ADDRESSES ON ROMANS
"Tribulation worketh ... hope." We discover through trials that God sustains us in the hour of conflict. "Tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope." This hope is a wonderful thing. It is that to which the apostle refers in verse two and again in verse five. It is a bold thing to say to the world, "I am going to stand in the presence of the King of Kings! I am going to rule with Him. I am not afraid." That is a bold hope; and tribulation strength- ens our faith in that hope. "Hope maketh not ashamed." "Ashamed" here means "disappointed." "That blessed hope" will not end in dis- appointment. The love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. We have the proof by His in- dwelling presence that we are not going to be disappointed. Without this proof the believer's hope would be madness. We are sure that one day we shall stand in the midst of the glory of God. We have the assurance that we have not followed "cunningly devised fables." We know that we shall not be disappointed, that we shall not be ashamed. Why? Because He has given us the "engagement ring," as it were. The bride- groom has given us the token of his faithfulness. We read in the papers this morning that there is a prob- ability that the King of England will wed. The reporters gave the names of five eligible women of royalty, from whom he may choose his wife. This news item reminds me of another illustration which Dr. Stifler gives: Suppose some African woman should claim that she is the chosen bride of the King of England? Suppose she had upon her finger, as a token of her troth, the Cullinan Diamond that belongs to England? Without this proof. her claim would be ridiculous. But if she had this ring on her finger, we should have to believe that the king had given it to her, because she could not have bought it or stolen it. The hope of glory does not make us ashamed, my Chris- tian friend, because the priceless gem of God's love toward sinners is in our possession. It maketh not ashamed, because [Page 81
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