EDITORIAL
Nikita's at it again. Nikita Khrushchev, at this writing, has just come out with more threats against the free world. He admits his objectives are to conquer the world for Communism. His intentions at present are to do so by peaceful means. But we all know he will stoop to any means to get what he wants. This includes war, if other means fail.
Recently I read in the Psalms, David's interesting description of one of his mortal enemies. The description seemed to fit Mr. K. as well. "He hath put forth his hand against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant. The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords" (Psalm 55:20,21).
War is evidently in the heart of Mr. K. The only thing deterring him from this course is the fear of self-destruction. Were it not for this eventuality, he would no doubt attack tomorrow. All this adds up to one dismal fact: we find ourselves in the midst of a terribly real "cold war," and on the brink of a terrible real "hot war."
But have you stopped to realize that back of every Hitler or Khrushchev there is even a greater foe, a more deadly enemy? There's a war being waged right now, all about us. It's a "hot war" . . . a fight to the finish . . . no holds barred. It is not a war in the physical realm. Paul says, "Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh." He says again, "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." The demon world poses our greatest threat.
Satan has always wanted to drag the creatures which God made to the pit with himself. He hates the souls of men and wants to have them damned. When some of them by God's grace escape his kingdom of darkness, into Christ's kingdom of light, Satan tries to get to them to sift them as he did righteous Job. Though he can no longer effect their condemnation, for "there is . . . no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus," he may still make life miserable for them.
For this reason Paul under inspiration tells us to "put on the whole armour of God." Put it on, says Paul, "that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." But of what does this armour consist?
It consists of the truth of Christ; the righteousness of Christ; the gospel of Christ; the faith of Christ, the salvation of Christ; and the word of God. (Ephesians 6:13-17) Every piece of this armour is from God. It is effectual in the fight with our wiliest enemy. It is given to us through Christ. All we have to do is take it. We cannot earn it. We cannot buy it. We cannot obtain it in any way but as a gift from God. Thus Paul enjoins, "Take unto you the whole armour of God."
Since these pieces of armour come to us through Christ, to take Him is to have them all. Clothe yourself in Him and you are ready for any onslaught of the enemy. In fact the Bible affirms that the war is actually over for those who have taken refuge in Christ. There will still be skirmishes and pockets of resistance here and there until Christ comes back for His own, but the main battle is won -- won by the Captain of our salvation, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Sincerely in Christ,
Arthur E. Gordon, Editor
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Dear Shut-in . . .
EXCERPTS from
LILLIAN'S LETTERS
Happy New year (a bit late)! May God be your closest companion this year. I can think of no better wish. Oh, may He be so very real to you.
How did I spend the Old-Year-out and the New-Year-in? It was like-a-this, a very dear friend's baby was quite sick so I stayed with her. She was getting her Sunday dinner ready (til almost the time) but we both took time to peek at Times Square as the fateful moment dawned upon us. My heart crushed thinking that if those millions of people really loved God they would be in a watch-night service somewhere seeing the Old Year out and the new one in with God. In spite of how tired and weak I was, oh, the longing for such.
Sometimes it's good to take inventory of our lives to see, if Jesus were truly with us, would our aims have been different. Really, was anything accomplished where dividends could have gone skyward in the bank of the future? We all bank, but where? All give dividends; which did you want? We all long to accomplish more, but is life all "self," and what in the world are we doing for others? The Lord said, "Ye are my friends if ye do what-so-ever I command you." Do we eat His Word and live on His precepts?
Jesus wanted us to especially LOVE one another, the theme of the gospel. If we truly love, we won't sweet-talk to the face and whip the back with brutal lashes of the tongue that buckle the knees and fling away a heart. Love's very nature is a balm to the suffering. It is a life-saving restorative. I believe love is the flesh of the spirit of the Christian, yes, the heart. Hate of the spirit of the devil. Usually all actions can go under one or the other of these headings: I loved, so I did this . . . or, I didn't, so I did this . . . Sometimes we rush around tripping switches so fast we scarcely realize which we're tripping or what we're really doing. Then (POW!!!) things begin to catch up with us. We really get some early dividends.
Our weather is sort of spring-like, but when dear old Mr. Weatherman's like that "me" bones aren't. So really a little crisp weather doesn't seem to hurt as much as damp weather as long as the chill doesn't go through to the bone. As much as I love beautiful snow scenes its confinement takes the joy away. Some people are hard to suit, aren't we?
May I thank you all for your cards and gifts for Christmas. Wasn't able to accomplish all I wanted to this past year, as per usual, but I surely was awed at how God came through for me, not only at Christmas but through the year. Won't say it's all been Easy Street for it surely wasn't, but it all has proven God is trustworthy.
Thank you for your prayers. Keep praying and praising.
***
It seems two angels were given assignments. One was given a small bag to collect all the complaints and wants of the human race. The other was to collect all the praises and thank-yous. Because there was given out so many more blessings than were asked for, this one was given the big bag. But alas the angel with the small bag came back three times, having to return again and again, but the big bag returned nearly empty. (-- Ouch!)
Miss Lillian Butt suffers from rheumatoid arthritis. Before her illness she was a nurse.
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It Was God's Will For Me To Be
Handicapped
By Loretta Henthorn
Walworth, Wisconsin
I'd like to thank the Lord for all He has done for me. He is so good to me I could not begin to tell of the many blessings He has wrought in the 24 years He has allowed me to live on this earth.
When I was 18 months old, it was learned I had cerebral palsy. "Put her in an institution and forget her. She will never know her own name," was the doctor's advice. My parents would not hear of such a thing and took me back home.
From then on, every effort was made to provide me with the best medical care in the country. At times I know my parents wondered why it had to be their daughter who was picked to be different from the children in the neighborhood. I never questioned the fact that I was in a wheel chair, but there were times when I longed to be able to run with my playmates.
After I was saved, I realized it was God's will for me to be handicapped. I was sure of this, but I could not find a verse to prove it. Two or three years ago, I heard a message on Psalm 139. Verse 13 seemed to leap out at me and take hold of me. The second part of it reads, " -- thou hast covered me in my mother's womb."
How precious it was to me to know God's hand covered me even before I was born. Cerebral Palsy is caused by brain damage which usually occurs before or during birth. If God had His hand on me before my birth -- and this verse says He did -- then He had His hand on me when I received the brain injury that left me with CP. This handicap was no accident! He planned it this way, and it is a part of His will for my life.
There are times when we all become discouraged. What good are we? Why were we born? We feel so little, so insufficient, and so helpless that we wonder what use we are to God. I think this is especially true of handicapped people. I know it's true of me. I have already said I think it was God's will I'm handicapped, and I firmly believe that; however, there are times when I get discouraged at my body when it refuses to obey me. Within the last two weeks my Sunday school teacher made this statement, "Christ died for our bodies as well as for our souls." I had never thought of it in that way before. If Christ loved my body enough to die for it, what right have I to get angry at it even when my involuntary movements get me into trouble? -- No right at all, for He died for this body. It no longer belongs to me but to Him.
The body I live in may not be important according to the standards of this world, but it is even necessary in the eyes of God. Paul, when talking about the members of the body of Christ, says in First Corinthians 12:22, "Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary." Another verse of Scripture I love is Revelation 4:11 (the second part), " -- for thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created." Everything, including handicapped people were created for His pleasure, and are necessary to His purpose even though our bodies may not be 100 percent perfect?
On December 3, 1958, I was severely burned while trying to give myself a bath. As a result of this scalding, I'm more disabled than I was before taking this "extra-hot" bath. My unsaved relatives felt awful about this. They felt CP was enough of a burden without having burns added to it. I did not agree! God knew what He was doing when He allowed me to be burned, just as He knew what He was doing when He allowed me to be a CP. He gave me the grace to bear the pain -- the first pain I has experienced. Several things happened the night I was burned that made me certain it was in the Lord's plan. I was, and still am, reminded of Romans 8:28 which reads, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
Since a little girl, I have realized I would always be handicapped. As I grew older, I began to wonder who would care for me when my parents were no longer here. In 1954 I lost my mother. Then I really did worry. I was a Christian at the time, and I knew the Lord would supply my needs (Philippians 4:19); however, I wondered how He would do this. This Fall He worked it out so I could become a permanent resident of the Christian League Occupational Home in Walworth, Wisconsin. It was indeed an answer to prayer and I can't thank Him enough for making it possible for me to move here.
Yes, I have many things to thank the Lord for. Of all my earthly blessings, I thank Him the most for Mother and Daddy. Without their loving care, their concern for my health and education, and their faith in me when the medical world labeled me "Hopeless," I'd never be here in this lovely Christian Home writing this testimony. Yes, my parents did a lot for me (my Dad still does)' however, my gratitude and love for them can never be compared with my feelings for the Son of God who came to earth to die for me. If I did not know the Saviour, I know the good things of this earth would mean very little to me. Do you know Jesus? I certainly hope and pray you do.
From "The Christian League Bulletin"; used by permission of the Christian League for the Handicapped, Walworth, Wisconsin.
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FAITH OF A FOUR-YEAR-OLD
IN HER short lifetime, four-year-old Kathy Sansovini of Minneapolis bore a testimony which exceeded that of many adults.
Until May 30, 1960, her fourth birthday, Kathy had been an unusually healthy child, obedient and joyful. On that day she tried out her new two-wheel bicycle. She had difficulty pushing the pedals. A few days later, ready for her usual ride with her father before bedtime, she could hardly climb into the car. Four weeks of tests led to a specialist's diagnosis of dermatomyositis, a very rare muscular disease.
Earnest prayer by loving parents brought the constant reminder: "My grace is sufficient." Uncomplaining Kathy, aware of pain but praying for God's healing hand, never wavered in her faith. Her life proved a benediction to many.
"Daddy," she asked one day as they read a book together, "do you know what? I'm going to heaven."
Somewhat startled, her father asked why she said that and how she knew.
"Jesus came to me last night," Kathy said, "and told me He wanted me to come to be with Him." She never again asked Him to heal her.
With Kathy's promotion a week later, on September 30, 1960, the Minneapolis Tribune carried a front-page story of her testimony and faith along with a picture of her. Pastors near and far devoted sermons to her story. Calls and letters flooded the home. Television and radio heralded the drama of faith.
Kathy's two-year-old brother, Ricky, meanwhile, looks into the starry sky on many an evening and says, "Hi, Kathy, see you pretty soon."
Used by permission of Moody Press, Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, Illinois. (From Moody Monthly Magazine)
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PLEASURE --- SORROW
I walked a mile with Pleasure,
She chattered all the way,
But left me none the wiser,
For all she had to say.
I walked a mile with Sorrow,
And not a word said she;
But, oh, the things I learned from her,
When Sorrow walked with me.
-- Robert B. Hamilton
"SHE'S A SHUT - IN"
From Inez Edwards, in
"The Tennessee Smile Club News"
"They whisper, 'She's a shut-in,'
As they pass my cottage door,
Where daily, by my window,
I've sat twenty years or more.
My feet are lame, I cannot walk,
I've been that way since birth;
I'll never travel 'round and see
The wonders of this earth.
They whisper, 'What a pity
She should be afflicted so!
She just sits there in her wheel chair,
Never has a chance to go!'
They wonder how I bear it,
And perhaps you wonder, too!
Well, it really is no secret,
And a simple reason, too.
It's because I have a Promise
That was given long ago,
By another One who suffered
Greater pain than I can know.
And He's building me a mansion,
In a Land more wondrous far
Than the majesty of oceans,
Than the lofty mountains are.
And I know when I shall go there,
The very first thing I'll do,
Is exchange these withered feet of clay
For others straight and new!
Then, up and down the Golden Streets,
On limbs so fine and strong,
I'll wend my way 'mid angels fair,
And lift my voice in song!"
(Poems -- From "Three Thousand Illustrations," by Walter B. Knight;
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co, Grand Rapids, Michigan)
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A READER WRITES
"Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance" (Psalm 32:7). Amen! Praise Him!
Dear Sir:
" . . . other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life" (Philippians 4:3).
" . . . Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood. And hath made us kings ( -- to reign, Romans 5:17) and priests ( -- to intercede, Ephesians 6:18) unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever. Amen" (Revelation 1:5,6).
Thank you for sending me your magazine, "Triumph." Someone must have given you my address. I'm your "companion in tribulation, (but also,) in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ" (Revelation 1:9).
May I introduce myself? I'm an Englishwoman. Came here to live in 1940. Am a widow. 88 naturally; 61 spiritually, as I was "born again" on October 4, 1899; so have proved the love and faithfulness of the Lord all these long years. Praise Him.
I'm crippled with arthritis and in my "shut-in" life, God has very graciously given a "prayer and letter-writing" ministry, and He gives daily strength to carry it on. "Labourers together with God" (I Corinthians 3:9).
For some of us God has "chosen thee in the furnace of affliction" (Isaiah 48:10).
C.H. Spurgeon said: --
"Does not the word come like a soft shower, assuaging the fury of the flame? Yes, is it not an asbestos armour, against which the heat has no power? Let the affliction come, 'God has chosen me.' Whatever befall me in this vale of tears, I know that He has chosen me. Fear not, Christian, Jesus is with thee. In all thy fiery trials, His presence is both thy comfort and safety. He will never leave one whom He has chosen for His own. 'Fear not, for I am with thee,' is His sure word of promise to His chosen ones in the 'furnace of affliction'."
Why should I murmur?
for the sorrow--thus only
Longer lived would be;
The end will come, and may tomorrow,
When God has done His work in me:
So, I say trusting, "As God will!!"
And trusting to the end hold still.
-- Julius Sturn
These are days of severe conflict, the battle rages against the powers of darkness and we are all feeling the effect in greater or lesser degree.
"But God."
His precious blood bought victory,
Victory all the time.
As Jehovah liveth,
Strength Divine He giveth,
And to those who trust Him
Victory all the time!
God still bless and prosper His work in and through you, in ever deepening degree I'll pray on for you.
Prayerfully in His glad service,
Mrs. J. H. Buckley
Kentucky
And what is service?
But the life of Jesus,
Lived through a channel
Of earth's fragile clay,
Loving and giving
And poured forth to "others,"
A living sacrifice from day-to-day.
(God bless Mrs. Buckley and all my elderly readers. I love you all; and a letter like the one above makes me love you more. But having said this, I must add a word of warning. Some of you have come to your sunset years without ever having prepared for eternity. You can't live too much longer We get papers back almost every day with the word "DECEASED" written across the address space. Won't you receive Christ as your Saviour today? You'll spend eternity being glad you did, or sorry you didn't. -- Editor)
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God was better to me than all my hopes
Better than all my fears;
For He made a bridge of my broken sighs,
And a rainbow of my tears.
-- Selected
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IS YOUR NAME WRITTEN THERE?
THE OTHER morning in my daily devotions I found myself wading through a long list of names in the Book of First Chronicles in the Old Testament. The list ended with: "So all Israel were reckoned by genealogies; and, behold, they were written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah" (I Chronicles 9:1a).
At first reading, such genealogies seem rather boring. But as I read, a thought came to me that caused me to praise the Lord. Have you ever stopped to consider why God included in His book all these names? I'm sure one reason was to show His interest in the individual, even to call the individual by name. He was not only interested in the outstanding personage, like Abraham and Moses and David, but in all His people.
What does this mean to us? It means God is likewise interested in us as individuals. He is interested in the great among us and the humble, the rich and the poor, the high and low. To put it directly and personally: He is interested in YOU. And you are interested in yourself, are you not? Whose face do you first look for in a group picture where you are present? Whose name first catches your eye in the newspaper under your town's news? It's a thrill to see your own name in print. The bigger the type, the bigger the thrill.
How honored were those who had their names put in the Bible! Think of Mary of Bethany who anointed Jesus with precious ointment. Jesus commended her and promised that wherever the gospel should go, this kindly act would "be told for a memorial of her." The very fact her name is mentioned in the Bible is a memorial to her. And so it is with all the others.
But did you know your name is in the Bible? John 3:16 reads: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." You are included in the "whosoever." You have a perfect right to enter your name in place of "whosoever." In my case it would read: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that Arthur Gordon who believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." You may do the same. I trust you will.
For all who have placed their names in John 3:16, Jesus has a very encouraging word. "Rejoice," says He, "because your names are written in heaven." This is enough to make us rejoice; especially since we know that "whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire," and that "there shall in no wise enter into (heaven) anything . . . but they only, which are written in the Lamb's book of life."
Indeed God is interested in you. He is "not willing that any (including you) should perish, but that all (including you) should come to repentance," Your whole-hearted faith in Jesus Christ as your own personal Saviour puts your name in the "Lamb's book of life."
-- A. E. G.
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SERMON SERIES
THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PETER
No. 19
BLESSED SUFFERER
I Peter 3:13-17
MANY who read this message suffer in one way or another. Peter's words were addressed originally to those who were suffering at the hands of fellow countrymen as a result of their having become followers of Christ. He wanted to encourage them. But his words, written under the control of the Holy Spirit, are just as vital as ever they were, and may become a healing balm to your own soul in the midst of your suffering. I pray they shall.
PROBABLY COURSE
"And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good" (13)?
The probable course of your life will be, that no one "will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good." God cares for His own. We saw in the preceding verse of this chapter (v.12) : " . . . the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers." He looks out continually for their welfare. He listens continually for their cry. He is committed to their care. He has promised: "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."
This is enough to make His followers zealots (Gk.-zalotai) for that which is good. And when they are zealous for the good, "who is he that will harm you?" "Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world." The devil with all his legions cannot harm you. No one can harm you; God is your protector.
As a rule people will not want to hurt you for doing good. They may, however, ill-treat you for what you say. Jesus asked a mob one day, "Many good works have I shewed you . . ., for which of those works do ye stone me?" They answered "For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy." It is your message -- that all have sinned and come short of God's glory, and that Christ is the only means of salvation -- that will arouse the ire of those about you. Do all the good you wish and no one will do you harm. This will be your probable course, but there is always another possibility, as we see in the next verse.
POSSIBLE CASE
"But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled" (14).
Sometimes the improbable happens. Sometimes the remote possibility becomes actuality. If that should happen, and if ye should "suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye," count yourself blessed. Jesus said, "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake." And why are they blessed? "For their's is the kingdom of heaven." What is a mite of suffering here when there is laid up for us a mint of glory up there? We are rich beyond telling -- spiritually rich. Jesus told the church in Smyrna: "I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty." but He adds, "but thou art rich. The kingdom of heaven is ours. All the blessings and benefits of the kingdom are ours. The King Himself is ours. What more do we need? Indeed we are blessed, even though we may suffer a bit.
The suffering of the original readers was of one type, from one source. Ours may be of another type, from another source. But whatever it be, from whatever source, if we are followers of Christ, the fact remains that we are wonderfully blessed spiritually. Much better off are we with our suffering than the person who doesn't suffer but has no share in Christ's kingdom.
" . . . and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled." He is saying here: "Don't be afraid and don't worry." Fear and worry are always concerned with the future. We don't fear or worry over what is past, nor even the present, but what may happen in the future. Jesus commands us in specific terms: "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer." How foolish it is to fret over what might happen. Yet, foolishly we do just that, so often. "Be careful for nothing," or "be not troubled with cares," is the Scriptural admonition.
Again Jesus says, "Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do." Jesus says again, "Let not your heart be troubled." It is possible to have troublesome things come upon us, and not be troubled. It is possible to have anxieties press in on us, and not be anxious. The secret lies within the next verse.
PRELIMINARY CONDITION
"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts" (15a).
Instead of fretting over the future, a condition is held out to us that, if met, will quiet our minds concerning the future. "Sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord" (ASV). This has no reference to holiness, since we are to do this to Christ. Rather, it refers to our setting Christ apart in our hearts as Lord. It means we set Him in the throne-room and on the throne of our hearts. We let Him rule over us. He becomes Lord and Master, Sovereign, King, and anything else He wants to be.
"Christ" is the New Testament name meaning "anointed one," and corresponds to the Old Testament "Messiah." "Lord" in the New Testament is the "Jehovah" of the Old. Jesus Christ the Lord is the Messiah who was promised. He made His appearance, lived among men, died on the cross for the sins of the world, rose from the grave, ascended back to the Father's right hand to await the time of His second coming which will be the beginning of the end for this present economy. He it is who wants to reign in our hearts as Lord. May we let Him.
As Lord He has the right. He bought us with His precious blood. He owns us. We no longer have any rights to ourselves. We are His property, His possession, His subjects. Our part is to recognize this and act accordingly. "Sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord." The sooner we do, the sooner will we know real happiness. Fears and worries cannot long abide in the heart where Jesus dwells supreme.
PERSONAL CONFESSION
" . . . and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear" (15b).
Blessed sufferer, people will want to know what it is that constitutes your blessedness in the midst of suffering. They in the same spot would not feel so blessed. "Be ready always to give an answer." Be always on the alert to make your defense to every man that demands of you a word of the hope that is yours.
Two things you must be ready to do: to tell folks of the hope which possesses you, and of the hope you possess. This involves a message and a personal testimony. In short, the message is Christ, for He is our hope, and the testimony is what Christ has done for us. Both are important.
The two shining examples of these types of defense are the deacon Stephen and the apostle Paul. When Stephen was given the opportunity to make his defense before his examining council, he stood up and with all the eloquence of a Spirit-filled man brought his listeners from Abraham to Jesus Christ. He began with what they understood and then preached Christ to them. When asked for a reason of the hope he had, he gave them the message of Christ.
There was a young man present that day when Stephen made his defense who was himself destined to become a steadfast defender of the faith. His name was Saul, later changed to Paul. Some years later Paul stood before the royal court of Festus the governor. When he was given permission to speak he gave his personal testimony. He told what "the hope" -- Christ -- had done for him. His listeners were greatly impressed even though they were not convinced. Neither were Stephen's listeners convinced. But we are not obligated to convince our listeners; just to tell them of Christ, and of what He has done for us.
And this is to be done "with meekness and fear," not of men, but before God, as the next verse would indicate.
PURE CONSCIENCE
"Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ" (16).
The person who is zealous for the good, who is blessedly happy though in the midst of suffering, who is not fearful and worried over the future but sanctifies Christ as Lord in his heart, who is always ready to testify for Christ with meekness and fear as in the presence of God -- this person is maintaining "a good conscience."
As the tongue is the part of man that distinguishes between sweet and sour, so the conscience is the part of man that distinguishes between what is morally good and bad. The conscience commends the good and prompts us to do it; it condemns the bad and prompts us to shun it. "A good conscience" is one that is unimpaired or unmarred. It may be impaired by choosing the bad rather than good. Habitual choice of the bad, will result in a seared conscience. Paul says, "In the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron." The believer's conscience, however, is vitalized and activated by the Holy Spirit and, whereas the seared conscience becomes shriveled and inactive, the sanctified conscience becomes progressively tender and useful.
As for those who presume to "speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they shall be ashamed." The righteous Judge shall make all things right. He shall vindicate "your good conversation (i.e. good manner of life) in Christ" they are the ones to be eventually ashamed. And oh what shame it will be!
PROVIDENTIAL CONTROL
"For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing" (17).
Is it ever the will of God for His children to suffer? Some may think not. The Bible says it sometimes is. The Greek here reads: "If the will of God wills to suffer." Yes, sometimes it is His will that we undergo suffering. Job is the classic example.
"There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and turned away from evil." Job had seven sons and three daughters. He was very wealthy. But there came a day when Job was reduced to abject poverty, his children slain, and himself afflicted with painful malignant sores all over his body. And for no apparent reason. But what Job didn't know was that behind the scenes was transpiring a drama that makes the story perfectly clear.
God had asked Satan if he had taken note of His servant Job, how good a man he was, in fact, said He, "there is none like him in the earth." Satan objected that if Job didn't have it so good, he wouldn't be so good. "Hast not thou built a hedge about him?" reasoned Satan. So God gave Satan permission to take from Job all his possessions and finally his health as well. "And still he holdeth fast his integrity," said God, "although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause."
Job was suffering for no reason in himself. It wasn't because of his sin or lack of faith he suffered, but actually to prove him righteous and faithful. But the point we want to see is that Satan could not touch Job without God's permissive will. God had placed about Job a hedge which all the powers of hell could not penetrate until God gave the go-ahead. And then they could only proceed as far as God's will predetermined. I think we might say that God's will was itself that hedge which encircled Job. Anything that got through to God's servant had first to go through His will.
Blessed sufferer, do you not see the lesson for your own heart? You belong to God. He has placed His will as a hedge around you. This suffering which has come to you has come through His will, by His permission. It could not have touched you otherwise. And since we know He does all things well and for our good and His glory, you may be sure this thing is for a good reason.
Remember, God doesn't enjoy seeing you suffer any more than you enjoy suffering. Of Him it was said: "In all their afflictions He was afflicted." What touches us, touches Him also. How do we feel when a loved-one is suffering? God feels the same for us, only more so. He shall bring this suffering to an end as soon as its purpose is fulfilled. He shall not allow it to continue one moment longer than is necessary.
May we, who are called upon to suffer in some degree, learn to concentrate not so much on the fact that we are sufferers, but that we are indeed BLESSED sufferers, who have been "blessed . . . with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ."
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