May 1931
215
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
Studies in the Epistle to the Hebrews < {Continued from page 212)
taken a great liking in her freshman year. This girl had not come back the next year. The letter was not long. It recalled some of the incidents in their college life together, and then she read: “I do not know why I have been thinking of you, or why I am writing you just now. But I wondered if you would not like to come and make me a visit. My home is very humble, just a cozy little nest for Father and Mother and me, but we are very happy in it. You prob ably know that I left college because Father’s long illness made it financially impossible for me to continue. I have a good position now. “I have not heard from you or anything about you foi; almost a year, and perhaps this will not reach you, but if it does, won’t you write and tell me you are coming right away to make me a real visit? We will have the pleasure of getting acquainted all over again. “Do come, if you can spare the time. Yours with love, Joyce Goodwin.” Joyce Goodwin! What memories that name brought to Marian Linton tonight! “Joy and Goodness” they had called her. The name fitted her, seemed part of her, like her hair or her clothes. Marian remembered that Joy had been what she then termed “very religious.” She had loved her in those college days in spite of it, and there was no girl more m'erry and sweet, more kind and helpful, than Joyce Goodwin. That she should write her now and plead for a visit seemed passing strange. Marian wondered if God had something to do with it. In her present mental state'she would probably have preferred to shun even Joy, but the almost frantic desire to get away somewhere, and this utterly unexpected invitation, together with the recol lection of her prayer for help and guidance, seemed a most convincing train of circumstances. She sat down and wrote that she would be very glad to come, and at once. She named the time she could arrive, if she heard from Joyce by return mail. Where she would go after this visit she did not know, nor did she care. It was enough that she could go, and go soon. Morning after morning, we read and prayed together. Then one day, after the reading, my mother herself led in prayer. Oh, the joy of that moment! Mother had accepted Jesus Christ as her Saviour! Not long after this, while in a distant city, I received word that my mother had suddenly died. On my return to the old home, a friend of the family met me. “Your mother left a message for you,” she said. “Her last words were, ‘The gates are ajar, and I see Jesus standing wait ing to receive my spirit.’ ” The words were balm to my wounded heart. My prec ious mother was “at home with the Lord.” Would this comforting assurance have been mine, I wondered, had I not, by the grace of God, witnessed for Him at the very beginning of my Christian life. A Tribute to Mother {Continued from page 199)
1:11: “This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” Nineteen centuries—and still we continue to say in the words of the Apostles’ Creed: “He ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God, the Father Almighty, from whence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.” “A little while, and he that shall come will come.” Is nineteen centuries “a little while” ? The answer depends on the point of view, whether that of God or of man. Accepting the state ment that a thousand years to the Lord is as one day, nineteen centuries is surely “a little while.” Centuries passed in the cycle of time before His first advent, but in the fullness of time, God sent forth His Son in ful fillment of His promise. Centuries have passed since He returned to the Father, having finished the work given Him to do. He appeared on the earth to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. He now appears in the pres ence of God for us. He shall appear the second time, apart from sin unto salvation. See chapter-9, verses 24 to 28. And when He comes, we shall realize that the in tervening centuries have been only “a little while.”
Christ’s Deity Experienced Because when guilt pressed on me, And sin-stained I was found;- When soul-rest was denied me . And pep.ce knew no sure ground : Because when, sore despairing, My hope grew faint and dim, I found in Christ salvation, My glad soul worshiped Him. No mere man could provide me With peace in such a plight; No human word could calm me, Putting those fears to flight : So desperate .my position, . My ruin so complete, That when Christ cleansed and changed me, ■ I worshiped at His feet. I f death was to redeem me, The dying, to atone, Must he of such a nature Faith could its value own: And if a risen Saviour Should grant me holiness, As divine Sanctifier, Believing love must bless. Those who remain still strangers To bliss of pardoning love; Who to a life surrendered His mercy doth not move: Christ’s deity may question
And miss the evidence, The argument convincing Is sweet experience!
•— William Olney.
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