27, 28) and nowhere did he warn them more positively than in this very epistle. It is a thankless task, crying out against these mock angels, for often it seems that we are speaking against men—better men than we, so suave and refined do they appear. The cry of the day is for smooth things. Especially do those who suffer from that glorified itch, of which Paul wrote to Timothy (2 Tim. 4:3), resent any.undershepherd who spots a wolf among the flock. But our Lord set the example in warn ing against false teachers, and we are in noble succession when we warn men against Satan as an angel of light. But Satan is not limited to false teachers. He has sneaked into many a promising life through a friend ship that bore every mark of genuineness only to wreak havoc when the mask came off. Many a girl meant for the mission field has ended up a castaway by marrying a mock angel. There have been preachers who compromised their message and ministry through unholy alliance out of God’s will with society, money and looks. Satan knows the weak side, and that he cannot overcome us by mere force. He creeps upon us with what appears fine and correct. It is doubly dangerous because it is clad in the garments of light. Think of the lives into which the adversary has sneaked through books! These are not vicious books, but books that take the edge off our spiritual appetite and pave the way for worse things ahead. The devil is clever: he knows he can never storm some citadels through adultery, profanity, worldliness. He knows that if he came in filthy garb, he would be thrown out. So he comes In something that may even be good. He will occupy us with something good if it will keep us from something better. It may seem God’s will so that we do not merely excuse it, we defend it. It may be a game, a hobby, that might be all right in its place, but in our case gets out of its place. It may be some form of Christian work, but not the thing to which God has called us. Satan may even make us busy championing a doctrine which may [ Continued on Page 130]
sty
S ATAN himself is transformed into an angel of light” (2Cor.jp.: 14). The popular conception of the devil with hoofs, horns and pitchfork is, as any Bible student knows, utterly foreign to the Word of God and is part of the devil’s own game to deceive us about himself. The ideas we get from pictures and nightmares are not Scriptural just as most popular ideas about hell are Miltonic but not Biblical. The devil wants us to think of him as a hideous being so that when he comes as an angel of light we shall be deceived. Paul writes, “we are not ignorant of his devices” but we are ignorant today. Satan wears so many masks and costumes that we mistake him for an angel. We walk along with this angel expecting the devil to leap out at us with his hoofs and horns— and discover eventually that the angel is the devil! We need a new vision of the devil. Wherever you find a man of power, he is under no delusions about the prince of darkness. He deals with a person, not an in fluence. Martin Luther had no lavender-and-rose-water ideas about evil when he threw his inkwell at the devil. Billy Sunday on the edge of his platform talking to Satan may have shocked some thin-skinned listeners, but there was reality there and Sunday gave the devil a lot of trouble. Satan was a lovely being before his fall and he is a past master of subtlety and deception. He is attractive and angelic. That he does go about as a roaring lion is very true; but we are to guard against his “wiles” for perhaps he is most dangerous, not in bold, open attack, but when, insidious and sneaking, he comes clad in gar ments of light. What Paul had in mind here was false teachers. “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming
TH E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
ITORIAUV
SPEAKING
We will need your help. Tuition is, and always has been, without cost at Biola. The student pays only for food and lodging. The. costs relative to the intensive training amount to approximately $125.00 per year per student. With a growing student body, there will be additional costs. We will need also more dormitory space. Our classroom facilities are al ready taxed to capacity. Social and recreational rooms are greatly desired. An apartment house for our married students would indeed be a wonderful gift. Above all we need prayer help ers. May God give us ten thousand Christians who believe in, and who constantly practice prayer! ★ ★ Bible Institute o f the A ir Without a doubt one of the most fruitful phases of the ministry of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles is its radio b r o a d c a s t i n g . 'Now in its fourteenth year under Dr. Talbot’s leadership, (although it is to be re membered that itocSnany years Biola owned and operated its own radio station, KTBI), this work has pros pered and blessed the lives of un counted thousands. - The mid-morning hour of 11:00 o’clock was the first to be taken. At this time Dr. Talbot pioneered in a p o p u l a r Bible teaching, verse-by-verse ministry. To accom pany and fortify this Bible teaching, Dr. Talbot began printing his radio messages in book form and sending them w i t h o u t cost to the radio audience. Today the results of this radio printing vision are seen in the homes all over Southern California. Several years ago the Lord seemed to be leading in the acquisition of time over a chain of Pacific Coast sta tions. This work grew until the Mu tual network enacted a new ruling limiting the time of religious broad casting to Sunday mornings. Forced to discontinue here, the Bible Institute of the Air began a new climb over a new Associated Broadcasting Company network. At the present time the net work program is released on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 8:00 a. m.
Praise Be Unto Our Great God As this page of THE KING’S BUSI NESS is being written, we are looking forward to Easter Sunday when, God willing, the mortgage on the large auditorium building of the Church of the Open Door, which lies between the two thirteen-story hotel buildings of the Bible Institute, will be burned. Surely this is another concrete demon stration of the fact that God hears and answers prayer. With deep humility we recall that only a few years ago all three build ings were heavily burdened with a ' Crushing debt. The advice of bankers and many friends was to give up. Instead—perhaps in desperation—un ceasing prayer was made to God. The answer came, and friends were raised up. Not all at once, but little by little, and dollar by dollar, the debt was paid. Now with heartfelt thanks giving to our Heavenly Father, we are to witness the complete liberation from this financial burden. We thank God for the coming of Dr. Louis T. Talbot. In an all but hopeless situation this man of God exhibited magnificent courage and undaunted faith. Sometimes, with no one upon whom to depend but God, he learned the lesson that God is enough. About a year ago the mortgages on the two side buildings were paid. Soon it will be the privilege of Dr. Talbot to apply the match to the papers on the central building. “Credit to whom credit is due” demands that we thank God for sending us this faithful pastor and friend. Now as to the future! Surely there is a ringing challenge to both the Bible Institute of Los Angeles and the Church of the Open Door. The pres ent student body is larger than ever before. Indications are, that in post war days additional hundreds seeking training will be knocking at the doors of Biola. And the mission fields? With doors wide open, and with pre viously unheard of transportation op portunities, there will be need for literally thousands and thousands of dedicated and consecrated young peo ple. Biola earnestly and prayerfully desires to help to meet this need.
to about thirty stations from San Diego in the South, to Seattle in thé North. Letters testifying to the help and blessing of the Bible Institute of the Air continue to pour in. The music is ably furnished by a large stu dent choir which includes smaller groups of trios, quartets, sextets, and octets. The Bible discussion has in cluded the themes of Biblical Natur- ology, Astronomy, Archaeology, An thropology and lastly, the personal return of Christ. God willing, it is the earnest desire of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles to broadcast this network program through the Middle West. We need much prayer. We know that the air is particularly the dominion of our arch enemy, Satan. But God is able, and we earnestly desire to press the battle for Him until Jesus comes. Please place this ministry on your prayer list. ★ ★ Family Altars In a recent issue of the Reader’s Digest there appeared a fine article on prayer in the home. It is a true story of a family that regained peace, satis faction and inner strength by setting aside a daily period for home devotion. While the conclusions of the writer are not in agreement with our views, his article is certainly newsworthy as denoting a definite trend in American thinking. It seems that the parents, having themselves been reared in Christian homes, sensed a lack of spiritual progress in their children, although they attended S u n d a y School re gularly, and evèn repeated nightly prayers. A d a n g e r o u s accident brought both parents and children to a realization of the instability
125
of life, and to a determination to grow spiritually. So they set aside a daily period for song, Scripture read ing, and prayer. The results are a new sense of family unity, a shrinking of troubles, and a remarkable freedom from worry. For a lpng time we have known that spiritually s t r o n g characters come from homes where there is a family altar in good repair. Strength for the trials of life cannot be given in great quantities for long intervals of time. Rqther it must be obtained by continu ous application to Him who is the source of the Christian’s strength. More than any other one cause, the breakdown of the family altar is the reason for the lack of virility in Christianity. Too often our belief has been, perhaps unconsciously, that power and courage for the Christian life must come from meetings in the church building. All the while there has been the promise that where two or three gathered in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, God was there to bless and empower. God give us the family altar again! ★ ★ Changes In this month’s magazine our regu lar readers will observe a number of changes. One which will be warmly welcomed is the change to a better grade of paper. Because of war con ditions and our present method of printing on a rotary press, we are not yet able to use a hard finish white paper, but the better grade of "book” paper will, we are sure, make a much neater magazine. THE KING’S BUSINESS is now printed on a high speed press like a newspaper. This process demands an absorbent paper on which the ink will dry almost instantly. Thé other method of printing is by the regular “flatbed” method on which any grade of paper may be used. This is slower and consequently more costly. We thank God for the opportunity to use this better paper, and look forward to the time when our printing method will allow us to use the completely white paper. Some of our readers, while delighted with the contents, have hesitated to recommend the magazine to their friends because of the paper on which it was printed. It is hoped that with this change, many additional friends may be secured, and our opportunities for witnessing thereby greatly en larged. Please pray for üs that we may seek only the glory of God in every depart ment of this magazine. If you have constructive suggestions, tell us; if not, tell the Lord.
to support the war effort, to buy bonds, to give to the Red Cross, to comply with regulations, and to back in every way possible the promotion of the war. This is right, for we believe the Word of God teaches that Christians are to be in subjection to their gov ernment, and that when there is no conflicting principle at stake, they are to support it to the fullest extent. That the propaganda of the govern ment has been successful there is no doubt. Never in all the history of nations has there been such an in credible amount of material and serv ices produced for the prosecution of a war. The industrial might of this country staggers the imagination. But our point is this: Does it not seem strange that when our nation is so earnestly bending every muscle to win the war, and when we are exhorted on every hand not to waste a penny or a minute, that the huge sprawling octopus of the destructive liquor traffic should not only be al lowed to go on its nefarious way, but evidently to be encouraged by some in high office? Is it consistent to take precious grain to brew the foul stuff, and precious gasoline and tires to cart it to shops and docks? Is It consistent to allocate glass and metal for containers and to use valuable space in ships to take it to the far ends of the earth? Is it consistent to be aware of the connection be tween liquor and all forms of debili tating vice and not to crush it to the death? No, America is not consistent in this! Take, too, the recent hullabaloo over ,*if!e cigarette shortage. While un doubtedly a lesser evil than drink, there is no doubt that if we were absolutely honest, we would decide that our war effort would be immeas urably advanced by the strict curb ing of this evil. We might go on to consider the unchecked movie indus try, the horse-racing tracks (now closed, but allowed to operate for three wartime years), the night life, and the gambling. Even aside from the aspect of sin and righteousness, are we con sistent as a nation? These things are postponing the day of final victory. And what does God think? In all His dealings with the sons of men, God is absolutely consistent. It is unthinkable that the Ruler of the Universe should be otherwise. And He must be consistent as He answers our prayers. But how can He regard our repeated and clamorous petitions for victory and peace when our na tional and individual lives only too clearly show our hopeless inconsist ency? God is not deceived. Nor will God be mockedi May He grant to us a real revival of consistent thinking and living. [Continued on Page 159]
Not Enough to Believe In God It seems to be increasingly common for worldly-minded people to assume either a pious or patriotic attitude by speaking familiarly of God. Stories have come out of the war relating how under stress of battle our servicemen have sought God. Over the radio certain other people have offered deftly phrased prayers, or have mur mured “ God bless you,” or have crooned “God bless America.” Let us not be deceived in this. It is not enough to believe in God. With very few, exceptions, all men believe there is a God. Surely only a fool can behold the ubiquitous indi cations of God’s handiwork and not admit that He exists. The demons also believe and tremble. This uni versal recognition of God has no sav ing value, nor has this kind of peti tion any access to His throne. If there is one truth plainly taught on the pages of the New Testament, it is, since the cross, there is but one basis of approach to God. To forget, ignore, or circumvent this Way is to fail to learn the greatest lesson in life. The reason is patent. Mankind is sinful, exceedingly sinful. God is holy, absolutely holy. There is no fellow ship between holiness and sin. The only meeting, plaice is on the ground of satisfactory punishment for sin. As the wagesi/ofjsifT is dejgth, blood must be shed. Therefore the » a n who at tempts to tench the th lifte -o f God without pleading the ^eansing/sadrK ficially shed b}o4d of cjhriif,. is op'siijf flaunting his ^Sin|inmess4;'in GiM's* face. NpVgjf. ' J ' f f ' This matter, of! speaklft^JaffriJiarly of God whil«y>jiiterly ignorii|£ Chrisdt is anotheri*»f!Sit*n’s dfebolicarsubtlw ties. By^MCW fele ii^ i u l l e d into a sleep'of T&aGS Ymrsde, it^sounds so pioub, a‘n# rit^doesnSt Attend 'man’s pride, underneath is the thought that, after all, God and you are compara tively close friends. How tragic! Fail not, my Christian friends, to sound the warning note. Eternal death is the portion of all who fail to come by the Way of the Son of God. ★ ★ Consistency Perhaps the greatest, the most over whelming, the most comprehensive barrage of words that has ever been let loose upon a nation has been spoken and written from our govern ment agencies to the American peo ple. By our newspapers, over the ra dio, in our magazines, with posters, by singers, actors and sky writers, the people of this land have been urged
126
TH E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
THE MAN
IN THE GLORY
By J. C. Macaulay O NE OF THE most pregnant documents in the pos their important functions at v a r i o u s periods of the Church’s history, this brief, powerful statement has lived on through the centuries, expressing the unity of the Christian faith amid all the diversities. It indicates the body of truth which early came to be recognized as the vital heart of the Christian message, and every generation has acknowledged its fundamental character. This remarkable little compendium of theology is, as you must have noticed, dominantly Christological. And of the several terse statements which are regarded as of sufficient importance to include in so vital a document, this one stands out boldly: “He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God, the Father Al* mighty." Is a line in the Apostles’ Creed too great an emphasis! on this fact, that our Lord is seated at God's fight hand? Judging from the attention that is given it today, artfl the measure of modern acquaintance with this truth, yesf But, judging from its place in Scripture, no! For thei Biblical writings deal with this subject in every conceiV* able form. 1. It is TYPICALLT PREFIGURED in the sudden ex altation of Joseph from the prison house to the seat of supreme authority in Egypt. 2. It is PROPHETICALLY ANNOUNCED in Psalm 110:1, “The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool,” a Scripture which the New Testament consistently applies to Jesus. 3. It is HISTORICALLY PROCLAIMED in Mark 16:19, “So then, after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right 'hand of God." 4. It is DOCTRINALLY EXPOUNDED, particularly in the epistle to the Hebrews, with reference to the purifica tion of sins (Heb. 1:3), Christ’s superiority over the angels (Heb. 1:13), and the perfect sacrifice for sins (Heb. 10:12). 5. It is PRACTICALLY APPLIED. In Ephesians 1:19 it is used in demonstration of “God’s power to us-ward who believe,” so that we shall trust the divine omnipotence to lift us also into the power of the heavenly life. In Colos- sians 3:1, 2 the vision of Christ seated at God’s right hand is the incentive to “seek those things which are above,” and to “set our affections on things above, not on things on the earth.” In Hebrews 12:1, 2, our Lord’s exaltation to the right hand 04 God as a reward for suffering is our session of thé Christian church is the Apostles’ Creed. It was in use as early as 180 A. D., and while other creeds have been formulated and have fulfilled
encouragement to “run with patience the race that Is set before us, looking unto Jesus.” In Revelation 3:21 a place in Christ’s throne is promised the overcomer, even as He has won a place in the Father's throne. For all the abasement which our Lord endured in His incarnation, there is one thing He did not lose—H is deity. When He was most completely man, He was just as truly God. For all the exaltation which our Lord realized in His ascension, there is one thing He did not abandon—H i s humanity. When He is most truly Lord of Glory, He is as perfectly Son of Man. There is a Man in the glory. Our first emphasis Is on our Lord’s sitting at the right hand of God. Of course the thought conveyed is not that relating to mere physical posture. Spiritual truth is indicated. 1. A Finished Work has earned the Seat of Rest Read with our text the verse preceding, and the impli* ; " Cation will be seen. “And every priest standeth daily & (ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on j||t the right hand of God.” The greatest problem in the world, both for the indl- * fWBual and the race, is the problem of sin. Its solution id the answer to all other difficulties. How to get rid of Sin?-*~that is the question. The Hebrews had their sacrifi cial system of divine appointment, ministered by a line of priests ordained of God. But for at least three manifest reasons, the system did not supply the need. First, the priests themselves were sinners like those on whose behalf they ministered. How then, could they make purification of sins? A dirty broom will not make a clean floor. Second, their sacrifices of bulls and goats and lambs could never take away sin. What relation can there be between the blood of a non-moral beast and the offences of a moral creature like man? “Not all the blood of beasts On Jewish altars slain Could give the guilty conscience peace Or wash away the stain.” Third, it was into an earthly sanctuary that the priests had access, not into the very presence of God. Having themselves no access, how could they obtain such access for the people? This threefold weakness of their system, then, kept them ever engaged in ineffectual ministra tions. Their work was never finished. They never sat down in the holy place. Ì
April, 1945
127
Yet their work was not in vain. They were set to indi cate God’s method, and to foreshadow Him who was to come, God’s Apostle and High Priest, Jesus Christ. The great topic of the epistle to the Hebrews is the accom plishment in Christ of what had been only prefigured in the Levitical ministry. Even as that failed because of its threefold weakness, Christ won by the triple excellence of His ministrations. First, His own superiority as priest. “ For the law appointeth men high priests, having infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was after the law, appointeth a Son, perfected for evermore” (Heb. 7:28 R. V.) “For such a high priest became us, holy, guileless, undefiled, sepa rated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens,’* (Heb. 7:26 R. V.) Second, He has offered a better sacrifice. “For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins . , . then hath he said, Lo, I am come to do thy will . . . By which will we have been sanctified through the offering of. the (body of Jesus Christ once for all . . . For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified” (Heb. 10:4, 9, 10, 14, R. V.). And third, He ministers in a better sanctuary. “For Christ entered not into a holy place made with hands, like in pattern to the true; but into Heaven itself, now to appear before the face of God for us” (Heb. 9:24, R. V). So when the better Priest had offered the better sacrifice in the better sanctuary, He sat down on the right hand of God, having solved the sin problem with a perfect atone ment. No more priestly caste, no more sacramental masses, no more altars and holy places! 2. A Voluntary Humiliation has merited the Seat of Power Consider the infinite stoop recorded in the few words of the Apostle Paul: “Christ Jesus . . . existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross.” But that is not the end of the story. There is a glorious issue. “WHEREFORE also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name; that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth.” Even so, while the multitudes of the heavenly host ascribe the power, and riches, and wisdom, and might, and honor, and glory, and blessing, to the Lamb in the midst of the throne, the basis of their praise is, “Thou wast slain.” The extent of our exalted Lord’s dominion is indi cated in Ephesians 1:20-22: “He raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in t h e heavenly places, far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and he hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be head oyer all things to the church.” In a word, God has elevated the man Christ Jesus to the place of supreme authority, has made Him Lord and Sov ereign of the whole universe. All angelic intelligences are under His sway. Whatever their rank, be they angels or archangels, cherubim or seraphim, principalities or powers, Jesus is far above them all. Their vast strength, their high intelligence, their amazing speed, their exalted faculties, are all bent to the service of Christ the Lord, the Man at God’s right hand. Likewise, whatever can bear a name is embraced in the unlimited dominion of Jesus. This makes Him Lord of all things, animate and inanimate, organic and inorganic, heavenly and earthly— it sweeps the whole range of creation.
Nor is He “King for a day.” This preeminence Is “not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.” So that all time, as well as all space, bows to His dic tatorship. And if there be any forces that resist Him, these too must bow, for God has “put all things in sub jection under his feet.” Here is the assurance that the final victory lies with the Man of Calvary. “He must reign, until all his enemies be made his footstool.” Sometimes our hearts are full of questionings and doubtings. We see our world a cesspool of iniquity, a vale of tears, one great cemetery for the dead. The powers of darkness seem to be overpoweringly strong: right is on the scaffold and wrong is on the throne. Why, we ask, does not a sovereign God overthrow evil once for all, and relieve the world of its awful weight of sor row? Christ on the throne is a sufficient answer to my heart’s cry, although my mind be greatly perplexed. We think so much in terms of the immediate. He is dealing with ultimates. Faith looks beyond the present apparent chaos to final triumph, and the perfect order of the Kingdom of God. Our assurance is that Jesus,, the Babe of Bethlehem, the Man of Calvary, is both Lord and Christ, reigning at God’s right hand, the place of supreme authority and infinite power. “All things are under One. One Spirit, His Who wore the platted thorns with bleeding brow, Rules universal nature.” 3. A Glorious Triumph has won a Seat of Expectancy The prophetic announcement of our Lord’s session at God’s right hand carried this element of expectancy; “Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.” So our text tells us, “This man, a f t e r he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.” The triumph of the Cross and the resurrection from the dead assure the ultimate subjugation of all opposing forces, human or angelic. The devil and his angels will at last be cast out forever, unrepentant men who h a v e massed their puny powers “against the Lord, and against his Anointed” will be swallowed up in the last great judgment, and in a renewed heaven and earth wherein dwelleth righteous ness: “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied.” As He looked out well pleased upon a work of creation that was all “very good,” so shall He behold a perfected redemption and once again pronounce all things “ very good.” And we too shall be satisfied when we awake in His likeness. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” OUR AUTHORS The above is the first in a series of three articles on this subject by Dr. Macaulay who Is pastor of Wheaton Bible Church, Wheaton, Illinois. Our other authors are Reverend Vance Havner, Baptist minister and Conference speaker; Mel Larson, Youth leader and Associate Editor of the Evangelical Beacon; and Miss Ruth Paxson, well known Bible teacher and author. Their writ* ings will be a real contribution to your spiritual life and ministry.
T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
128
CALEB IN
OLD AGE
By Ruth Paxson
G RAY HAIRS are no guarantee of spirituality. In deed, one of the tragedies of Christian experience is the spiritual slump that sometimes occurs in to begin in youth, as Caleb did, to prepare for old age. As we lay up temporal resources against the physical infirmities of old age, so we need to lay up spiritual reserves against the spiritual exigencies of the twilight years of life. There are two widely divergent viewpoints of old age. Some think of it as a descent. One reaches the highest point of usefulness, nay, even of enjoyment, at middle age, and from then on it is going down hill until death brings release. The aged one is looked upon often as a victim of unescapable circumstances, such as weakness, ill health, infirmity, loss of faculties and loneliness. But there is another totally different aspect of old age given us through Caleb’s life and one which seems far more in conformity with God’s purpose and plan. Should not old age be an ascent, a going up to an ever richer attainment and a higher achievement until death comes more as a reward to the victor than as a release of a victim, as it opens the door into a still more heavenly life and fruitful service? Caleb’s last years were his very best. His supreme achievement came at eighty-five years of age. There was no slump, no shrinkage, no stagnancy in Caleb’s life. We witness no spiritual collapse in his later years. Rather upon his gray head God places the crown of an over comer. In both physical and spiritual strength Caleb held his own up to the very last. His physical strength at eighty-five was undiminished and undecaying. "As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me; as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in” (Josh. 14:11). But an even greater marvel was his super}) spiritual strength. “Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fenced; if so be the Lord will be with me, then X
shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said” (Josh. 14:12).. How superb the invincible spirit of Caleb the over comer! Caleb at eighty-five asking for the hardest task of all! “Give me this mountain.” Can you not hear him say it? “I know all about those Anakim and how afraid those young spies were of them forty-five years ago. I know their power and the apparent Impregnability of their position in that mountain fastness. Nevertheless, I am as assured of victory over them today as I was forty- five years ago. My faith rests now as it did then upon an unchanging and unchangeable foundation—the pre sence and the promise of God.” ' Was this presumptuous folly on Caleb’s part or was it only proper faith? “By their fruits ye shall know them.” Judging of Caleb’s action by this Scriptural test, what is our conclusion? What was the fruit of Caleb’s faith? It was a twofold achievement. First, there was the possession of his inheritance in Canaan: “And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephuhneh. Hebron for an inheritance" (Josh. 14:13). Then there was the dispossession of all his enemies in Canaan: “And Caleb drove thence the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak” (Josh. 15:14). “And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said: and he expelled thence the three sons of Anak” (Judg. 1:20). The victory was complete. Caleb was the only one who fully dispossessed the enemy. He expelled the sons of Anak from the land. As we face our own failure to possess fully our in heritance and to dispossess wholly our enemy, we are driven to ask, how did Caleb do it? What was the inner spring of such spiritual success? God leaves us in no doubt; He discloses it six times in Scripture. Why did Caleb enter Canaan while tens of thousands of Israelites who, as he, had been redeemed in Egypt and out of Egypt, died in the wilderness? Herein lies the answer. “Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land. . . because they have not wholly followed me. Save Caleb.. • and Joshua . . . for they have wholly followed the Lord" (Num. 32:11, 12). Why did Caleb possess his inheritance in Hebron while their carcasses lay whitening on the desert sand?
the declining years of even earnest Christians. We need
April, 1945
129
“Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb . . . because that he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel" (Josh. 14: 14). “Because he wholly followed the Lord.” God gives but this reason for the overcoming life of this grand old man from his youth to his old age. The very ■ simplicity of the statement both solemnizes and shames us. Oh that it might send each of us into the presence of our Lord until He can say of us too, “He is one who wholly follows Me.” Perhaps it will help us to see where we fall short if we take a full-length portrait of Caleb, the overcomer, noticing the outstanding features of this rarely devoted life. H* It Was a Life of Faith Caleb’s faith was no common faith, yet it was the faith of a common man. Caleb habitually said, “I be lieve God, that it shall be even as it was told me." Caleb realized the promises because he rested Upon them. He not only claimed the promises of God, but he stood ready to cooperate with God in their fulfillment. He was pre pared to do his part, confident that God would perform His. But there was another aspect of Caleb’s faith. He deeply desired the land. He longed to live there. He anticipated the delights of his own vine and fig tree in Hebron. Therefore his was an appropriating faith because it was an aspiring faith*., At Kadesh-barnea as a young man, his Was a Sur prising faith. Not, many young men would have had the courage to stand out as he did against the ten: other spies and challenge the rebellious, riotous mob to dis regard their report and to go at once to Canaan. In the wilderness all through his middle life it was, a sustained faith. Think of Caleb for forty years, fouru hundred arid eighty , .months;'fourteen thousand and! six hundred days; three hundred and fifty thousand,and! four hundred hours, not faltering in his devotion to the; Lord; keeping eyes, heart, and faith fixed steadfastly/ upon the Giver of Canaan, the Lord of Hebron. In Canaan in his old age it was a superb faith. Can you not see the vibrant eagerness of his whole being as he said to Joshua, “ Give me the mountain where the -Anakim are. I always believed that God was greater than those giants. Forty-fiye years, ago I wanted to prove it. Oh let me prove it now!” Yes, it is no common faith we find in Caleb, yet it is the faith of a common man. Caleb is no spiritual prodigy. If he towers head and shoulders above you and me in respect to faith, let us not seek to excuse ourselves for our lack by thinking it is due to his possession of some intellectual ability or spiritual grace denied the ordinary run of men. The secret spring of Caleb’s faith is to be found in a spiritual grace opened equally to every Christian, “He wholly followed the Lord.” Dear friend, are you still waiting.for your inheritance! in Christ? Longing for your promised Hebron? ThirstingV for the fullness of the Holy Spirit? God is also waiting. He is waiting for. you to believe His Word and by simple faith to ¡claim and take that which He has already given you. Would you not stop reading and do it just now? It Was a Life of Fellowship Caleb found his satisfaction and sufficiency in God Himself. He did not seek it in Egypt or in his fellow companions. Neither was he deterred from it by the carnal life of those with whom he was compelled to associate. Caleb was an other-worldly man. He had “ another spirit with him” which made Go Hebron means “fellowship,” therefore Caleb lived in Hebron even while in the wilderness. He was in_ the wilderness but not o fjt. By intelligent, deliberate choice he hadTaid holdupon Hebron when he entered it as one of the spies and he never went back upon that choice. He then and there yielded himself to God for His will to be done in him, and he never recalled that decision or retreated from that position in his relationship to God. In whom and Where do you find your satisfaction and sufficiency? Have you your Hebron dearer to you than all else besides? Are your affections set on “things above, not on things on the earth?” To you is there “fullness of joy” in the presence of the Lord? It Was a Life of Strength In his youth- at Kadesh-barnea it was the strength of a God-begotten conviction that gave courage to stand and to withstand all Satan-begotten opposition. In his middle life in the wilderness it was the strength of a God-bestowed control that gave constancy to endure in the midst of the most worldly atmosphere and to abide in uninterrupted fellowship with his Lord., In his old age in Canaan it was a God-bequeathed confidence to claim his inheritance, the consummation of all his life’s desire. Throughout his life from its beginning to the end it was the strength of a full-orbed consecration to the living God. Caleb’s life teaches us that God’s strength iri full measure rs at the disposal of all, young and old, who with deliberate intent of purpose choose to do God’s will at all times, at all costs, under all circumstances. Have you, dear reader, young or old, yet taken such a deliberate stand? Have you made the doing of God’s will the rule of your life, allowing no exceptions to the rule? If not, will you not do so this moment, that you too may be the recipient of God’s strength in unlimited measure? It Was a Life of Victory There were two parts to the victory of the children of Israel in Canaan. One was the victory due to possession, The land was to be possessed by treading upon it with their feet. To posses their inheritance they must take it (cf. Josh. 1:3, 11). The other part of the vicjory was due to dispossession. The enemy was to be utterly expelled. The usurpers were to be dispossessed. And Joshua said, “Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and thé Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Gergashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites” (Josh. 3:10). The land was divided as God had said: Each tribe received its inheritance. But over and over again we read of the failure of each tribe to completely expel the enemy (cf. Josh. 15:63; 16:10). But riot so with Caleb. His victory of dispossession was as complete as that of possession, as we have seen. But why was Caleb able to do this and the others not able? Has God not revealed to us the secret source of Caleb’s victory? “But cleave unto the Lord your God, as ye have done this day. For the Lord hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day. One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the Lord your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the Lord your God" (Josh. 23:8-11). God fulfilled the promise perfectly because Caleb fulfilled the conditions completely. Then why are we not able to dispossess Satan in our lives? Why do the Canaanites of jealousy, temper, hatred,
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter