October, 1934
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
351
fore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn everyone night and daywith tears” (Acts20 :27-31). T he P hilistines H ave S tolen the A rk ! From all these divine warnings, it is evident that in the twilight of our age, the “Philistines” will again, as in days of Samuel, steal the ark. Reports from the national as semblies of the churches this past year indicate that the “Philistines” have not only stolen the ark, but indeed that they threaten to carry off the whole tabernacle. They have not only walked with unwashen feet into the Holy Place, but they have even dared to invade the Holy of Holies, and that “without blood” (Heb. 9 :7). Over the doors of the houses of God is everywhere written: “Ichabod . . . the glory is departed” (1 Sam. 4:21). Men might do well to recall that once before, the Philistines captured the ark of God. To them it was a great victory. But, with God, it was a signal for His judgment. Immediately sore judg ments fell. The idol-god of the Philistines, Dagon, fell Upon his face. They set him up again. The next time he fell, he was dismembered (cf. 1 Sam, 5). The Philistines discovered that the ark; was the hottest thing they even touched. They shifted it from place to place, trying to rid themselves of it. God in heaven looked down and laughed! . “F ear N ot , L ittle F lock ” Yes, the false prophets are having their inning today. The seats of learning are held fast within their grip. The Dear Miss Scott: I am one of your older readers who get as much bless ing out of your corner as the girls do. In fact, I have girls of my own, and we enjoy it together. Will you please discuss the question of trials and testing in the Christian life? I know that “whom the Lord loveth he chaSteneth,” but it seems He must love some Christians a lot more than others when you see some getting along so easily and others tested almost past endurance. I believe many would appreciate a discussion of this problem just now.—“O ne W hom H e L oves .” Dear Friend: I wonder whether, as a mother, you have not found that though you love your girls equally, you deal with each one individually and differently from the rest according to her own temperament and need. Some of God’s children require more discipline than others to bring about His desired result. Are you not glad He knows just what we need and just how much refining we can stand, and that He never makes a mistake! I am glad you signed your letter just as you did. If we remember that God is love, we shall learn, not to be resigned—mere resignation has no place in a truly Chris tian life—but we can learn to delight in His will, even when
denominations, especially those that are mighty in numbers, and wealth, are largely in their power. The modernistic theories of human government and social betterment are chiefly of their inspiration. The leagues of hell are in high glee as the pulse of a prayerless, bloodless church grows feebler day by day. Christ is politely bowed out of the councils of school and church and state. In the lives of men, the great doctrines of the Book are giving way to the doctrines of the damned! Yes, the ark is in the hands of the “Philistines.” But, the “little flock” need not be unduly alarmed about the ark of the living God. He is abundantly able to care for His own. Though all the powers of earth and hell league themselves, taking “counsel together, against the Lord, and against his Anointed, . . . He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh.” Yea, “the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.” Verily, in the midnight of earth’s deepest apostasy, the everlasting God shall send His King, to His holy hill of Zion (Psa. 2 :l-6). “Ichabod” may be written above the doors of a church that has all but forgotten her glorious Lord. But, as sud- denly as the cloud-chariots halted and carried Him away, just so suddenly shall they reappear and bring Him back. In that day, tbe Shekinah will return to the house of Jehovah, to glitter and dazzle forth His glory as of old. “Behold," the darkness shall cover the earth, and , gross darkness the people1” (Isa. 60:2). But that darkness is only the harbinger of the rising of the “Star out of Jacob.” Then, arise, O Star ¡‘Verily, the “Gentiles'shall come to? thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising” (Isa« 60:3). . The faithful watcher, on tiptoe, awaits the dawn! He who waits shall not be disappointed! we cannot understand why He has allowed certain things' to come into our lives. I am reminded of the story of a man who put on his barn a weather vane with the words, “God is love,” for he said, “I want all my neighbors to know that no matter where the wind blows from, God is there and He is love.” < Oh, if we would but feel the pressure of His hand drawing us closer to Himself in the testings, and would lift our eyes from circumstances to His blessed face, we would soon be praising Him for the hard experiences that have made Him more precious to us. And perhaps, instead o f wondering why some one else is having an easier time, we, as did Peter, would hear Him «say: “What is that to thee? follow thou me.” If we are to become longsuffering, we must know what it is to suffer. And when He says, “Rejoice evermore. . ic In every thing give thanks” (1 Thess. 5:16, 18), He is: likely to send some trial to test our thanksgiving to see- whether it is “in every thing” or just in the pleasant things. You will find it helpful to read again 2 Corinthians 4 :8-18 and to meditate upon the “far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” which will be ours for “our light affliction, which is but for a moment.” “The things which are not seen are eternal.” • Questions for answer in this corner should be s e n t to M iss Scott, 8961 D ick s Street,W. Hollywood, Califorifia. No name will ^be p u b lis h e d .
(girls’ QUERY CORNER C o n d u c t e d b y M y r t l e E. S c o t t
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