EDITORIAL
ARE YOU SAVED?
If I should ask you this, what would be your answer? Many answer in this way: "Why, yes, I'm saved. I have always been active in my church, and I have always tried to be good; I think I have been a good neighbor, and good to my family. I've always paid my bills; I've never done anything really bad. Yes, I feel that I am saved."
But this does not answer the question. The Bible nowhere hints that salvation comes to us as a result of being active in church or of being good and not being bad. Salvation is not obtained by anything we are or anything we can do. It wholly depends upon what Christ is and what He has done for us.
The jailer at Philippi asked Paul, "What must I do to be saved?" When a person becomes anxious about his soul, immediately he wants to know what he must DO. The fact is, we can do nothing. What needed to be done, has BEEN done by Christ on the cross. Christ died for our sins, was buried to carry them away, arose for our justification, and ascended on high to appear before God on our behalf.
So Paul told the jailer, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." "What must I DO . . . ?" Do nothing, just believe in what Christ has done. Believe on Christ, trust in Him, rely upon Him for your salvation.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." Salvation is God's free gift to you. It is His favor given without obligation on your part, except to believe and to receive it from Him. Christ purchased it with His own precious blood.
How do we receive a gift, a birthday gift, for instance? We just receive it. We wouldn't think of insulting the giver by saying we will DO something first to earn or merit it. No, we just thankfully receive it from him, and enjoy it. We must do the same with God's gift of salvation. "The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Let's not insult God's grace by asking, "What must I do?" but accept by faith what He has DONE.
If you have not done so before, why don't you bow your head now, just where you are, and tell God you are sorry that you have been trying in your own strength to obtain salvation; and tell Him that right now you receive His Son the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour; and then thank Him for providing and giving you eternal life through Christ.
Begin daily to search the Scriptures to find all the wonderful things God has done for you in Christ. You will find your life greatly changed and enriched.
May the Lord open your heart to give attention to this word of exhortation.
Sincerely,
Art Gordon, Editor
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THE LOVE OF GOD
"The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost
which is given unto us." Romans 5:5
THE HOLY SPIRIT is the gift of God to all who believe in Jesus Christ. One of the functions of this divine Person is to infuse us with "the love of God." This is Divine love, so must be divinely given; it is supernatural, so must be given supernaturally. If we would ever know this love of God, we shall only know it from God Himself. This kind is not known in or by the world. Only the one who is born from above, born of the Holy Spirit, and thus is a child of God, knows the love of God.
The love of God is manifested in at least three directions. God loves the world; God loves His children; God loves His Son. If the love of God dwells in us, it will express itself through us in these same directions. We too will love the lost, the brethren, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
HIS SON
That the Father loves His Son is very evident. During Jesus' earthly ministry, more than once a voice was heard from heaven saying, "This is my BELOVED Son, in whom I am well pleased." This could read, "This is my Son -- the Beloved," or "This is the Son of my love." Jesus was aware of this love and prayed thus with the Father, "Thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world." And he prayed for His disciples: "that the love wherewith thou (Father,) hast loved me may BE IN THEM." Yes, God the Father loves His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. His love "shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost" will proceed in the same direction. We too will love Him.
But love for Christ is, as we have said, supernaturally given; divinely imparted. We do not sit down one day and decide, "From now on I am going to love Jesus." Unless God gives us love for His Son, we shall never have it. But He does give it when we by faith receive His Son as our Saviour. At that moment the Holy Spirit enters our life and "the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts."
It is wonderful but unexplainable. Before we believe -- no desire for Christ; after we believe -- our heart goes out to Him with the strongest desire. One moment we do not especially love Him; the next moment we love Him with all our heart. This cannot be explained apart from the miracle working of the Holy Spirit who has been sent to implant God's own love for His Son in us.
If you have experienced it, you know what I mean; if you haven't experienced this God-given love for Christ, you will never know unless and until you trust Christ as your Saviour.
HIS CHILDREN
The second direction "the love of God" takes is toward His children. And why not? When we believe in His Son, we are said to be "accepted in the Beloved." He is pleased with His Son, and with all others who find pleasure in His Son. As Christ is the special object of God's love, so are they who are "in Christ."
The world of people belong to God by right of creation; but we are His by right of redemption. Redeemed by the precious blood of Christ. Belonging to the Father and beloved by the Father for Jesus' sake.
"Beloved, now are we the children of God." Turn it around. "Children of God, now are we beloved." "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God." "Thou art greatly beloved." There is no place for pride here. Every redeemed one knows there is nothing in him that God should desire him. We are beloved for Christ's sake. His love to us is not of merit but of mercy. In grace He loved us and drew us to Himself.
"Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another." "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar." "How dwelleth the love of God in him?" I didn't say this, God did! "And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also."
We are supernaturally endowed to obey this command. "The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost." God loves His children. We have His love in us. Therefore we should love our brethren. God's love begets love. His love in us will go out to others of like precious faith. That love will strike a responsive cord in the brethren and return to us. It will produce a harmony of praise to God our Saviour and Lord. And our love will together find its ultimate object Christ the Lord.
If you lack this love for the brethren in Christ, then it would be well to examine yourself to see whether you are in the faith or not. For God says, "He that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?"
THE WORLD
The third direction "the love of God" takes is toward the world. "For God so loved the world . . . " God loves the world of men and women He has made. He doesn't love their sin; but He does love them. God "SO loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son . . . " He gave the dearest possession He had -- the Son of His love. He could show in no other and no better way His love for His sinning creatures.
"In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him." "He loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation (acceptable sacrifice) for our sins." Do you doubt that God loves you? Then look at Mount Calvary. See three crosses there. It's a Roman crucifixion. On the middle cross hangs the beloved and holy Son of God. He is dying there in agony for sin; not His own, but yours. Did you ever see such an expression of love? Has anyone else ever so given himself? A man may lay down his life for his friend. Who but God, however, would give His life for His enemies? "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us." "And you, that were sometimes alienated and enemies . . . yet now hath he reconciled."
This same love has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Do we love the lost? Do we love them enough to sacrifice our own interests and desires for them? God loves them thus. He gave Himself. Will we give ourselves for them? To see them saved from their sins and a Christless grave and hell? God in love made salvation for them; we in love must declare it to them. Christ died to give them forgiveness of sins and eternal life; we must die, if necessary, but certainly give our lives to tell them of this forgiveness and eternal life in Christ.
"God is love." He wants to be this in us. He wants to love through us. He would love Christ, the brethren, and the world of lost souls through us. May we be willing and yielded channels of His love.
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ABSENT FROM -- PRESENT WITH
By M.R. DeHaan, M.D.
For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
Philippians 1:23,24
HAVE YOU EVER been in such deep distress, disappointment and sorrow that you wished you could die and be with the Lord? This is not always a sign of cowardice or giving up, but may be the result of calmly weighing the experiences of this life with the glories of the life beyond.
Such was Paul's desire. He was in prison in Rome, cut off from his friends. He must have been lonely and certainly uncomfortable. In this condition he would have chosen to go Home with the Lord rather than remain; but he realized his work was not done and so he says, "Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you."
Do you fear death? There is no use denying the fact that death is an enemy -- but he is a defeated enemy. Until we are saved, death holds out no glimmer of hope; but after we are saved, death becomes a door which closes upon our earthly life and opens into eternal glory.
Years ago I read of a dear old saint of God crossing the Atlantic to visit her daughter Martha in New York. A terrible storm arose which threatened to sink the ship. The captain, trying to quiet the passengers, came by the cabin of the old saint and heard singing instead of moaning. Thinking her mad with fear, he said, "Madam, do you know our ship may sink at any moment? How can you sing?"
She replied, "I have two daughters -- one, Martha, lives in New York; the other, Mary, lives in Heaven, where she went fifteen years ago when death took her. If the ship does not sink, I'll be with Martha in the morning; and if it does sink, I'll be with Mary in Glory; either way it will be a happy meeting!"
Would you have the same confidence if this were your last hour?
(From OUR DAILY BREAD, Radio Bible Class, P.O. Box 22, Grand Rapids, MI. Copyright 1963. Reprinted by permission.)
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WHY ARE WE AFFLICTED?
By Herbert L. Roush
LET US in this message endeavor to answer the perplexing question asked so often by the soul in trouble: "Why are we afflicted?"
First, we are afflicted THAT GOD MIGHT USE US FOR HIS GLORY. "(God) comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God" (II Corinthians 1:4).
Paul teaches this in II Corinthians 1:3-7. Note in verse six that his own afflictions were that he might be used of the Lord to comfort the Corinthians in their trouble.
How often have we murmured under trial only to see later the preparation of the Lord of our own heart that we might be His minister of comfort in an hour of need in the life of another. Afflictions, therefore, many times are the advance token of God that we are being prepared for a special ministry of comfort to others.
This is an infallible principle seen throughout the Word of God. All that would be used of God in the hands of Jesus to meet the needs of a hungry multitude must first be made a blessing by Jesus. This involves being broken in His hands (Mark 6:41).
It was ever true in His own blessed life. Before He could speak peace to troubled hearts, it was necessary to show His wounded hands and side. The experiences of Gethsemane and Calvary's cross were the forerunner of His blessed ministry of comfort and peace to the people of God.
When will we learn that God needs no talented men, no eloquent men, no wise men, but broken men?
See it in the Scriptures, beloved. God indeed had an Aaron . . . eloquent, able, and competent, but only a Moses, broken at the burning bush at Horeb, made an abomination to the eyes of the Egyptians (Genesis 46:34), could properly comfort the crushed people of God who sorrowed at the brickkilns of Egypt.
God had in Job an influential, rich, esteemed, perfect servant; but God was never so blessed as He was by the man in ashes, who sat on the dung pile and cried, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him." Yes, God had in Job all that seemed necessary to bring glory to Himself, but it was Job afflicted, despised, broken, crushed above that he could bear, that revealed the Redeemer and brought assurance that He ever lived to make intercession for him (Job 19:25). It was Job broken, crushed and afflicted by the hand of God that has comforted the people of God for 3500 years with the same comfort wherewith he himself was comforted (II Corinthians 1:4).
God had in Saul of Tarsus an educated, cultured, eloquent, able man to use as He saw fit to glorify Himself; for, on Damascus road Saul offered himself without reserve in the surrender prayer, "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" But, beloved, it was not this man that shook the Roman world; it was Paul afflicted, made weak by a thorn in the flesh; Paul, made of contemptible speech and repulsive to all, that glorified in his afflictions and triumphed in Christ and said, " . . . I bear in by body the marks of the Lord Jesus." Paul had been delivered unto death for Jesus' sake."
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A SAFE COURSE
By J.H. Lewis
"PILOT," said a poor, nervous passenger, as the steamer was making her way up a rather dangerous river, "do you know where all the hidden rocks, quicksand, and dangerous places are in the river?" "No," was his hasty reply, "I do not! But I know where deep water is!" What comforting words to the timid one: "I know where deep water is!"
How often the Lord's people are pressed down beyond measure, because they are occupied with dangerous rocks and difficulties -- today's needs and tomorrow's cares! What will happen? How shall I get through? I am afraid to meet tomorrow, and suchlike, are the oft-repeated words.
Beloved fellow-Christian, leave the dangerous places and think of the deep water. "Keep yourselves in the love of God." Keep in its warm and blessed rays. Let it permeate your whole spiritual being. Those depths are truly "waters to swim in; a river that could not be passed over" (Ezekiel 47:5). There is no danger there. There the heart is kept in perfect peace.
(From THINGS CONCERNING HIMSELF; used by permission.)
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THE PERSPECTIVE OF PROVIDENCE
By Wilbur E. Nelson
IT IS ONE OF THE peculiarities of this writer that I tend to get my directions wrong and even, sometimes, completely reversed. Last summer, for example, our church had its General Conference in a beautiful place in Wisconsin. I spent several days there and was the victim of my usual confusion, so that the sun rose in the west and set in the east. I was astonished to learn that the Conference grounds were on the south of the highway, not the north.
But I have learned to live with this problem. I have learned to go by the facts, not the way things seem. In Grand Rapids, Michigan, in Oakland, California, in Green Lake, Wisconsin and many other places, I have learned to go by what I know, rather than how I feel. I know I am going north, even though it seems south.
The Apostle Paul used, and seemed to love, a word which fits my purpose here. That word is "reckon." Some of the richest things the Spirit of God ever moved him to say contain this word. He didn't use it in the sense that it s used in some areas, today, where, if a man says, "I reckon . . .," he means "I suppose," or "I would imagine." When Paul used it, the word reckon rang with certainty. As a navigator reckons his position and direction by the unwavering, unvarying stars, so Paul reckoned spiritual truth, not in vague surmises but with blessed, positive assurance. When he says, "I reckon," he is saying "I consider as fact." He draws his conclusion from his observation of the whole revelation of God to men. He determines his position by relating it to the whole vast galaxy of God's promises, provisions and providences. He refuses to settle for the myopic viewpoints of the natural man, taking the long view of faith.
Accepting this proper, accurate meaning of his word, "reckon," you will find delight in considering Romans 8:18, where the Apostle says,
"I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."
Now, the sufferings of this present time are very real and very painful to many of us. I have called upon sick people who have been on beds of pain for a period of years and I have come away filled with a feeling of such compassion and pity that I could not begin to express what I felt. Moreover, there are many who suffer, acutely and continually, with something which, though it may not put them to bed, hangs upon them like a great, heavy, dreadful weight. It is no great help -- sometimes it is silly impertinence -- to say to such people, "Well, be thankful it isn't worse," or, "Surely this fierce trial has some purpose in your life," or, even worse, "Don't add to your trouble by developing a bad point of view."
I cannot explain -- nor can I understand -- why certain people are frail, why great souls often must dwell in such pathetic bodies. I can find nothing in the reasonings of men adequately to answer the question. If I approach it with a philosophical viewpoint I find, when I have taken it apart and put it together again, that I have too many pieces left over.
But I know how to RECKON. I know how to look at the problem in the perspective of providence. I know, without a doubt, that the suffering, however fierce and unabating, is not worth comparing with the glory ahead. I reckon that it is extremes which give other extremes meaning, and the greater the trial here, the greater the triumph hereafter, if the trial is borne for Jesus' sake. And this is a thousand times better than an explanation. If I only understand that I have to suffer and why I have to suffer, it is of no comfort to me. It may only deepen my gloom and increase my resentment. But looking at the thing with such a divine declaration as this verse to guide me, I see brightness and glory ahead --
"For I reckon . . .
the sufferings . . .
not worthy to . . .
the glory."
(From the Grace Broadcaster, Huntington Park, California,
a radio message by Rev. Nelson, used by permission.)
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SERMON SERIES
Romans 8:28
No. 13
(SHADRACH, MESHACH, ABED-NEGO)
"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."
AMONG ALL THE talented youth of Babylon there were none so outstanding as the four Jewish youths, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. They excelled their fellows both mentally, physically, and spiritually. Therefore they acquired an honored place before the king and were appointed to high government posts.
NATIONAL SIN
But it was not this excellency of character that had brought the Israelites to Babylon. Almost a millennium before, God delivered this chosen nation out of Egyptian bondage. He led them through the wilderness into their new home Canaan. He said if they would obey Him and keep His commands He would bless them in the land. But if they disobeyed they would forfeit both the blessings and the land. Israel, as it proved, followed the latter course and were overrun by enemy nations several times, and were more than once deported, as in this instance to Babylon.
"Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord his God." "In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim . . . unto his hand."
Things went from bad to worse and most of the possessions and people of Israel were finally transported to Babylon. Neither was the nobility spared this humility. Among this nobility were promising young men. Nebuchadnezzar chose out certain of the better looking exiled youth to serve him personally. They were to be trained three years, after which they would stand before the king for his approval. He was greatly impressed by the four mentioned above and put them in places of great responsibility: "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon . . ., Daniel sat in the gate of the king."
PERSONAL CALAMITY
Everything went well for awhile, until Nebuchadnezzar struck on an idea for a state religion. He constructed an enormous statue and commanded all the people of his realm to bow down and worship it, under penalty of death. Those who refused would be burned alive. The Jews refused.
Certain officials came to the king and said, "There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up."
The king was furious and commanded the offenders to be brought. "Is it true . . . do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image?" demanded the king. "Now," continued the king without giving them a chance to reply, "If ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if you worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?"
"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king. We would not make any defense in this matter; for the God whom we serve is able to save us from the fire of the furnace and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But, whether He does or not, be it known to you, O king. We will not serve your gods, or worship the image which you have set up."
Needless to say this proud and godless monarch was furious with rage. He shouted a command for the furnace to be heated hotter than usual. He called for the strongest men in his army to tie up the insolent foreigners and to cast them without delay into the furnace. So, clothes and all, tied hand and foot, the three Hebrews were cast unceremoniously into the blazing inferno.
But an astonishing thing happened. Nebuchadnezzar sprang to his feet in wonderment and spoke excitedly to his advisers, "Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?" "True, O king," they replied. "Lo," returned the king, "I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God."
After this the young men were released from their fiery prison, their accusers were thrown in instead, the king was genuinely converted to the true God of heaven and earth, proclamation was made that no one should ever again speak a word against Jehovah, and the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in the province of Babylon.
Here again we see the principle of our text at work -- "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." Their enemies, and the enemy of their soul, thought evil against them, but God worked everything out for their good. This is exactly what God had promised before through Jeremiah the prophet: "I will acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place (Jerusalem) into the land of the Chaldeans FOR THEIR GOOD. For I will set mine eyes upon them for GOOD." Here was a case of God overruling national sin and personal calamity to bring about good.
OUR FURNACE
Beloved child of God, there is One who walks with you in the midst of your fiery trial. He is "touched with the feeling of our infirmities." Walking with Him, and He with us, we need not be "bound" by our troubles; yes, we might be imprisoned by them, but not bound. There is a difference. Paul says of his trials, "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed." "Though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." Some of you are imprisoned in bodies which refuse to yield to your will and you find yourself almost, if not altogether, immobile, but you who believe in Jesus and walk with Him day by day are not bound in spirit. Though in the fire, the three Hebrews were "loose" and "walking" about with the Son of God. This can be your experience too in the midst of your trial.
Be assured, the flames cannot "hurt" you. Oh, the body may indeed hurt, but as a child of God, this situation is not to your eternal hurt or harm. In fact He leads you into eternal consolation. Psalm 23 seems especially appropriate here.
"The Lord is my shepherd," says David. "He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." But notice where the paths of righteousness lead: "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death . . . " This is where Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, found themselves, in the valley of the shadow of death. But David avows, "I will fear no evil (harm)." Why? "For thou art with me." What is the happy result? "Surely GOODNESS and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and (in the end) I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
This Shepherd is none other than the blessed and holy Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus says, "I am the good shepherd . . . " Shall not the "good" Shepherd see to our good? "The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." Cannot we trust the One who gave so much for us? "My sheep hear my voice," says the good Shepherd, "and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish . . . " Beloved, this is the One who leads us down into the valley. We need fear no harm, for He is with us. Surely goodness and mercy shall accompany us all the way, and we shall at last dwell in His house forever. It is this good Shepherd who sees to it that "all things work together for good to them that love God."
LOOKING UNTO JESUS
What do you suppose the three Hebrews were looking at in the fiery furnace? Do you suppose they were looking at themselves or at the flames? I believe they had their eyes riveted on the other Person who walked with them. That was the secret of their victory. They were "looking unto Jesus." We don't see our own plight, we don't see the flames, "But we see Jesus." This was Peter's power to tread upon the storm tossed sea, but when he glanced away from Jesus he began to sink.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face;
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen . . . "
One final word -- "Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee . . . thou art mine . . . When thou walkest through the fire, thou shall not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God . . . thy Saviour. Since thou wast precious in my sight . . . I have loved thee . . . Fear not: for I am with thee."
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