recipients of great blessing and our love will never cool. Such was not true with the church at Ephesus, al though it was fundamental in its doc trine, the Spirit of the Lord caused John to write this scathing and pene trating condemnation against it, “You have left your first love.” Their love for God had cooled. The Greek here is very graphic. It isn’t so much that they lost their first love, but rather that they left Him in pursuit of their own selfish goals. I wonder how many of us are in different because things haven’t gone our way. This will be one of the great signs in that day. Again in Matthew 24:13 we read, “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” We need to keep in mind that our Lord is speaking to His dis ciples as representatives of Israel. This is not a question of losing their salvation. After the suffering will come the deliverance. After the sor row will come the joy. After the pain will come the peace. There will be deliverance, for all Israel shall be saved. The word “salvation” means salvation is the spiritual sense, as well as salvation in the physical sense. For that reason we might better translate the word here as “deliver ance.” God will not forget the cove nants He made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. In the midst of the stormy sky and the lowering clouds, the time will come when the blue will again be seen being the harbinger of that fair day for which all Israel waits. GRUDGING One of the greatest dangers to the soul is the cancer of grudging; hold ing feelings against others. As far as human nature is concerned, one of the most difficult things to endure is to see another person getting a better break or deal than we are, or perhaps to note that they have less trials and privations. Thereby we conclude that we do not deserve the lot that has been dealt to us and consequently we complain and are disturbed. An un happy woman always seemed to find the world a fitful mess. She was con stantly grouchy. Her neighbors de
cided to go on a picnic, and she secret ly hoped that they would invite her. The thought never occured to the family, however, until the last minute. But when she was finally invited, she complained unhappily, “It’s too late; I’ve already prayed that it would rain.” How tragic for some people to feel their talent has to be that of criticism and fault-finding. A dis agreeable spirit should never be a part of our nature. The Bible tells us, "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth.” Let no evil thought dwell or lurk within your heart. * * * When you flee temptation, make sure that you don't leave a forwarding address. * * * BEGINNING FOR THE END Have you ever tasted the old-fash ioned “upside down berry cobbler”? It is prepared in a very interesting and unique manner. It is a very simple dessert to make. The batter is place in the bottom of the pan and then the berries or cherries on top. But when the delectable substance comes out of the oven, the dough will have all risen to the top and the fru it to the bot tom. This is a result of the prescribed heat from the oven. It doesn’t look like much when it goes into the stove, but when it comes out it is beautiful. A Scriptural truth assures us, "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). First re ceiving the Saviour, there is not much in our lives for commendation, and perhaps we appear as this odd batter before it is done. But through the oven of every day experience, and often deepest trials, God brings us forth, at the day when He calls us to be with Himself, as spiritually mature men and women. Are we ready for the Lord’s return? Have we been allow ing Him to effect in us that good work ivhich was begun at the day of our salvation? Or is there a lack of spirit ual growth? God help us to be spirit ually mature Christians through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. 12
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