of the child of God. Notice the word “crowneth.” This means that the Lord heaps upon us, over and over again, in superabundance, loving kindness and tender mercy. Let’s think about the idea of lov ing kindness for a moment. Perhaps you’ve heard the definition a little Sunday school boy gave of this. It may be a fanciful illustration yet it’s so pertinent and really beautiful. He said that loving kindness reminded him of his mother who, when he came home from school in the afternoon and was very tired and hungry would give him a piece of bread with butter on it. “That,” he declared, “is kind ness! But when I come home an other day and am so tired and hungry my mother gives me a piece of bread with butter on it, and then puts on some of her homemade strawberry jam, that’s loving kindness!” Do you see the difference? It is the Lord just heaping up His goodness to us. This is the way we can look at this verse as well. God delights to do that which is exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. Then, notice the verse speaks of
very moment) “thy life from destruc tion.” Salvation, of course, has three different and distinct tenses. We know, first of all, that when by faith we receive the Lord as Saviour, our lives have been redeemed from sin by His precious blood. It’s not by the blood of animals, nor is it mone tarily accomplished through silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Jesus Christ, the Word of God tells us. To redeem means to buy back. It is as if a slave would be purchased out of bondage and then given his priceless freedom. That’s in the past tense. Then, we know, too, that God is going to redeem our life from eter nal destruction. This is in the future. As we grow older, and I speak now from personal experience, our bodies even now groan for the redemption which shall be ours when Christ calls us to be with Him. That is the won derful hour when we shall know, even as also we are known. But there is yet another important and vital di mension to our salvation. Right now He is redeeming our life from de struction. He is taking care of us; He maintains the oversight on our behalf. Have you entered into the fullness of joy that can come in the blessed knowledge of these three tenses of salvation? Now, the last part of verse four tells us that God crowns our lives with loving kindness and tender mer cies. You know, I love to think about this coronation. Some years ago our beloved Chancellor, Dr. Louis T. Tal bot, had the opportunity of being in England at the time of the corona tion of Queen Elizabeth. He brought back beautiful colored films of this momentous and h is to ric occasion. What a thrill it was to see all of the pomp and grandeur that accompanied this ceremony belonging to such a fit ting occasion! But do you know, there is something far more wonderful and majestic even than the coronation of Queen Elizabeth, and it lakes place today and every day within the life
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iHi Dr. Ray A. Myers is retiring from the position of Chairman of Biola's Board of Directors. Mr. Sylvester Marshburn (left), has been named Chairman for one year. He presented a special resolution to Dr. Myers signed by all of the members of the board. 9
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