TRIUMPH -- November 1958
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Editorial
Once more, Thanksgiving is close at hand. We surely have many things for which to be thankful.
I am thankful for a lovely family, warm clothes, good food, comfortable shelter. I am thankful for wonderful parents, for wonderful in-laws, relatives, kindly neighbors, and good friends everywhere.
I am thankful for the gifts of nature from God's good hand, for spiritual gifts too innumerable to mention.
I am thankful for inventions such as portable respirators. I have often thought, had I lived and been stricken with polio in the days before electricity my story would have been quite different. The iron lung was only invented some twelve years ago. And now we have PORTABLE models. I am thankful that man has made such devices to aid my breathing.
In thinking of Thanksgiving, I wonder if we remember to say THANKS occasionally for those things most people take pretty much for granted, our breathing, for example. If you could see a sweet little girl named Carol, working exhaustively for every breath she takes outside of a respirator, I think you would remember.
We have heard a lot of Roy Campanella of late, former catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. His accident last January injured his spinal cord. He said of the accident, "I was not unconscious; I knew the car might get on fire so I tried to reach the switch key, but my arm wouldn't move. That was the first I knew I was paralyzed."
Since hearing of this, I have wondered about all the other accidents where the spinal cord is injured, but the victim does not live. Could it be that the nerves to their diaphram and other breathing muscles were injured, and they died because no one reached them in time to apply artificial breathing? I have been told that a person can only live five or six minutes, at the most, after breathing is stopped.
At the most, therefore, you and I, apart from God, are only six minutes from eternity. God breathed into the first man "the breath of life." Likewise, He sustains man continually by giving "to all life, and breath, and all things." Realizing this we should heed the Psalmist who exhorts, "Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord."
Let's remember our great and good God this Thanksgiving season! Especially thanking Him "for his unspeakable gift," which is eternal life through Jesus Christ the Lord.
Art Gordon
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Praise the Lord for He is glorious:
Never shall His promise fail;
God hath made His saints victorious;
Sin and death shall not prevail.
Praise the God of our salvation!
Hosts on high His power proclaim;
Heaven and earth and all creation
Laud and magnify His name.
-- Gospel Herald
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Dear Shut-In
"I know their sorrows." (Exodus 3:7)
The child is cheered as he sings, "This my father knows;" and shall not we be comforted as we discern that our dear Friend and tender soul-husband knows all about us?
1. He is the Physician, and if He knows all, there is no need that the patient should know. Hush, thou silly, fluttering heart, prying, peeping, and suspecting! What thou knowest not now, thou shalt know hereafter, and meanwhile Jesus, the beloved Physician, knows thy soul in adversities. Why need the patient analyze all the medicine, or estimate all the symptoms? This is the Physician's work, not mine; it is my business to trust, and His to prescribe. If He shall write His prescription in uncouth characters which I cannot read, I will not be uneasy on that account, but rely upon His unfailing skill to make all plain in the result, however mysterious in the working.
2. He is the Master, and His knowledge is to serve us instead of our own; we are to obey, not to judge: "The servant knoweth not what his lord doeth." Shall the architect explain his plans to every hodman on the works? If he knows his own intent, is it not enough? The vessel on the wheel cannot guess to what pattern it shall be conformed, but if the potter understands his art, what matter the ignorance of the clay? My Lord must not be cross-questioned any more by one so ignorant as I am.
3. He is the Head. All understanding centers there. What judgment has the arm? What comprehension has the foot? All the power to know lies in the head. Why should the member have a brain of its own when the head fulfils for it every intellectual office? Here, then, must the believer rest his comfort in sickness, not that he himself can see the end, but that Jesus knows all. Sweet Lord, be thou for ever eye, and soul, and head for us, and let us be content to know only what Thou choosest to reveal.
-- Charles H. Spurgeon
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"REPENT (or) PERISH"
"joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that REPENTETH."
"REPENT ye therefore, and be converted,
that your sins may be blotted out . . . "
(Luke 13:3, 15:7 & Acts 3:19)
"He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck,
shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy."
Proverbs 29:1
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FROM THE PROFESSOR'S PEN
THE GODLINESS OF THE SAINT
by Don Tschetter
Donald Tschetter taught history and Bible at Grace Bible Institute, Omaha, Nebraska. This article first appeared in "The Berean," official bulletin of The Berean Academy, Elbing, Kansas.
Godliness of the saint is that in which God delights and ought to be the objective toward which every Christian is striving. God says, "Godliness is profitable unto all things." This then is something that is apropos to every area of the Christian experience. It not only determines the character of state but conduct as well. Godliness is that progressive state of God-likeness which--although imperfect in all--ought to be followed after by all. (I Timothy 6:11).
Each Christian may fairly ask three questions about Godliness. These deserve and find an adequate answer in the Bible. (1. Is there someone to whom all may look as an example of a perfect godly life lived upon this earth under circumstances similar to ours? (2. Does the Bible teach that men ought to live such a life during this age of Grace? (3. Is there any guarantee that a Christian can attain to and maintain such a standard?
The first of these inquiries is answered by the experience of the Lord Jesus on the Mount of transfiguration. Jesus Christ became man and thus subject to the temptations and weaknesses of human flesh. The Lord, however, totally different from other men, never yielded to sin. Thus, in Matthew 17:2,5, we observe one who had walked perfectly among men. So Godly had been His manner of life that He could have been immediately received up into glory where only perfect holiness is warranted. God said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Jesus, then, becomes our example of a Godly life lived upon this earth, having been tempted like as we are.
Christ has perfectly displayed before the world a life of Godliness but is this type of life anywhere included in the present economy of grace? We answer, yes. No less that ten times in the Pastoral Epistles does Paul mention the importance of Godliness for the saint. Typical of these exhortations is Titus 2:12. Not only has the grace of God brought salvation but it also teaches the Christian to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age. This is the one supreme teaching of Scripture for the Christian's personal experience. This was Paul's cherished ambition for the Galatians. He says in Galatians 4:19, "My little children of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you." This is the sphere in which every true saint revels and is at the same time the attainment toward which every sincere believer strives.
The third question must also be answered in the affirmative. Godliness finds its guarantee in the advocacy of Christ. (I John 2:1). The faithful ministry of Christ on behalf of every Christian brings stability and surety to our position and state in Christ. Apart from this consistent work of Christ our position would be precarious and a godly walk impossible. We rejoice in the truth that Godliness is founded upon the faithfulness of Christ. It is as sure as Christ is faithful.
Godliness has been exemplified. It is God's will for us. Godliness is attainable. May our purpose be entailed in Paul's desire for the Corinthians when he said, "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."
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We have made the intellectual apprehension of truth
a substitute for the power of it in our hearts,
and are in danger of regarding Christianity as a philosophy
rather than a life.
-- W. G. Scroggie
The Christ, who dying did a work for us,
now lives to do a work in us.
-- W. G. Scroggie
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STORY OF MARSHAL DE LA FORCE
From "Foxe's Christian Martyrs Of The World."
MANY ATROCIOUS CRIMES have been committed down through history in the name of God and the Church. Of no small significance was the one executed on St. Bartholomew's Day on August 24, 1572. At the ringing of a church bell in Paris the dreadful massacre of thousands of French Protestants began. Marshal de la Force was a child at the time of the massacre; he has left some memoirs of his life, among which is the following narrative of his sufferings during that terrible scene of bloodshed.
A horse-dealer had seen the duke of Guise (a leader in the slaughter) and his friends murder Coligni (leader of the Protestants). He ran immediately to warn La Force's father, to whom he had sold ten horses a week before.
La Force and his two sons lodged in a part of Paris across the river. At that time there was no bridge to this part of the city; it could only be reached by a ferry. All the boats had been seized by order of the court, to carry over the assassins. But the horse-dealer was not to be thwarted in his efforts to save his patron; so he plunged into the river, swam across, and told La Force of his danger.
The elder La Force was some distance away from his house, and had plenty of time to save himself; but seeing his children did not follow him, he returned to fetch them. He had scarcely entered the door when the assassins arrived. One Martin, at their head, came into his room, seized him and the two children, and told him with dreadful oaths that he must die. La Force offered him a ransom of two thousand crowns; the captain accepted it, and La Force swore to pay him in two days. After having stripped the house, the assassins told La Force and his children to pin their handkerchiefs in their hats in the form of a cross; they also made them tuck up their right sleeves on the shoulder, to imitate the uniform of the murderers. As they crossed the river the marshal declares that he saw it covered with dead bodies. His father, his brother, and himself landed before the Louvre; and there they saw the corpses of several of their friends.
Captain Martin took his prisoners to his own house in the city, and there made La Force and his sons swear that they would not leave until they had paid the two thousand crowns. He then left them in the custody of two Swiss soldiers, and went out to kill or capture more Huguenots. One of the Swiss, touched with compassion, offered the prisoners their liberty, but La Force would not take advantage of this unlooked-for opportunity. He said that he had pledged his word, and that he would rather die than forfeit it. A relative was sent for, and promised him the two thousand crowns, in time to be given to Captain Martin when he should return.
But, unfortunately, news of the La Forces' capture had reached the ears of their enemies, and a messenger came to tell La Force that the duke of Anjou wished to speak to him, and requested the father and his children to come down stairs, bareheaded and without their cloaks. La Force plainly saw that they were leading him to death, but he followed, praying only that his two innocent children might be spared. Upon this, the younger of the children, then thirteen years old, the future marshal, raised his childish voice and reproached the murderers for their cruelty, saying that God would punish them.
The two children, with their father, were led to the end of the street. Turning suddenly the men stabbed the elder boy several time; he cried out, "Ah, my father! O my God! I am hurt." At almost the same instant the father also fell dead, bleeding from many wounds. The younger boy was covered with their blood, but he had, by almost a miracle, received no wound, and with wonderful presence of mind cried out also, "I am stabbed." He then threw himself down between his father and brother, and heard their last sighs. The murderers believing him dead, went away, saying, "There, that ends them, all three."
Some thieves prowling about soon came to strip their bodies. The young La Force never moved an eyelid while they took off everything he had on excepting one stocking. After they had done with him, a poor rag-picker passing by saw this single stocking and stopped to take it. While he was pulling it from the foot of the apparently dead boy, he mused thus:
"Alas!" said he, "what a pity! This is but a child; what harm can he have done?" These words of compassion encouraged the little La Force to raise his head gently, and say, in a low voice, "I am not dead, sir!" Greatly startled, the rag-picker answered, "Do not stir, child; have patience." He then went away but in the evening came to save the boy. "Get up," said he, "they are no longer here," and wrapping him in a shabby cloak he carried him off. As he went, some of the executioners asked him, "Who is that boy?" "it is my nephew," said he, "who has got drunk; you see what a state he is in. I am going to give him a whipping."
At last the poor man got safely to his house, where he, with a relative of the boy, succeeded in effecting his escape.
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SERMON SERIES - XVI
THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE THESSALONIANS
Chapter 3, verses 6-10:
"But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you: therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: for now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for your sakes before our God: night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?"
RENEWAL of JOY
Having renewed acquaintance with the Thessalonian converts through Timothy, Paul's joy was renewed. Our present study will reveal the reason for his joy and his expression of the same.
GOOD TIDINGS (6)
Timothy returned from his visit with the new converts. He brought "good tidings" concerning them. This good news was a real boon to Paul's spirits. It was exactly what Paul wanted to hear and in fact exactly what he needed to hear.
Paul was at one of the low points of his career. He had been suffering at the hands of the persecutors. He was alone in a strange and idolatrous city. He was burdened for the believers whom he left behind in the midst of persecution. Everything seemed dark and foreboding. THEN came "good tidings."
This good news involved their "faith," "love," and "remembrance" of the ministers. Their faith in God the Savior remained intact and strong. Their love for the brethren continued undiminished. Their affection for the apostles was still great.
The trials through which they were passing had not caused them to at all doubt the goodness of God. But, what of us today? How do we react when clouds of affliction descend on us, when no "whys" or "wherefores" are given us? Some Christians cry out in doubt, "Why does God permit this to happen to me?" But others, realizing "we walk by faith, not by sight," lift the eyes of faith beyond the clouds to Him who "hath done all things well." Of Moses it is written, "he endured (was strong), as seeing him who is invisible." We too can be strong in the midst of adversity if we keep our eyes on Christ. He said, "My grace is sufficient."
Timothy reported that their love for one another was still warm and real. How easy it is when things are going contrary to our wishes to become irritable with those around us. But, here are mere babes in the faith putting many of us, who have been saved for years, to shame. Rather that diminishing our love, trials ought to bring us closer together as brothers and sisters in Christ. The Scriptural admonition is, "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep." We have too little of this in our day.
Paul's expression of joy follows in verses 7-10.
WE WERE COMFORTED (7)
The good report of the faith of his converts was like a healing balm to Paul. It was the thing needed to lift his sagging spirit.
When my body was very weak and my spirit at a low ebb God saw fit to use me to lead some souls to Christ. Even in my "affliction" and "distress" I was comforted by their faith. I know of nothing that will lift a person out of the "slough of despond" more quickly than to be instrumental in leading another to Christ. And of almost equal joy is the knowledge that the convert is growing in faith and love.
FOR NOW WE LIVE (8)
Paul declares that their faith and love had imparted new life to him. It was the "shot in the arm" that he needed. As we have seen in previous messages, Paul's whole life was centered about one thing--leading others to a saving knowledge of Christ. When people were coming to Christ and remaining true to Him, Paul was really living.
You have heard this expression with relation to other, less worthy things. One man is really living when he has money, for money is the center of his life. Another, who has no other joy than to pamper a healthy body, is really living when the body functions properly. Still another, is living when his position is assured and the future looks rosy. But what if these things fail? With the dearest things in life gone, we immediately stop living, at least to the full.
I wish Christians today could catch just a bit of the compassion this early apostle had. We say we have concern for lost souls but is that the very center of our lives? To be perfectly frank I think we know very little in our day of this kind of compassion. God give us men who consider themselves really living when they are winning souls to Christ.
THANKS (9)
Paul said that the preachers had thanked God time and again for the converts; he recognized they owed their thanks to God, basically: "We give thanks to God always for you all."
We as Christian workers have our orders to reach people with the gospel. Our primary contact, however, is with the physical part of man. We may have a slight influence upon his spirit and soul in that we place before him the claims of Christ, but only God is able to transform his life. It is God who purifies the heart, saves the soul, quickens the spirit, redirects the emotions, renews the mind, and captures the will of man. If man's salvation depended upon us he never would be saved. We, therefore, must also give thanks to Whom thanks is due for any work He pleases to do with and through us.
PRAYING EXCEEDINGLY (10)
Night and day Paul held them up in prayer. He prayed to see them; he longed to help them.
There are many things upon which we trust in our endeavors for Christ. Instead of praying we advertise, organize, talk, reason, and wonder. We pray five minutes and think we have sacrificed greatly. Paul bombarded the ramparts of heaven with requests night and day. The chorus, "A Little Talk With Jesus," is a cute little chorus but, I fear, it is a commentary of too many Christians today. We are ready to talk to everybody and about anybody for hours on end, but we give God only a few hurried minutes. GOD FORGIVE US.
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D E V E L I S H H A N D S H A K E
I cannot think of any organization or group of people who will not make others welcome to their gatherings. The group may be dedicated to propagating truth OR error. They, if spreading error, may do it deliberately or ignorantly. Yet, whether in the business of truth OR error, all are interested in winning the allegiance of others to their cause.
"What is truth," asked Pilate of Jesus long ago. Jesus declared that He was the Truth. He declared also that the words of God conveyed by the Holy Spirit to and through the writers of the Old and New Testaments were Truth. What then, do we have of truth today? The answer is: the Bible. Therefore, anything contrary to, added to, or deleted from the BIBLE is error and must be religiously avoided.
Many are the groups today which are propagating erroneous teaching. These groups are to be avoided like the plague. How can we tell when they are in error? By the above standard--do they teach the Bible without adding, subtracting, or contradicting it? Do they accept the whole of it as inspired of God, and live thereby? Or do they take a part and by rending it from its context make it seem to mean something it was never intended to mean? Do they interpret the Bible with the Bible or with some other book which, by word or implication, they put on a plane equal with the Bible? Do they teach what the Bible teaches about Christ--that He was virgin born, lived without sin, died an atonement for sin, arose with a glorified body, ascended to His Father's throne, is coming back for His own, and will bring this present age with its populace to judgment? Do they in any way make the Bible OR Christ less than the Bible itself declares them to be? If any group does such injustice to the inspired Word of God or to the Lord Jesus Christ they brand themselves as being in error and place themselves under the wrath of God and unworthy of our allegiance.
These very ones who are themselves deceived and are deceiving others will with open arms receive you into their midst if you will come. When you enter their place of meeting they will with a glad-hand and a broad smile make you feel like a long lost brother. They will make you feel at home with them. Nothing will be too much to make you welcome. And who of us can resist such friendly actions toward us?
FOR YOU who are looking around for fellowship with some group or other, don't enter in on the basis of their smiles and hand-clasps. Those very smiles and hand-clasps may eventually send you to eternal hell. Make sure where they stand in relation to the Bible and Christ. Don't be too quick to bite into their frosting until you discover the flavor of their cake. The preliminary teaching might sound good, but the subsequent teaching may be full of deadly poison.
Don't let a handshake and a smile send you to hell.
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It is the man who is entirely right with God
who is best qualified and equipped to help his fellow men.
--W. G. Scroggie
