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and will deceive those who have re jected the truth of God as it is in Christ Tesus, “ because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie, that they all might be judged (R.V.) who believed not the truth, but had pleas ure in unrighteousness.” This will be judicial blindness. This is a solemn and an awful sub ject, and should awaken those who know the truth and have light, yet are rejecting the same. W H Y SUFFERING? Q. Why are some of God’s most de voted saints called upon to suffer greatly in this life? A . A number of Scriptural reasons might be given to show why Chris tians suffer affliction. Why do those who live in close fellowship with the Lord sometimes know the depths of sorrow? Here are some of the reasons: 1. “ Tribulation worketh patience” (Rom. 5:3; cf. James 1:3). Trials may embitter those who do not love God; but they bum up the dross in the Christian, as he lets his all-wise Father mold and shape his life. With Job, the tested one may say, “When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). “Though he slay me, yet will I trust him” (Job 13:15). 2. Sometimes God permits one of His saints to be an example to an un godly world of the sufficiency of God’s grace. Such was Job—an example be fore Satan, angels, men and demons. His example has encouraged thou sands to trust God, even when they could not understand why they were called upon to suffer. Job did not know of Satan’s accusation to God, yet his faith did not waver. 3. “ The God of all comfort . . . comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the com fort wherewith we ourselves a r e
GOD A N D PUN ISHM EN T Q. Does not the statement in John 12:39, 40 teach fatalism? And would not one deduct from the teaching of these verses that God is the author of man’s destruction? It seems that the people had no choice in the mat ter, that their unbelief was absolutely necessary, in order that this prophecy might be fulfilled, and that God or dained that it should be so. A . These verses teach neither fatal ism nor extreme predestination. But first let us read them: “ Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.” God foreknew that Israel would not believe, and therefore Isaiah snake these words. But long before the Lord spake these words through Isaiah, the Jewish people had deliber ately hardened their hearts and turned away from God. The Lord Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem. He wept over the na tion of Israel. And He said, “ How often would I have gathered thy chil dren together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and y e would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord” (Matt. 23:37-39). Because Israel per sisted in unbelief, judicial blindness fell upon them. You must remember, my friend that God is sovereign in punishment, and may mete out judgment as He pleases. Some He cuts off suddenly the moment they sin. Others He gives over to judicial blindness, and ceases to strive with their consciences. Something like this will come upon professing Christendom after the true church is translated. Then II Thess. 2:1-12 will be fulfilled. The Anti christ will be revealed to the world,
comforted of God” (II Cor. 1:3, 4). Nothing gives one a more sympathetic understanding of the need of those in sorrow than does sorrow itself. It is a training school for those who would serve others in distress. 4. “ That 1 may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fel lowship of his suffering” —this was the prayer of the Apostle Paul—that he might know the fellowship of His suffering. And Paul proved that God’s grace was sufficient for every trial! (Phil. 3:10; II Cor. 12:9). Moreover, he learned that God’s “ strength is made perfect in weakness.” There fore, Paul could rejoice in trials. They made him know Christ better by throwing him back on faith; and he was willing to pay the price. 5. Tribulation teaches the Christian to set his affections on things above, “ where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God” (Col. 3:1-2). It teaches him that “ here have we no continu ing city, but we seek one to come . . . a citv which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Heb. 13: 14; 11:10). Let us not forget our Lord’s part ing word to His disciples: “ In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). W H O OW NS W EA L TH ? Q. Does the world with its wealth belong to God or to Satan? A . The world and all it contains be long to God. “ The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof’ (Psalm 24: 1). However, the devil and his people possess much of it. There is a differ ence between ownership and posses sion. I may own my unbrella, and yet someone else may possess it. Christ will one day come and take possession, and the uttermost parts of the earth will be included in His kingdom. “ He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth” (Psalm 72:8).
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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