from the world through all those years because no one ever played this marvelous instrument! It was hidden away from mankind. If this seems to you like a real tragedy, what about your life, my friend? Is it being used to magnify the Lord? Are you praising and glorifying His name as best you can, or are you hidden away and silent like the vio lin? Verse 4 explains, “I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” None of us are promised exemption from trou ble when we receive Jesus Christ as Saviour. A very zealous, but inac curate soul winner, once told an in dividual whom he was trying to lead to the Lord, “If you accept Christ, you’ll be at the end of all your trou bles.” He was right; however, he didn’t tell the man at which end he would be! The Lord Himself warned us, “In the world ye shall have tribulation.” This, however, is not the end of the message of faith. The Redeemer con cludes, “But be of good cheer for I have overcome the world.” Later in the 4th chapter of First John we read, “Greater is He [the Holy Spir it] that is in you, then he [satan] that is in the world.” David testified, “I sought the Lord.” This seeking of Christ re sults from a fervent desire in our hearts for Him. The question must readily follow, and we must sincere ly answer it, “Do I really desire the Lord?” There is nothing to hinder our seeking Christ. If sin blocked the mercy seat, there would be no hope for any of us. For the believer, how ever, there is the precious promise, “If we confess our sins, he is faith ful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unright eousness” (I John 1:9). The result of our seeking the Lord is that He will deliver us from all fears. So many people regret yesterday, fear tomorrow and shrink from today.
but so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Heb. 10:25). When Toscanini was directing the NBC Symphony orchestra, an in teresting thing happened during one rehearsal. The huge, group of musi cians were all playing a passage re quiring full volume and participa tion by every musician, nevertheless during this tremendous, overwhelm ing burst of sound, the maestro brought down his baton on the po dium, rapping for silence. When all was quiet, he shouted out, “Where’s the piccolo?” There was a burst of laughter. The musicians realized the genius of Toscanini. He has such a trained ear that even with perhaps a hundred instruments playing in the orchestra he missed this insignificant one. No doubt the piccolo player had left the reh e a rs a l th in k in g he wouldn’t be missed. His seemingly little part, however, was vital to the whole. You may think, as you attend Sunday school or church, that people aren’t interested in you. Remember, however, the purpose of fellowship is not to talk with others, or merely to see your friends, but to enjoy communion with God. If you have the idea that you won’t be missed, the Great Conductor, the Lord Jesus Christ as it were brings down His baton and asks, “Where’s the pic colo?” Where is your participation? Remember, you are the only Chris tian somebody knows. If your life is not in tune with Christ and you are not being used b^ the Lord, then surely you will experience disappointment. S ome years ago an Italian immigrant passed away. His name was Luigi Tarisio. When they went through his humble abode, they discovered in his attic some 240 exquisite violins. The most priceless of this unbeliev ably large number was found in the bottom drawer of an old rickety dresser. A genuine, lovely Stradi- varius, it had been silent for nearly 150 years, experts reported. Think of the music that had been withheld
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