All too soon he discovers that the Christian life is not a rose garden, but a battlefield, and that he “must fight if he would win.” Shortly the ugly faces of three im placable foes show themselves: the devil, from whose dominion he has been rescued; the world, still holding out to him its glittering allurements; and his own sin ful nature, opposed to the will of God, and in conflict with his new nature as a born-again child of God. Here he must learn that he has been delivered from falling, and in faith act upon this fact. The New Testament parallel to this verse from Psalm 116 is the majestic benediction in Jude 24: “ Now unto him who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with ex ceeding joy . . .” which in the American Standard Ver sion is rendered: “ Now unto him that is able to guard you from stumbling, and to set you before the presence of his glory without blemish in exceeding joy . . .” The experimental knowledge of this “ deliverance from falling,” this “ guarding from stumbling” is of para mount importance in the Christian life. The measure of one’s victory over sin in his personal life will determine his happiness, his influence upon others and his success in Christian service. By “ success” I mean the ability to win others to Christ, whether by public or private min istry, not “ success” dependent upon talent, opportunity and personality. “Man looketh upon the outward ap pearance but God looketh upon the heart,” and there is many a spiritual failure in high Christian circles! Stumbling —- falling — is not the normal walk of the Christian. That kind of locomotion characterizes the un believer who “ knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes” (I John 2:11). Je sus stated what He expected of the Christian: “ I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness [sin], but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12). His is not to be a lurching, staggering walk, for one who makes his way in that fashion is not going in a straight line; he cannot be depended upon; he cannot lead others, or make “ straight paths for their feet.” The Scriptures abound in exhortations to “ adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.” While sound doctrine is certainly the foundation of the Chris tian life, a superstructure of sound living must be erected upon it for the life to be effective for God, and satisfac tory to the believer. “You can’t have one without the other,” run the words of a popular song. Succinctly and unmistakably is this declared in Titus 2:11-13: “ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and world ly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour, Jesus Christ.” Here is an easily-understood blueprint for the Christian life. We hear much of the surrendered life, the deeper life, the victorious life, the Spirit-filled life, the separated life, the overcoming life — all of which is commendable. Too much emphasis cannot be laid upon the necessity of cor roborating one’s testimony with a consistent Christian life. “We are not debtors, to live after the flesh” (Rom. 8:12). But sometimes we get involved in theological mazes and our minds are diverted from “ the simplicity that is in Christ.” We conclude that holy living is only for a few rare, “ wholly sanctified” souls. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The obligation to live one’s Christian pro fession is upon every believer, and the provision for it is available to all. Paul did not hesitate to bid his converts follow him as he followed Christ. He whose name for himself was (Continued on next page)
own one, they huddle in a heap of filthy rags on barren floors and suffer alone with no one to help, no one to care.” Job said: “ Mine eyes poureth out tears unto God;” David declared: “All the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears;” and Jeremiah wailed, “ Let mine eyes run down with tears day and night and let them not cease.” After his shameful denial of his Lord, “ Peter went out, and wept bitterly.” Paul’s converts grieved for his departure. In Ephesus, “He kneeled down and prayed with them all. And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him. Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more;” and at Caesarea his fellow-workers “ besought him not to go to Jerusalem” where he was to be delivered into the hands of the Rom ans. “Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and break my heart? For I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” And at the grave of Lazarus, “ Jesus wept.” Yes, life is filled with tears tears in the eyes, and tears in the heart. Then how can the Christian say: “Thou hast delivered mine eyes from tears” ? Ah, the answer to this is one of the most moving truths our minds can contemplate. Isaiah understood it as he predicted under the guidance of the Holy Spirit: “He will swallow up death in vic tory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces” and John was given the vision of the glorified Christ: “ For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Some day for Christians all tears will be gone for ever; but what about our experience here and now? W e have a God who dries our tears! “We sorrow not as those who have no hope.” “He turns our mourning into joy.” “ Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Je sus Christ, the Father of all mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation . . (2 Cor. 1:3). There is nothing sweeter in life than to have one’s tears kissed away by one who loves and under stands. Wiping away tears is a very personal, intimate act. What a revelation of the affectionate heart of our God that He thus stoops to minister to us! We can bear the hurts and pains of life, the “ slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,” if He goes through them with us! He was on earth the “Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief” and “He knows our sorrows.” How beautifully Cowper expressed this truth: “ I was a stricken deer that left the herd Long since; with many an arrow deep infixed My panting side was charged, when I withdrew To seek a tranquil death in distant shades. There was I found by One who had Himself Been hurt by the archers; in His side He bore, And in His hands and feet, the cruel scars. With gentle force, soliciting the darts He drew them forth, and healed, and bade me live.” Deliverance from Falling “How do I love Thee? Let me count the ways. Thou hast delivered my feet from falling.” Often the young Christian begins his spiritual life under the illusion that he will be “Carried to the skies, on flow’ry beds of ease.” •From the booklet, "No More!" obtainable at the Book Table, 811 Wealthy St., Grand Rapids, Mich. Used by permission of the author.
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APRIL, 1963
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