courage on our journey.” The traveler found that it was so. He grew strong and enjoyed the climbing even when storm clouds swirled about their heads and cold winds roared down the rocky canyons, buffeting them. He was not afraid, for he loved and trusted his Guide. When the going was too hard, the Guide would find them a place to rest, a cave in the rocks or a cool shady spot beside a singing waterfall, until they were refreshed and ready to go on. He was delighted ' with the wonderful view and pleas ant companions as they went through murmuring forests that were no longer dark and mysterious, but a cool and quiet refuge. Birds sang along the way — and small forest animals peered out at them from overhanging ferns. Then they were above the forests and the sunlight again, the summit tower ing just above them. The winds were quiet and there was peace. Their hearts were light and they sang as they climbed. Far below, the men in the valley had toiled all day in the dust and heat and were very weary. A work man paused to straighten his bent back and with a grimy hand wiped the perspiration from his brow. He spoke wistfully to his companion who was laying bricks for a walk. “A friend of mine went up on the mountain today,” he said, “I wish I had gone with him. They say up there one may rest under tall trees, beside cool streams above the noise and heat of the valley. If only the clouds were not so thick, if only we could catch a brief glimpse of the mountain, it would give us strength to endure this heat.” Even as he spoke, the dense clouds that blanketed the valley parted and rolled back and there stood the mighty mountain, bathed in the glory of the sunset, its.shining summit outlined against the eve ning sky. A ray of light fell upon the upturned face of the man, then as he gazed, the clouds rolled back again and the splendid vision was gone. He turned excitedly to his com panion. “It was glorious,” he breath ed, “ did you see it? Don’t you hear the music, like that of a heavenly choir?” His companion stared at his flush ed face. “It’s the heat,” he muttered. “I heard nothing. I saw nothing— but these bricks. Better forget the mountain and get busy. Sometimes I wonder if there is really a moun tain there—I’ve never seen it.” The man sighed and turned back to his work, but those who were listening that evening heard the sound of singing drifting down to them from the mountain. JULY, 1947
Practical Apostolicism C HRISTIAN circles, since the end of World War II, have i emphasized increasingly the importance of practical Christian liv By Rev. H. L. Phillips
ing. But the appeal for the most part has been to young Christians to take part in the work of their church, their young people’s society, the Sunday school, or church clubs. In all fair ness, let it be said that in addition, some churches have cha l l enged youth with a world-wide missionary vision. But there is scarcely even a hint concerning the very practical and plentiful opportunities for the missionary candidate to begin work ing now in this country among peo ple of the land to which he has been called, especially while it is A C A L L FO R P R A Y E R H ELPER S Prayer is work; prayer works; prayer leads to work. The most effective work that any man can do is to pray, because prayer moves the arm of God. Will you be a prayer help er for the Bible Institute of Los Angeles t Put this great institution on your prayer list. T We will gladly send you TT our monthly Biola World - T ” Wide Prayer Circle letter. Address: Miss Christina J. Braskamp, The prime consideration for an evangelical Christian missionary— all the King's messengers are to be bearers of the "good news” of salva tion—is the motive behind his de sire to serve. The impelling or motivating force must be the urging of the Holy Spirit to heed the direc tive of Christ to GO into ALL the world; there is no other safe canon, no other measuring gauge, by which to steer the labors of missionary en deavor. Many a young person has been called to enter the Lord’s work in Europe or Asia who is not able at present to go to his land of love and labor. Let him bear fruit where he is! Let him now lift up his eyes and look on the fields. 558 So. Hope Street, Los Angeles IS, Calif. f T T not possible, for political reasons, to enter the foreign fields.
Along the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts, and in the Middle West, South, and Southwest areas of our nation, large settlements of foreign- born unevangelized citizens in this “home of the brave” challenge men and women of vision to step forth with faith and love to tell them the gospel of a risen, living Saviour. In these mission fields are hundreds of thousands whose ancestors (if not they themselves) came from Europe, Asia, Africa, or Latin America—and many of them can be evangelized without even the necessity of learn ing another language. What better way is there of ob taining the "experience” desired by many a missionary candidate before he sails for another clime, than to work for a year among these Amer icans whose ancestry is that of the land for which the ambassador of the King of kings eagerly awaits embarkment? Will the Lord of the harvest reap and glean only a part of His in crease? Does He any less earnestly desire the salvation of Poles or Japa nese in America than in Poland or Japan? How much ocean, how many seas or mountain ranges must be crossed to qualify one as His mes senger to those for whom He died, and rose again? The history of the early church, recorded in the Book of Acts, reveals those same disciples who preached concerning Jesus "in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria” to be those who later began to tell of Him “unto the uttermost part of the earth.” So it was with Philip—from Jerusalem to Judaean wilderness, to Samaria; so it was with Paul from Damascus (his Jerusalem) to Jeru salem, Antioch, and on across Asia into Europe; and so it was with Peter, Barnabas and the others. Shall not the modem Paul begin in his Jerusalem and on to Judaea, and Sa maria? There is no fruitful shortcut! In dll life’s circumstances, dear Lord, May all my strength be Thine. Oh, let me labor where I am To bear fruit in the vine. “Which now of these _ . . was neighbour unto him . . . And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise” (Luke 10:36, 37). ' PAGE THIRTEEN
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