Editorial
FROM ONE PREACHER TO ANOTHER
If I were asked to give just one bit of advice to my fellow ministers, it would have to be this: MAKE MUCH OF CHRIST! No matter who your audience, whether sinners or saints; no matter what your text, whether in the New Testament or Old: make much of Christ. Let HIM be magnified in all your preaching. Give HIM the preeminence in every message.
It is this kind of preaching that will cause the hearts of your hearers to burn within them, while you open to them the Scriptures and expound unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself (Luke 24:32,27). It is the preaching of this message of God's grace in Christ that will cause God's people to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (II Peter 3:18). It is the beholding of the glory of the LORD on the pages of Holy Writ that will change the unveiled beholder into the same image, by the Spirit of the Lord (II Corinthians 3:18).
This is what Paul preached, and Peter, and all the Apostles. This is what "turned the world upside down" in their day. It is needed today. There are many tongues, declaring many things, but let the fundamentalist be found declaring one message -- the message that will change the sinner's heart and transform the Christian's life -- even Jesus Christ. Those who honor the Son, are those whom the Father will honor. The Father is well pleased with His only begotten Son, and well pleased with those who exalt Him. The Holy Spirit was sent to glorify Him, to take of the things of Christ and to show them unto us, which He will do through the minister who makes much of Christ.
So I would say to you, my preacher friend, make much of Christ! Take nothing away from Him, nor the Biblical account concerning Him. Give Him full credit for everything He claims to be, and for everything the Bible says of Him. The whole Bible might rightly be entitled: The Revelation of Jesus Christ.
You are not truly or fully preaching the Word of God unless you are portraying in some way from your text the Living Word -- Jesus Christ Himself. Paul said, "For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." (I Corinthians 2:2). May this be our determination. Then our speech and preaching will not be "with enticing (or persuasive) words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power," and the faith of our people will " not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God" (I Corinthians 2:4,5).
As preachers we would all do well to stop and ask ourselves the question: Have I really been giving Christ the preeminence in my preaching?
God help us to make much of Christ!
-- a.e.g.
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"We have redemption through Christ's blood,
the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace."
Ephesians 1:7
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TRIALS
"We must through much tribulation
enter into the kingdom of God." -- Acts 14:22
God's people have their trials. It was never designed by God, when He chose His people, that they should be an untried people. They were chosen in the furnace of affliction; they were never chosen to worldly peace and earthly joy. Freedom from sickness and the pains of mortality was never promised them, but when their Lord drew up the charter of privileges, He included chastisements amongst the things to which they should inevitably be heirs.
Trials are a part of our lot; they were predestined for us in God's solemn decrees, and bequeathed us in Christ's last legacy. So surely as the stars are fashioned by His hands, and their orbits fixed by Him, so surely are our trials allotted to us: He has ordained their season and their place, their intensity and the effect they shall have upon us. Good men must never expect to escape troubles; if they do, they will be disappointed, for none of their predecessors have been without them.
Mark the patience of Job; remember Abraham, for he had his trials, and by his faith under them, he became the "Father of the faithful." Note well the biographies of all the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs, and you shall discover none of those whom God made vessels of mercy, who were not made to pass through the fire of affliction. It is ordained of old that the cross of trouble should be engraven on every vessel of mercy, as the royal mark whereby the King's vessels of honour are distinguished.
But although tribulation is thus the path of God's children, they have the comfort of knowing that their Master has traversed it before them; they have His presence and sympathy to cheer them, His grace to support them, and His example to teach them how to endure; and when they reach "the kingdom," it will more than make amends for the "much tribulation" through which they passed to enter it.
-- Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
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Seventh in a Series
HIS INCARNATION
God became incarnate in Christ in order that He might provide for us an everlasting revelation of Himself in visible human form.
During the days of His flesh, Christ said of Himself, "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father." What did He mean? He meant that He was God revealing Himself to us in visible human form.
But it didn't end there. There was more to the story. It was not just for this brief moment that He united Himself with our humanity, only to abandon it forever when He died. On the contrary, by the resurrection of His uncorrupted body, and its subsequent glorification, the incarnation of our Lord became an everlasting fact.
The stamp of eternity is upon the body born of the virgin, on the hands which were pierced for us, and upon the brow which wore the crown of thorns.
Writing about Him some thirty years after His ascension, Paul declares that He "IS (not merely was) the image of the invisible God."
And lest there should be any remnant of doubt about the matter, we have one last and precious assurance from the lips of the glorified Lord Himself. (It is recorded in Revelation 22:16).
At this point the visions of Patmos are ended. The burden of revelation is completed. The final Book of Holy Scripture has been written. And now the divine Author Himself is about to authenticate the Book with His own name.
Have you ever noticed how He signs Himself? Out of all that glittering array of names which are His by right, He does not choose "Jehovah," nor "the Logos," nor "Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, or Father of Eternity." Not even "the Christos." "I JESUS," He signs himself.
"I JESUS" -- how infinitely gracious!
It is as if, in this final historic word from heaven, He would leave for us who believe, one last and unspeakable precious reminder of His incarnation, lest we forget that the great God with whom we have to do is also JESUS, "the root and offspring of David," flesh of our flesh, and bone of our bone.
It is true: "No man hath seen God at any time, that is, as Spirit. But He has revealed Himself as Christ in human form. Which form He retains forever. And it is for us that He humbled Himself. And for us that He reigns above. May we like Thomas fall at Jesus' feet and confess, "My Lord and my God."
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THINGS DON'T JUST HAPPEN
Things don't just happen to us who love God,
They're planned by His own dear hand.
Then moulded and shaped, and timed by His clock,
Things don't just happen, They're planned.
We don't just guess on the issues of life,
We Christians just rest in our Lord.
We are directed by His Sovereign will,
In the light of His Holy Word.
We who love Jesus are walking by faith,
Not seeing one step that's ahead.
Not doubting one moment what our lot might be.
But looking to Jesus, instead.
We praise our dear Saviour for loving us so,
For planning each care of our life.
Then giving us faith to trust Him for all,
The blessings, as well as the strife.
Things don't just happen to us who love God,
To us that have taken our stand,
No matter the lot, the course, or the price,
Things don't just happen, they're planned.
-- Esther L. Fields
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FROM HOLLYWOOD to CALVARY to CORRESPONDENCE UNLIMITED.
By Vivian Beers
As a young girl of thirteen, I wanted to know what life was all about. How could I invest my life and get the greatest interest? I recall how I studied the writings of Robert Ingersol. He was an atheist who eliminated God and spiritual values from his life. Why should I worry about God, the Bible and eternity? Why not just live for the present as the Epicurians did and try to squeeze the juice of pleasure out of the world and forget the future?
My first job was that of an usher in a theater where I had opportunity to watch actors and actresses who appeared on the silver screen. "This is life," I said. "I will let nothing stop me from becoming a movie star." Shortly thereafter I left for Los Angeles with Hollywood as my goal.
Never shall I forget the day Peggy Hamilton who was fashion editor of the Los Angeles Examiner, offered me a position as a model. As I appeared in her night club shows throughout southern California, I met and became acquainted with many of the leading personalities of Hollywood.
Then came the day when the Gavin Production Company, directed by John F. Gavin, offered me the leading part in the movie, AT THE TRAIL'S END. To me it was a new world. A world which required me to take part in wild parties and drinking. I denied myself nothing which I thought would give me pleasure. But the things of which I had said, "This is life," turned out to be only a mirage, a meaningless existence which not only failed to satisfy my desires but left in me a vacuum, a longing for something, I did not know what. My sinful life had blinded my eyes for things spiritual. I knew not how to pray and besides I knew nothing of a loving God who gave His Son to die for my sins.
One day when I felt I had really come to "the trail's end," my sister-in-law came storming into my room. "Last night," she declared, "I found that for which I have longed all my life." "A new vitamin?" I asked. "No," she continued. "It is something wonderful." "I have found peace with God. I learned that Christ died for my sins upon the Cross and I am forgiven. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God."
"Speak for yourself and don't preach to me," I interrupted. "I don't believe it. No one will ever make me believe that my mother was a sinner. You are just carried away on a wave of emotion." While I was very resentful, still I could not but realize that a great transformation had taken place in her life. She had a new peace, a new joy and a light in her soul that could not be explained away.
One day I decided that I would go and hear a Gospel message, but not in a church. An announcement in a local paper told of a meeting being held in a theater and I decided to attend. The theater would at least be less embarrassing to enter than a church. Parking my car outside the building, I waited until no one would see me and then hurried into the theater where the whole audience consisted of three persons. I cannot recall one word the minister said but I noticed the following Bible verse on the wall: "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever."
These words struck me like a thunderbolt and started me on the road to Calvary. I started to read the Bible which says, "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved" (Romans 10:9-10). Here the light broke forth in my darkened soul. Sin had separated me from a Holy God, but "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
I was unworthy and sinful but Christ came into the world to save sinners. There was nothing that I could do to merit or gain this spiritual treasure, eternal life. It is a gift of God. "The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Christ's invitation was so plain, "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." I received His gift by faith without trying to improve on my lost condition. In the words of an old hymn by Charlotte Elliot, I said:
"Just as I am, without one plea
But that thy blood was shed for me
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee
O Lamb of God, I come, I come."
I am so grateful that I have found in Christ complete peace, happiness and contentment. I have a risen Saviour who said, "I was dead, but behold I am alive forevermore and have the keys of death and of hell."
My life was changed completely when I met Christ, my outlook, my ambition and desires; and like the Apostle Paul at his conversion, I asked: "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" The answer to this is what I call Correspondence Unlimited.
Often when someone tries to do something for the Lord, they will meet with opposition and disappointment in different ways. I was no exception. First my husband, who also had been in show business and found the Lord at the time I did, died of cancer. I was stricken with multiple sclerosis, for which there is no cure. From a life of physical activity I was restricted to a wheel chair where I learned that "man's extremity is God's opportunity."
I started to correspond with shut-ins and individuals who had been bereaved and with men behind prison bars; but I did not want my efforts for the Lord to be limited to one country, so the correspondence spread to different parts of the world. It now reaches into forty-three countries. My letters made it plain that I was not interested in discussing religion but the Person of Jesus Christ, who loved them so much that He died for them.
Following are a few excerpts from letters received:
"I am not a Christian but am willing to be,
want to know more about Jesus."
"I am very happy you are a Christian.
I am not, but am ready to be one."
"I am sorry to tell you I am not a follower of any.
I hope I will be in the future.
I hope you will help me.
"I was so interested in your pamphlets.
We don't have anything like that in our country.
Please write me more."
From these testimonies which come in almost daily, you can understand the importance of this correspondence ministry.
Until recently I have been sending out with these letters my husband's tract. "From Wild Life to Eternal Life," which he had printed shortly before he passed away and which has gone into nearly every country in the world. Recently the Lord laid it upon my heart to have my own testimony printed, "From Hollywood to Calvary," and the pamphlet, "Correspondence Unlimited," to explain my ministry. My tract is now being translated and printed in Portuguese and made available to countries where that language is spoken.
I am so grateful to my Lord that in spite of my physical handicap, He has seen fit to use my frail and humble efforts and I am able to claim His promise found in Joel 2:25: "I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten."
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ALL THINGS -- FOR GOOD
Good things are not always good. Bad things are not always bad. The things we believe we need and want, may or may not be best for us.
All this, you say, sounds rather confusing. Who is to decide what is good for us and what we should have?
I remember once hearing a frail little girl tell her parents that all she wanted for dinner was chocolate candy. Her wise mother explained to the child that candy would not help her grow up to be a strong young lady. The confused but trusting girl sat down to eat the nourishing food prepared for her.
Now God, of Whom we sing:
No earthly father loves like Thee
No mother, half so mild,
is the One who determines what is best for us. This will help us to understand Romans 8:28: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God . . . "
Every person who accepts the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour, who loves and trusts Him, can be assured that everything that is permitted to come in his life is the result of a careful decision of a loving Father in heaven. This all-wise Father wouldn't think of giving a frail child candy for dinner. But He will carefully and thoughtfully give such things that will be most helpful.
God may in His wisdom and tender care allow some illness to come to His child of faith. Recently I heard a woman whisper. "At first I didn't understand why this illness came to me, but it has brought me closer to Him, and I am beginning to realize the good there is in this bad experience."
The good contained in the plan of our heavenly Father is revealed in the prayer of Jesus, when He prays: "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory" (John 17:24). Doesn't this prospect ease the pain and discomfort we must endure for a short time?
(From a tract by Faith, Prayer, and Tract League, Grand Rapids, MI)
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