April, 1941
T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
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Around the King's LOUIS T. TALBOT, Editor-In-Chief
Table
their times! How perplexing to them must have been some ofNthe events through which they, as followers of Christ, were called to pass! For example, in the period which fol lowed some time a fter,the tremendous experience of Pentecost, when the dis ciple« were scattered abroad, they must have wondered ^at the necessity for their being so suddenly uprooted. There had 'been great joy over the conversion of thousands of souls. And then, without warning, there had come fierce persecu tion, the breaking of precious ties. On the Easter morning of that year, what Solace was there for the Lord’s tested children? They derived their joy, when joy they had, from the consciousness of the presence and leadership of the One whom their risen Saviour had sent to be their Paraclete, “One called along side to help.” Had they been able to see also the steady working toward the fulfillment of God’s plan for the nations, when these shall acclaim Christ “King of kings and Lord of lords,” their joy would have abounded more and more. The situation is duplicated, in a sense, in our day. Men are keenly aware of the darkness, of the distress, of the im pending catastrophe. Too often they are, alas, unaware of the comforting pres ence of the Holy Spirit, and almost wholly oblivious to the plan of God for the ages. But as Easter dawns this year, that holy purpose of the Lord Jesus Christ, which began to be made known at Cal vary, is‘ nearer complete fulfillment than ever before. And the experiences of the early disciples are, in some aspects, be coming the experiences of believers to day. Illustrations might be drawn from almost any country of the world. Take West China, for instance, where today there are many “scattered dis ciples.” Christian men and women, often well educated and talented, have fled from invaded coastal areas and have journeyed westward. They have not en joyed pulling up like that, leaving their homes, journeying far with just what they could carry, and settling anew in another province. But from here and there missionaries write of the stirring of new life in small, struggling churches, because one or two, who have talents of leadership, have come into their midst and have borne earnest witness. There also have been those who have testified as they traveled, in small ^vil lages, in refugee camps, and to soldier?
What Easter Means to Me The tragedy of memorial days, some of which commemorate holy events, is their degeneration into mere holidays. Those seasons which ought to produce spiritual joy are looked upon too often as occasions for jollification. Thus it is with Easter. As we meet it again, thousands of cars will block highways. Sports of all kinds will do a roaring trade. Motion picture shows will be crowded. Abandonment to pleasure of one sort and another will characterize the multitudes, to whom Calvary means nothing as they pass "by. Therefore as Easter approaches, it is necessary for each of us to pause and ask his own heart the question, What does Easter mean to me? Robert Brown ing gives us his conception of Easter in these powerful words: “EASTER DAY breaks! Christ rises! Mercy every way is infinite— Earth breaks up; time drops away; In flows heaven with its new day Of endless life— What is left for us save in growth Of soul to rise up, . . . From the gift looking to the Giver. And from the cistern to the river, And from the finite to infinity, And from man’s dust to God’s Divinity.” , , Have you a personal Easter creed ? Try to set down, as a friend of the Editor has done in the accompanying paragraphs, what this sacred season means to you! To me, Easter means the accomplish ment of the redemptive plan of God for all mankind. To me, Easter means the manifesta tion of the heart of God in saving grace. To me, Easter means the overthrow of dark Satanic forces. Easter repre sents Satan’s grim Waterloo. To me, Easter means the complete triumph of Jesus Christ over sin, death, and hell. . To me, Easter means deliverance from the guilt, penalty, and tyranny of sin. To me, -Easter means identification with Christ in death, burial, and resur rection. To me, Easter means the promise and pledge of my physical resurrection. To me, Easter means that death has found a mighty Victor. To me, Easter means that a pierced brow will yet wear the crown of uni- —’sal sovereignty.
Easter Comfort— 1941 If there js any message of pomfort for this war-burdened world—and there is—it is that which tells of Christ’s victory over the rulers of the darkness of this age. When He climbed the bitter way to the cross, He went not only to provide deliverance for sinners from the penalty and tyranny of sin, but also to assure the subjugation of the world and- all evil forces unto Himself. Calvary placed in the pierced hand of Jesus Christ the scepter of universal dominion. What a comforting, encourag ing message this is for Easter in 1941! At present, the picture seems dark. The nations are an armed host. If dictators have their way, the world quickly will become a vast concentration camp. Europe and China are filled with refugees who have seen their homes destroyed by bombs, their loved ones killed or taken prisoners; who have been separated from their little children and have endured intense suffering. Mission doors are in danger of closing in lands occupied by invading troops and be cause of the hazardous traveling con ditions and governmental restrictions. In all, there would seem to be little comfort to be found for Easter, 1941. But let it be remembered that there was no joy, either, on the first Easter morning, before Christ had manifested Himself to Mary. “For as yet they knew not the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.” Even at the end of that day of triumph, the sorely troubled disciples assembled behind closed doors “for fear of the Jews.” How often the early followers of fhe Lord must have bemoaned the darkness of
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