times a detriment. Although this may be the way man judges being “well off,” God says a person who is truly blessed is one who has taken his personal refuge from the present, as well as the future storms of life, in Jesus Christ. (Look at the Scofield notes if you have a Bible with those helpful references.) Some years ago, when Ernest Shackleton was exploring the South Pole, severe and oppressive weather set in. Provisions were running short and he had no choice but immediate ly to leave Elephant Island. His boat was small there was no way to take all of his men in the first trip. As many as possible crowded into the craft. Shackleton promised those who were left, “I’ll be back!” Try as he would, however, he couldn’t get back. The dreaded ice flow had closed in. Fog continually enshrouded the area so that it was impossible to effect a rescue. Then, one day, as he con tinued his hopeful vigil, there was a sudden lifting of the clouds. At the same time an opening was seen in the ice which allowed him the hazardous journey back to his men. He could only pray that they would be ready and not too sick to move. By the time he reached the shoreline, he found all of his men waiting. All of their things were packed. Not a moment was lost. This was providen tial, for no sooner had the bdat been turned around than ice, like a vice, started to close in again. The clouds descended lower. A few seconds of delay could have meant death for all of them. Reaching safety back on board the larger rescue ship, a re porter who had followed the expedi tion began asking questions. One of the seamen was asked, “How is it that you and your companions were so ready to leave? Actually by the time Shackleton got there, you must have been wondering if he would ever be able to return.” The weakened man smiled, “Oh, that’s easy. You see Wild over there, second in com
mand, would tell us every morning, ‘Roll up your seabags boys, the boss may come back today!” ’ As we consider God’s final tri umph, we see the judgment, which shall rightly be brought upon the sinfulness of mankind here on this earth. Yet the believer has the joyful realization that before this hour of extreme Tribulation, there will be the Rapture of the Church, when all true born-again believers will be taken into the presence of our Saviour. This is spoken of in I Thessalonians VOICES IN CHURCH The Devil sends his schemes to church Dressed in most every style, His deadly plan looks casual And whispers, "Wait a while!” Its second cousin, smart and bored, Drawls with a languid air, "Don't get emotional; do you— Want folk to think you’re square?" Then comes the fatherly attempt; "Now take it easy, see? Don’t get involved, you're not too strong, Next Sunday—watch TV." But those who listen with their hearts, Hear God say tenderly, “Tomorrow, child, may never come, Remember Calvary!” — Esther Belle Heins 4:13-18. May your heart rejoice in this scriptural certainty, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him: for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth him self, even as he is pure.” 13
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