156
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
April 1932
T I SILVER on tin
■ msiian s CLOUD
By STEW AR T P. M ac LENNAN* Hollywood,” Calif.
R omans ft -28-lips been deep with meaning for Christians in all ages, and it is fraught with yea greater significance o f truth for these present days. I f n his Corinthian letter, we find Paul making use of one -®~of the most effective and valuable instruments in na ture’s workshop—the law of contrast. It is a trait o f human nature that appreciation of men or material is complete only when confronted with contrast. Away yonder on the Atlantic seaboard, the tender greens of spring are doubly welcome because of black, cold, and barren winter mem ories. Likewise, blessings acquire greater value in their loss than in their possession, and all possession is more clearly and distinctly appreciated in the light of loss. This law of contrast is one of the great secrets, not only of nature, but of human art, one of the fundamental laws of beauty. The blue sky is doubly enhanced by the white clouds that float across its face. Stars sparkle and burn with new luster when set in the black dome of night. Green fields take on an added beauty through the white daisies and clover blossoms upon their bosoms. The art galleries of Amsterdam yield their proof of the power and value of this law. When the great Rembrandt painted a face, he illumined the features with glowing light and set it against the depths of a shadowy background. In his letter to the Corinthian church, Paul emphasizes this law of contrast, in order to set forth the Christian’s blessings against the black clouds of adversity; and in his letter to the Romans, he takes those same clouds and reveals the silver which is their lining. There is the silver on every Christian cloud! The
are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Looking up, the apostle beholds a black and ominous cloud completely covering the sky above the canyon. He begins to climb the hillside and to wind his way out. Finally he reaches the summit and finds that, after all, the cloud is comparatively small, and the sky is not en tirely covered. Then it is that his rapturous spirit cries, “ We know that all things work together for good to them that love God.” How does he know ? Because he knows that God trans forms and transmutes every experience of our lives to the end that we may be conformed to the image of His Son. William Cowper caught the unbroken thread of Paul’s meaning and wove it into the impressive lines: Judge not the world by feeble sense, In the heart of Paul, there was always the quiet assur ance that, behind a frowning Providence, the Lord God omnipotent reigned, and the knowledge of this truth car ried him triumphantly through sufferings and sorrows, afflictions and disappointments, yea, even through the jaws o f death itself. TT n our days o f clouds, darkness, and depression, how glorious it is to hear the grand strains reverberating through the halls of memory— “ The Lord God omnipo tent reigneth.” Because He reigned, Paul But trust Him for His grace, Behind a frowning Providence, He hides a smiling face. “ T he L ord G od O mnipotent R eigneth ”
apostle has been dealing with some o f the great p r o b l e m s of human life. He has stated that we are the children of God, “ and if children then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.” Then a cloud comes across the sky, and the problem of suffering, pain, disappoint ment, and all strange providences of life comes into view. The shadows lengthen, and the sky is overcast. S ' tanding there in the depths o f the valley of experience, Paul says, “ I reckon that the sufferings of this present time
could say, “ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predesti nate to be conformed to the image of his Son.” All things are according to His p u r p o s e . Throughout the universe, in heaven above and earth beneath, one great, eternal purpose runs. Paul saw God at work every where, in everything: In every blade of growing grass, in every cloud that passed across the sum mer sky, in the opening bud and falling flower, the lightning flash and thunder’s peal—God was in them all. And if God’s eternal purpose can be traced in the sp rin g in g g rass and
"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more ex ceeding and eternal weight o f glory; while we look not at the things ivhich are seen, but at the things zohich are mot seen: for the things zvhich are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Cor. 4:17, 18). “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did pre destinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also justified; and . whom he justified, them he also glorified.” (Rom. 8:28-30).
*Pastor, First Presbyterian Church.
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