u B U T I F N O T " -
By Vance Havner
“I f it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us . . . But if not . . (Dan. 3:17,18).
the fashion of this world. In the provi dence of God one man hits the headlines, thrills us with stories of miraculous vic tories, sways the multitudes with recitals of amazing deliverances. But another, just as truly called of God, just as surely in His will and filled with the Spirit, stays in a country church or is buried in darkest heathendom without even an obituary notice. Others appear to be failures, live in wheel-chairs or between bed-sheets. Still others have their lives cut- short in youth, are martyred, perse cuted, afflicted, tormented. They do not stop the lion’s mouth or escape the edge of the sword. You see, there are two processions and some of us travel in one, some in the other. But one thing we may all have in common: “ These all, having ob tained a good report through faith . . .” . We can do that in either procession! Our Lord does not invite us to a sanc tified picnic with honors, rewards and success guaranteed. God may grant these things to some but it is well to be ready for the “I f Nots.” Do not promise to follow the Saviour unless you mean, “He shall be my God, Regardless. Furnace or no furnace, whether He delivers me from, it or in it, I will bow to no other god. He is able to deliver BXJT IF NOT He is still my God, Whose I am and Whom I serve. Whether I march with the kingdom-subduers or with the sheep skin and goatskin crowd, I will never bow to Nebuchadnezzar’s image.” On the voyage to Rome, Paul assured his fellow-travelers that they would all reach their destination. “ Howbeit,” he added, “we must be cast upon a certain island” (Acts 27:26). We are all going through but between us and home there may be some howbeits. God leads His dear children along but not always through green pastures. Some must go through the waters, the flood and the fire. But by either route we shall arrive. (Continued on Page 18) Page Seven
that friend fails you, be true anyway. If things do not turn out the way you hoped and prayed, do not bow to Ne buchadnezzar’s image of doubt and fear and discouragement. That is exactly what the devil desires as he did when he put Job in his furnace. God permit ted it, but Job did not renounce God. “ Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.” “ God can do it but if He does not, He is still my God, I will bow to no idol” . . . blessed are the saints of the “If Nots!” In the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, that “Westminster Abbey of the Bible” there marches a glorious galaxy of faith heroes: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham and many more, until a crescendo is reached in a summary of those who “ subdued kingdoms, wrought righteous ness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women re ceived their dead raised to life again . . . ” But they do not all fare that way. Suddenly the verse shifts gears, “And others were tortured . . . , had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asun der, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheep skins and goatskins; being destitute, af flicted, tormented.” Faith is not a sure road to earthly success and the headlines, personal de liverance from harm and danger. Some move grandly through in the first pro cession . . . and who wouldn’t like to be in that crowd? But there are others for whom things go the other way. There has been entirely too much preach ing that invites young people to a Hora tio Alger sure-fire life of success by be ing a Christian. We are not guaranteed “health, wealth and happiness” after
^nr^HERE are some for whom the lines seem always to fall in pleas- ant places. Their lives move along in story-book fashion and they seem to miss their share of trouble and tragedy. We rejoice with them and hope their good estate shall remain unchanged. But there is another great host of human beings for whom things do not work out that way. They have so much drudgery that their birth-stone might well have been a grindstone. Others get the plums while they get the bag. Other people’s children turn out well but theirs are a headache when they are young and a heartache when they are old. They have more ups and downs than an eleva tor. They hear others tell of marvelous experiences and mighty deliverances but their own lives are set in a minor key and they have no amazing stories to tell. They still love God and endeavor to serve Him but they are often tempted to say, “ It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.” Some of these conditions are our own fault and we can change them. But not always is that true and if you are in a furnace of affliction or facing circum stances beyond your control I would offer to you a word in season. The Hebrew children faced what look ed like the choice of bowing to Nebuchad nezzar’s image or burning in the fiery furnace. They faced it gloriously: “ Our God is able to deliver us . . . BUT IF NOT . . .” They did not doubt that God was able to deliver from the furnace but if He did not they would be faithful anyway. It is well to be prepared for the “If Nots.” God is always able to deliver from the furnace but sometimes it is not His will. But He will save us in the furnace. He does not always spare us trouble but He will succor us in trouble. If you are facing a furnace, make provision for the “If Not." If you are not healed, if the dear one is taken, if J U L Y , 1 9 5 1
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