April 1932
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
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cine, the visitor was horrified, until the chemist enlightened him to the fact that, “when they are all mixed together, they do not kill, but cure.” Such is Paul’s meaning in the phrase, “ all things work together for good.” Again, this good is God’s good. Let us not lose sight of the fact that God’s first and great purpose in human lives is not the bringing of happiness. This world is a preparatory school, God’s great, moral classroom for the training of character for future ministry. Happiness is the by-product o f a life that is lived in fellowship and harmony with God, and the life in which God is working out good will have happiness for a by-product. But if we misinterpret this passage to mean that all things are working together to give man all that he desires, to keep him smiling and prosperous, then we certainly misunderstand Paul. This world is a training school for the building of char acter, for the testing and refining of manhood, and for the building into our lives of spiritual strength and power. God’s great purpose is to overrule by His omnipotent power all the events of our lives, be they good or bad, and to transform and use all things as instruments in lifting and fashioning us into the image o f His own Son. “To T hem T hat L ove G od ” This is the restriction placed upon this working of God. It is not all things working together for good to everybody, but to them that love God. Well do we know that sorrow and trouble, affliction and disappointment, often turn men to darkness, doubt, and distress. Many are made bitter, sour, and disagreeable by these dark things. “ We know that godlessness and sin worketh wrath.” Therefore, it is only to those whose faces are turned toward God, and who love and trust Him in the dark that things work together for good. “ A devoted evangelist, already recognized for his power to move the multitude, Dr. Horton came to Los An geles twenty-six years ago from Dallas, Tex. He came here filled with that religious enthusiasm that has found a field for development especially among the preachers and mis sionaries of the Old South. He came here hoping to arouse in the people of the Pacific Coast the same zeal for the sim ple gospel of the Redeemer which had crowned his efforts in the Texas mission field. Nor was he disappointed in the reception he met from the citizens of Los Angeles. “ From a small poolroom on Main Street, where he held his first revival, to the spacious Bible Institute at Sixth and Hope, where his work found its final expression, Dr. Hor ton’s quarter-century of endeavor marks a progress in re ligious teaching which tells its own story. Nor was this all. His Fishermen’s Club, which he started as a Bible class for the young members of the Immanuel Presbyterian Church at Los Angeles, has expanded to an international organiza tion for the spread of gospel teaching. “ Not only his spoken, but also his written words, have left-an indelible mark on the religious life of the age. A higher court than any earthly tribunal will probate the estate he has bequeathed to his heirs and successors in fig ures that cannot be summed up in dollars and cents.” TH OM A S CORW IN HORTON [Continued from page 152] more apparent with the passing of the years.
these things were not against him. In fact, they were work ing in his very best interest, as onward steps in the divine process by which he was to recover his long-lost son. So it is with us. When clouds of sorrow and trial pass across the blue of our skies, let us remember that the thing which disturbs our faith is but the beginning of a series of events which will lead at last to rejoicing in His great love. Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take. The clouds ye so much dread Are big with mercy, and will break In blessings on your head. When Jacob came to the place where he could not con fide in his God and, distrusting His love, cried, “ All these things are against me,” he dishonored the God who had so richly blessed him. How frequently we, too, are like Jacob, distrusting the love of God ! Dr. W . H. Griffith Thomas once said, “ We hear a good deal nowadays about the Fatherhood of God. What does it mean ? Is it that God as a Father is different from or worse than an earthly father ? The very suggestion of this idea condemns it. Would an earthly father delight in giving trouble and hardship to his children? If trials were allowed to come, would it not be solely from a sense of duty, springing out of love? No one dares say that God is different from this.” I f we blow away the mists of the centuries, and see old Jacob, and hear the great Paul speaking, we find some clear and valuable lessons. First, we see that God is in all our experiences. It is easy to believe that He is in the prosperous things, those that are pleasant and delightful. But when trouble comes and purple clouds gather upon the horizon, casting a shadow across our path, just at that moment when God’s grace is about to be experienced, we turn our faces away and lose the blessing and comfort which otherwise might have been ours. In the second place, we learn that we must wait until God’s work is complete. How prone we are to pass sentence of condemnation upon God’s providence or work before it is complete! “ Judge nothing before the time.” Let us not argue that, because pain is part of the process, evil is to mark our course to the end. nd the third great truth is expressed by Paul, “ All things work together for good.” The apostle does not imply that there are not many evil things in one’s life, things disappointing and distasteful, that wound deeply and cause pain and suffering. He would not have us to believe that all things are good—but that all things work together for ulti mate good. There is a difference! Grief is but a tattered tent, Through which His love doth shine, A gentleman visiting a chemist’s shop watched the owner behind the counter, sorting colored powders onto three pieces of white paper. Upon asking what the powders were, he received the reply that they were various poisons, enough contained in all to kill three men. “ What are you doing with them?” he questioned the apothecary. As the reply came that they were being made into medi And he who glances up, Doth catch a ray divine.
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