by
J. Allen Blair
W o r r y has wrought havoc and distress to countless millions. Thousands have shortened their lives by it, and even more have been made bitter by dropping this poison into their souls. Overwork is often named as a cause for breakdowns and other illnesses, but work seldom hurts. It is worry that injures and impairs. Is worry necessary? We might think so by the amount of it we do, but those who know the Lord can live without it. They may take everything to Him in prayer. Not only may they take it there, but they have the wonderful privilege of leaving it there. We are to worry about nothing and pray about everything. What we don’t pray about we usually worry about. Prayer leads through the door of faith into the presence of God; worry leads through the door of anxiety into the darkness of loneliness and discouragement. If prayer rules the life, worry will be defeated and victory will be the result. David cried out to God, “Evening and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” ' Of course, there are always some who would like to live without trials or testings, of any kind. I suppose this would seem comfortable and enjoyable, but what kind of persons do you think we would be? How could we learn to trust and rely on the Lord if we were not forced to turn from ourselves on occasions to wholly lean on Him? The sorrows and heartaches we bear are but lessons to be learned in God’s school of grace. The lesson hardest to learn stays with us the longest. Take just a minute or two and hastily reflect back over the years. Consider the hours when you thought you were forsaken of God. Were you really? Doubtless some of these trials are still shrouded in mystery so far as you are concerned, but haven’t you clearly recognized God’s infinite purposes in many of them? Are you not a better self-made ideals with Christ’s, I found certain conflicts. It seemed as though my purpose was self-centered while the purpose of the students might best be expressed in the words of the apo6tle Paul: “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.” 1 Their purpose was to live completely for Jesus Christ. Their motivation was a love for the Son of God. Their enthusiasm for the Bible was not just an academic or scholarly enthusiasm, but a sin cere desire to know the Hero of the Bible in a more inti mate way. This was a real challenge to me. As I have said, this idea was not completely new to me, as I had always been a member of the church, at tending regularly and giving financial aid. This relation ship did not satisfy me, but I gave it little thought be cause of the press of business. But now, as I saw the impact Christ had made on the lives of these students, I had to re-evaluate my conception of Christianity. Through them and many outstanding Christian leaders whom they invited to speak on the campus, I discovered that real Christianity is not a relationship to an organization—the church—but a relationship to Jesus Christ. After this I began to read the Bible in the evenings seeing if I could find some of the answers for which I was looking. More and more as the great Gospel message began to make sense, I discovered what all can discover if they only look. All we need to do is put our faith in
Christian as a result? Have you not learned how to rely on the Lord more completely? The Psalmist knew the source of rich encouragement. “ I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” 2 “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou Lord, only makest me dwell in safety ,”3 You may dwell in peace and con fidence without despair or worry, for the Lord cannot fail. This He promises. “ I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” * With such a consoling truth flooding your heart and soul you can go to bed at night, free of care, ready to sleep. Irrespective of the disturbing instances of the day, you may bow and commit everything to the Lord and “lay . . . down in peace.” You may rest perfectly, having the Lord’s assurance that you may dwell in safety. The Psalmist makes it clear that the “Lord, only” makes this possible. Psychology cannot do it. Right thinking is not enough. It must be full and complete reliance on the Lord. Of course, it is impossible to rely on the Lord until you know Him. Many count on God, but they have never really met Him. They only know about Him. To enjoy His enduring promises you must know Him, acknowledge your sin, and claim Jesus Christ as the one who died for your sin and rose again. “ Come unto me, all y e that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” 5 “ In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God, and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.” 6 “ Casting all your care upon him [Jesus Christ]; for he careth for y o u ” 1 'Psalm 55:17; 2Ps^lm 16:8; 3Psalm 4:8; +Hebrews 13:5;. 5Matthew 11:28; 6Philippians 4:6,7; T Peter 5:7. Christ to make this possible. “ But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”2 I saw that for 31 years I had lived for self and decided I wanted to live the rest of my life only for Jesus Christ. I asked God to forgive my self-centered life and to make my life His own. I was again assured by thè words of Paul that “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 5 Following Jesus Christ has been an experience of increasing challenge, adventure and happiness. How true are His words: “/ am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”* It is not to a life of ease and mediocrity that Christ calls us, but to the disciple-like Christ-empowered life. No matter what field we are in, we are called to give our complete allegi ance to Him. No cause, noble as it may seem, can be satis fying or purposeful without the direction of Christ. I can say with all sincerity that living a committed Chris tian life is truly satisfying because it has given me true purpose and direction by serving not myself but Jesus Christ. References: '1 Cor. 4:5; 2John 1:12; 32 Cor. 5:17; +John 10:10. (Articles on these pages are available in printed form from the American Tract Society, New York, N.Y.)
OCTOBER, 1960
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