two great nations could bring peace upon the earth. But, unfortunately, war is of the heart. To the end of time, even as from its beginning, men will ever be at each other’s throats. It is because of greed, lust, and an inordinate desire to have that which is not theirs. Going on in our study, the 7th verse of Matthew 24 tells us, “For nation shall rise against nation, and king dom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earth quakes, in divers places.” The verbs here are actually in the passive voice. Literally, it is a nation stirred up against another nation. This shows that outside forces will come in and start treachery within to stir up one nation against another. Time maga zine carried a story on the turbulence in Africa. The writer said that of the 32 African n a t i on s wh i ch have achieved independence since the end of World War II, more than half have been wrecked by severe political and economic convulsions ranging from bloody civil wars to virtual bank ruptcy. Africa may also be observed in other parts of the globe. The world today is in ferment. But added to wars and revolutions will be such natural calamities as earthquakes, famines, and pestilences. These, too, will become universal and more prevalent. US News & World Report declares that the earth now sustains more than 1,000,000 earth quakes every year. Yet, in the face of all this, we are to rest in the Lord Jesus Christ. How comforting it is, when we look out upon the world, finding it to be absolutely hopeless, to turn to the Word of God and thereby find our hope. Seeing the events of the world we might well be restless were it not for God’s assuring prom ises. We may find our rest in Christ and truly our hearts begin to sing. “My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame But wholly lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ the solid rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand.”
Maintrainingcenterfor Biola is thisimportant building containing classro ms, faculty andad ministrative offices,and the Bible hall seating more than800 young people. GOD'S PLAN
Sometimes, as we look at things with our limited vision, it is hard to understand for we cannot see the end from the beginning. This, of course, is God’s vantage point. As a little girl watched her father, who was a sculp tor, she was concerned with how he was using his hammer and chisel al most wrecklessly, or so it seemed to her, with a new block of marble. She asked pensively, “Daddy, why do you waste so much stone?” His answer has been beautifully captured by the poet in the words: “It is,” he said, “with accents mild, By strokes and heavy blows, That as the marble wastes, my child, The more the statue grows.” Let us never try to take the chisel away from the Lord’s hand for He will never strike our life with random blows. He has an ordained plan which may hurt us now, but later which we can see has been for a divine purpose, bringing glory to His holy name. May we say with Paul, “Most gladly will I therefore glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” He knows, He loves, He cares, Nothing this truth can dim. God gives the best to them Who leave the choice with Him!
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