-September 1931
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WHAT DO YOU KNOW? . . . By ROY TALMAGE BRUMBAUGH, Tacoma, Wash.
hr ist was in the upper room with the eleven. Judas had departed. The traitor had gone out into the night to sell his soul for thirty pieces of silver and to betray his Master with a kiss. The atmos phere was clarified. Christ told the disciples of His com ing death and separation from them. He told Peter that he was about to deny Him. The entire band was sorrow ful. Great distress prevailed. Hearts were grieved. Apostolic souls were disquieted. The eleven were in the throes of despair. Then Christ spoke those never-to-be-forgotten words: “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3).
the meaning of the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah. They expected a glorious Messiah who would immediately usher in the age of gold, with demonstrations of the su pernatural. When Christ told them of His sufferings and death, they did not understand. The average man is full of misjudgments and erroneous preconceptions. There is a moat in his eye. False notions, based on lack of knowl edge, fill his mind. Religious articles which abound in newspapers and magazines fill his brain with error gar mented with sacred verbiage. As a result, the truth lies buried under the debris of prejudice and untruth. The Spirit needs to clear away the evil accumulation. We do not know what we know, because of lack of thinking. Men do not like to think. The .human mind would avoid vigorous exercise of its muscles. Besides that, people think they are. too busy to meditate. Men are
not taking time to ponder, It was while the psalmist mused, that the fire burned in his' spul The man who meditates is .like the tree planted .by the rivers of water. It is protracted and. pro found cogitation that brings concealed truth to the surface and hidden seeds to fruition. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” Pick fresh fruit daily from the bow ers of thought. Breathe God’s thoughts; think them after Him. Contemplation of the Truth is sweet: meditate on His word. We do not know what we know, because of lack of trouble. The bright and pros perous days do not seem to' bring truth to a manifestation. It is when physical, mental, and spiritual distress harass the soul that men learn knowledge. In the vale of darkness, men see the Light best. Christ prepares us for trouble and then leads us through it. . We do not know what we know, .because: of lack- of obe dience. We do not live up to the light that we have. Dis obedience robs us of m u c h truth.. Receive the truth and obey it if you would know more about it. “If any man will do his will, he shall know ,of the doctrine” (John 7:17), We do not know what we know, because .of lack of dis continued on page 409].
The Master continued by saying: “Whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.” *, Thomas said unto Him, .“Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?” Who was right, Thomas or Christ? Christ said, “Ye know.” Thomas said, “We know not.” The Lord k n o w s o u r thoughts afar off. The content of our minds is visible to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. He knew what the disciples knew, although the disciples did not know that they knew! He had told them time and time again about His ap proaching death, resurrection, and ascension, but their minds were dull, their spirits were heavy, and their intellects did not grasp the truth of His words. They were lacking in understanding. They knew, but they knew not that they knew. So it is in the body of Christ today. R easons F or D e fic ien t K nowledge Christians do not know what they know. They do not know, because of prejudice. This was the case with the dis ciples. They had certain Jew ish notions which were erro neous. They had; not grasped
Reveal Thy Will for Me I do not ask the “how” or “why,” No vision of the future, Lord! But only that Thou point the way ’Mid darkest night or toilsome day By thine almighty Word. I do not ask the “where” or “when” ; Where’er thou choosest I will go And when: for I will, follow Thee; Thy time shall my desire be If Thou wilt let me know. The future, Lord, I do not seek, Nor care to know where it may lead, If only I may know Thy will, Be it for pleasure or for ill; Thine, only Thine, I’ll heed. From out this doubting darkness, Lord, Flash forth Thy light 1show me Thy way 1 Not mine I seek, but Thine to do, Thy will my calling to pursue: Thine, only thine, I pray. —S elected .
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