November, 1934
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
391
The chaotic temporal, moral, and spiritual conditions o f the hour provide fertile soil for “ wolves in sheep’s clothing.” W e are probably entering the zone o f “ all de- ceivableness” (2 Thess. 2 :1 0 ), when we shall have to face in “ perilous times” (2 Tim. 3 :1 ) every possible deception in the shape o f cunningly masked foes to the truth. Prob ably in this hour o f awful spiritual peril, as the black, livid clouds hover about us at the close o f “ man’s day,” there is no more important passage in all the Scriptures for true saints to keep continually in mind than this: “ For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, trans forming themselves into the apostles o f Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel o f light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers o f righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works” (2 Cor. 11:13-15). Consider well the solemn warning! “False apostles . . .transforming themselves into the apostles o f Christ,” Satan’s own ministers appearing before us “ transformed as the ministers o f righteousness” ! They may preach and teach a beautiful “ social gospel.” They may even talk glibly o f “ absolute Love, absolute Honesty, absolute Pu rity, and absolute Unselfishness”— all professedly under the “ absolute guidance o f the Holy Spirit,” But, child o f God, beware o f them if they stand forth denying, or even Dear Miss Scott: I love to read your Corner for girls and have been wanting to write to ask you how I may have God more real to me and how I can become what you call a “ radiant Christian.” I do love God and testify and pray and am active in serving Him in our church and Sunday-school, and sometimes God seems so real to me and I have real fellowship with Him, and then again He seems so far away, and I pray and pray and still do not feel that He is near. Some o f my friends live such beautiful Christian lives, and you can just see the Lord in them. I long to be that way, too. Sometimes I am quite encouraged and think I am growing, and then-I get discouraged and disgusted with myself and think: What is the use o f trying? I will never be like H im ! Can you please offer me some sug gestions?—A . A. My Dear: A real heart hunger to be like Christ and to be well pleasing in His sight is a long step toward attaining the goal. This hunger is apparent in your letter, and as I read it, I repeated our Saviour’s words, “ Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled” (Matt. 5 :6 ). As F. B. Meyer said, “ The life of fellowship with God cannot be built up in a day.” It takes a day-by-day living for Him, seeking to please Him, beholding Him in His W o rd ; it requires a persistent faithfulness in the use o f the means o f grace which make for spiritual growth. The first Epistle o f John tells us how we may have fellowship with our Lord. Read it often and prayerfully. K J yfilil
ignoring, the vicarious work o f the Christ who hath “ washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto. God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen” (Rev. 1 :5, 6 ). T he B lessed H ope Finally, brethren, let not fear reign in your hearts. The muttering clouds may lower. The lurid lightnings already may be crashing the tops o f “ the fig tree, and all the trees” (Lk. 21 :29 ). The howling winds may befog the last rays o f light through which men grope, seeking some place o f refuge. But, “ Neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.” As “ it is impossible for [the covenant keeping] God to lie” (Heb. 6:18, R. V .) , be sure that before those clouds shall be over your heads, you shall hear the voice o f your Beloved, calling from behind the lattice: “Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away” (Cant. 2 :10). In the twinkling o f an eye, even as Enoch before thee, thou shalt respond to His call— “ caught up” to meet the great Lover o f thy soul “ in the air” (1 Thess. 4 :16 -18 ). And when the wrath o f the storm is spent, then shall “ the day break, and the shadows flee away,” and thou shalt repose forever in the everlasting arms, and hear Him whisper in wondrous grace: “ Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee” (Cant. 4 :7 ). Blessed be His name! As you pray, be sure to take time to let Him talk to you, as you listen in quiet attention to Him, instead o f doing all the talking yourself. It is most important that you do not allow any uncon fessed sin to remain in your life, and that you be careful o f the little things which many people do not look upon as especially sinful, but which are soul-deadening. A spirit o f gossip or o f faultfinding, for instance, is all that is needed to rob your soul o f the sense o f your Lord’s pres ence. As you truly value fellowship with Him, you will be very careful o f anything, no matter how small, that will cause you to see His face less clearly. Reality o f fellowship with your Lord is, o f course, the first essential for being radiant fo r Him. It is as you behold Him that you will reflect the glory o f the Lord and be “ changed into the same image from glory to glory”— one degree o f glory to another (2 Cor. 3 :18 ). “ They looked unto him, and were radiant” (Psa. 34:5, R .V .). “ Study to be quiet” (1 Thess. 4 :11 ). The waterfall, the rushing stream, and the restless ocean give a distorted reflection o f the things mirrored on their surfaces, but the pool o f still, clean water gives a perfect reflection. Just as truly, the Christian life that is vacillating, driven by tempests o f emotion or o f restlessness and discontent, will ever give a distorted reflection o f the Lord. But the life that is quiet before Him, abiding in His presence, alert to hear and obey His voice, eager always to serve and please Him in all things, will be a life that is radiant fo r Him. Such a life will be filled with the joy that fellowship with Him brings (c f. 1 John 1:3, 4 ), and will make others hungry for our Lord who alone can satisfy the longing of restless, storm-tossed hearts. Questions for answer in this corner should b e se n t to M iss Scott, 8961 D ic k s Street,W. Hollywood, will be p u b lis h e d .
girls’ QU ERY CORNER
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