October 1926
T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
556
The Bible is a character Book, revealing, as it does, human nature in its lowest depths as we see it, for in stance, in Judas Iscariot; and in its highest heights in John the Beloved. No human character, no matter how exalted, ox how debased, that is not faithfully portrayed in that Book. In every phase of human experience, every possible pre dicament, every trial, every test,—from Adam on down through the centuries—man is seen in his relation to God, and God is seen in His relation to man. If one is familiar with the Bible, then, he is able to read and understand human nature in its weakness and in its strength; in its trials and in its triumphs. Therefore the greatest need of the man who is to deal with men is to KNOW THE BOOK! Not only is every phase of personal experience de picted in the Bible, but every phase of national experi ence, as well. As we study it we come to understand that human nature has never changed and never can be changed. The lie upon the lips of Adam and Eve is the same lie which has been upon the lips of every soul born into the world. No man would dare stand up and deny that he was born with a lying nature. Man’s development through education and environ ment has failed to change his nature. The old nature may be curbed, but never eliminated, and when occa sion arises for its demonstration—there it is! The Bible not only delineates character, but reveals to us the process by which man can come into fellowship with God and into harmony with the unchanging will of God. This is the world’s great need—to know human na ture and to know God’s Book and God’s remedy for a sin-sick world. This is no easy task, but by God’s grace and the surrender of the life to the will of God, the man who has a new nature by the indwelling Holy Spirit will be able to fashion his character after that of the Man Christ Jesus. Therefore—build on the Bible! And out of the new nature a holy passion will surge for others, out of the eyes will flash the light of the new life, and with Bible in hand and love in the heart, from God’s great Uni versity will go men and women, with glad songs of praise, to do the will of the Master-Builder. THE WHIP OF WRATH In the second chapter of John are two remarkable pictures of God manifest in the flesh which are well worthy of careful consideration. The first is a home scene. Jesus is a Guest at a marriage feast. His mother is there and they are having a happy time. The wine gives out. No doubt an unexpected number were present. Note how perfectly natural is the pic ture. Mary, the mother of Jesus, comes and tells Him “ They have no wine.” Jesus says to the servants, “ Fill the water pots with water,” and when this had been done, the water was turned into wine. And this was the first miracle. We could stop and write a sermon, but our purpose is to bring this joyful occasion into strange contrast with another immediately following. The Jews’ Pass- over was at hand and Jesus went up to Jerusalem (2:14): “ And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the cliangers of money sitting.” Now comes one of the most remarkable scenes in the New Testament and one worthy of careful study. Can
writing' and, turning to Junes, I said, 'Boy, ar© you right or wrong? I'm going to put down what you say.’ H© said, ‘I don’t know what to say.’ Then, turning his face toward Heaven he said, ’Put it down, I’m saved!’ ” When the rescuers found the men they were still praying. One of the rescuing party bade them keep quiet, but they kept on praying until they were all taken out. The wives of the men had been gathered around the mine opening for a week, their eyes red with weeping. When the men appeared, on their caps was pencilled this message: “ If we are dead when you find us,—we are saved!” We have condensed this account from that printed in the Los Angeles Times, and are using it here for one definite purpose—as a lesson on prayer, as significant as those recorded in Scripture. Think of these men lying for over six days in mud and water, without food, sustained by God in answer to their prayer, happy in the consciousness of God’s abil ity to hear and answer, rejoicing in the final conversion o f one .who had been holding out against their prayers, coming out with happy faces and joyful testimony to the grace and goodness of God! Truly a Twentieth Century miracle, and a tremen dous testimony to the sturdy faith of these Kentucky Christians who take God at His Word, believe in the Biblical account of creation, and refuse to allow the teaching of evolution in their tax-supported schools. What a rebuke to us for our own lack of faith—we who ar.e favored with every possible privilege! And also what an inspiration and incentive to lay hold, with intensified faith, on the unfailing promises of God which are just as good in the Twentieth Century as in the First. The editor intends to put this incident into tract form for wide distribution in order to awaken a more defi nite faith in prayer and a more definite purpose to When the Bible Institute of Los Angeles erected its great building (valued now at over two million dol lars), one hundred and twenty feet above the ground— the full height allowed by the city ordinance—it was necessary in order to insure a firm founda^on for such a structure, to go thirty-four feet below the surface of the street. This was to be a Bible School where men and women would be trained in the knowledge of the Word of God as a basis for their Christian life and service, so in the corner stone of the building were placed a Bible and a Statement of Doctrine embodying the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith,—which statement of doctrine was also made a part of the deed to the property. No better preparation can be had for any walk of life—business or profession—than a knowledge of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. “ The proper study of mankind is man,” says Pope, and the proper basis for the study of mankind is the marvellous history of man found in the Bible. “ A man is what he is. Not what men say he is. His character no man can touch. His character is what he is before God, and only himself can damage that. His reputation is what men say he is. That can be damaged, but reputation is for time only, while character is for eternity.” (Gough). exercise the privilege of prayer. BUILDING ON THE BIBLE
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