ALetter fromDr. Torreyto Young Converts Valuable Counsel Out of the Past Dear Friends:
RESURRECTION PYRAMID (Continued from Page 7) Hope
As we build our pyramid higher, there is emblazoned near its apex the flaming light of eternal hope. Because He lives, we, too, shall live (John 14:19). He could say to the bereaved sisters of Lazarus, “ Your brother shall rise again.” We are able to shout triumphantly by the open grave, “ O death, where is thy sting? 0 grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Cor. 15:55). We thank God that the truth of the future life is not outmoded. It can not be declared unscientific even though it lies beyond the field of physical sciences. Our Christian message com pletely transcends the best philosophies of men and of the human religions of our day because it presents an intelligent message of hope. Christ arose and be cause He arose, we have the hope of resurrection. Immortality “ Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Cor. 15:51, 52). “ But we know that,' when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2b). We shall see Him and be like Him. Immortality is the gift of God to all who have eternal life. It refers to the day when the bodies of our humiliation shall be transformed and become like His own glorified body. This mortal must put on immortality. Our sanctified spirits are to live in a glorified spiritual body. Reward The reward is the promise that one day we shall share with Him in His kingdom triumph. We are to reign with Christ. While we have shared with Him in His present humiliation, we are prom ised that we, too, shall be with Him in His future glory. “ If we suffer [with Him], we shall also reign with him” ; and then throughout the endless ages of eternity the Scriptures say we shall serve Him day and night forever (Rev. 7:15). Endless privilege, to express undying love for His glorious redemption! We shall sing of His grace forever. When we’ve been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun, We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise Than when we first begun. Our pyramid is complete. Because of His death and resurrection, we are raised from the death of sin, made par takers of His divine nature, sharing with Him in suffering and service, led for-- ward by His Spirit and preserved by His intercession, until we are raised by Him to share His coming glory. . “ Because I live, ye shall live also.” . T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
My thoughts often go out towards those who during the past year have professed to accept Christ as their Sav iour and Lord and Master in the differ ent places that we have visited. Some of you have now been months on the way. Poubtless you have met with difficulties; some of you may be discouraged and tempted to fall out by the way. None need fall out by the way for God has promised in His Word that He “will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Cor. 10:13). The secret of joy and strength and victory and progress is to always keep one’s eyes fixed upon Jesus. Let these three words sink deeply into your hearts, “ Looking unto Jesus.” If you have been tempted and fallen, look at Jesus on the cross; and know that your fall has been atoned for there, and that you need not be discouraged, but can get up and go right on. If you will confess your sin, it will be forgiven at once (1 John 1:9). If you are fighting with some temptation that seems stronger than you can bear, remember that Jesus rose again, and that He is now living to intercede for you (Heb. 7:25), and that He has all power in heaven and on earth (Matt. 28:18). Your temptation may be fierce, and the enemy be strong, but Jesus is stronger and all-sufficient. He can give victory over any temptation, appetite, or sin. It is your privilege to have victory every day and every hour, if you will keep “looking unto Jesus.” Ask Him arid trust Him, too, to give you His Spirit, and you on your part give the Holy Spirit entire control of your life. This is the secret of a Christlike character (Gal. 5: 22, 23; Rom. 8 : 2, 3). In de ciding what to do at every turn of life, keep “ Looking unto Jesus,” and follow Him (1 John 2:6; John 8:12). Don’t forget to use every opportunity that comes to you of confessing Christ before the world, both in public meetings arid in your private association with others. When we confess Him, He con fesses us (Matt. 10: 32), and when He confesses us, God gives us His Holy Spirit in fullness: “If you make a great deal of Christ, He will make a great deal of you; but if you make but little of Christ, He will make but little of you.” I trust that you are keeping up your daily study of the Word of God. No matter how busy you are, you cannot afford to let a single day pass without giving at least fifteen minutes to the faithful, thoughtful, prayerful study of the Word of God. It is by the study of His Word that you will grow (1 Pet. 2:2). It is through the study of the Word that Jesus abides more and more fully in you (John 15:7), and it is through the Word that the Holy Spirit speaks (Eph. 6:17). Are you taking plenty of time for Page Twenty-eight
Dr. R. A. Torrey prayer? Begin every day with God, speak to Him before you arise from your bed, kneel down after arising and talk with Him before you talk with any human being. Tell Him everything that is in your heart, all your fears and troubles and cares, all your failures. Remember, God is a Father, and you can be more frank and trustful toward Him than you could even to an earthly par ent. Perhaps some of you have never had an earthly father to whom you could go and tell everything that was in your heart. Well, you can go to your heavenly Father. He tells you to come boldly (Heb. 4:16, 10:19). Have no secrets from God. Tell Him everything in your heart. During the day, whenever tempted, look up to Him to give you victory. It is well before leaving your room to think of the temptations that are likely to meet you during the day, and tell them all to God, and get the vic tory before you meet them. Speak to Him as the very last one you speak to before you retire for the night. Talk over the day with Him. Ask Him to show you if there has been anything that day that was displeasing in His sight, and then wait silently before Him to see if He has anything to tell you. If He shows you something that did not please Him, confess it at once and put it away. Never lie down to sleep with a single cloud between you and your heavenly Father. Don’t forget to work for your Saviour and your Lord and Master every day of your life. It would be well to try to speak to someone about his soul every day. You may not always have an opportunity, but make this the principle of your life that if you can possibly find an opportunity, you will try to speak to someone about liis soul every day. In helping others you wiil help yourself. Your sincere friend, R. A. Torrey.
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter