2000_09

UPLOOK

NOVEMBER 2000

Generosity THE GRACE OF KINGS • Foster parenting • Ministering to the poor • Young men in the open air

EDITORIAL

THE GRACE OF KINGS Can it be true that I am as rich as God is? How else can we understand Ephesians 1:3?

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t is not always true that generosity is the grace of kings. It ought to be, but as Paul remarked to the Corinthians, it was the “deep poverty” of the Macedonian Christians coupled with “the abundance of their joy” that “abounded unto the riches of their liberality” (2 Cor. 8:2).

Of course, if the truth were known, those humble believers in Macedonia actually were kings. As am I! I’m so rich I’ve no idea how much I have. My Father is the most wealthy and the most generous Person in the universe (Rom. 8:32). And all of my brothers and sisters equally share in the bounty (Acts 20:32). We will never get to the end of it; we’ll never get over it.

Of course when I arrived on this planet almost fifty years ago, I did not even have a set of clothes to my name (1 Tim. 6:7). If others had not come to my aid, I would have perished.

As I grew, I came to discover how dismal my situation really was (Eph. 2:12). I was spiritually bankrupt with no way of diminishing the debt load (Lk. 7:42); in fact, my indebtedness grew every day. But then I heard about a fabulously wealthy prince (Rev. 1:5) who had taken pity on me and—I can hardly believe it still— died for me, impoverishing Himself in the process (2 Cor. 8:9). And in His will He left me everything He had (Heb. 9:15-16)! In fact, He made it possible for me to become a member of the royal family (Eph. 2:6).

One of the seeming misunderstandings among the members of heaven’s royalty at present is assuming that our inheritance cannot be accessed until we get Home.

It is true that your inheritance is “reserved in heaven for you” (1 Pet. 1:4). But we have already received “the earnest of our inheritance” (Eph. 1:14) which is hardly a small portion. It is, in fact, the Holy Spirit Himself!

Already we have dipped into the treasure troves labeled “the exceeding riches of His grace” (Eph. 2:7) and the “unsearchable riches of Christ” (Eph. 3:8).

What does this mean, practically? How can I live frugally and yet spend lavishly on others—“as having nothing, and yet possessing all things” (2 Cor. 6:10)?

My grandmother Nicholson was a wee Scots woman

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whose face shone with the reflected light of heaven. She never had much in this world. She looked after other people’s children, cleaned other people’s houses and washed other people’s clothes. But after I began preaching she would often squeeze a $5 bill into my hand.

“Aw, Grandma,” I would protest, “I have enough. You keep it.”

With a smile I can still see after many years, she would say, “Now, Son, I’m just investing in a little real estate in heaven.”

When we children were younger, Grandma often came over on a Friday night to give my folks a night out. Just before she tucked us in, we would kneel by the bedside. I can still remember one request she would pray for us: “May these children always have enough to be generous.”

Yes, we can afford to be generous. Why do we give away words of encouragement as if they cost a thousand dollars a piece? Would that there were more Barnabases among us who would be as spontaneous and reckless in dispensing their treasures as God has been generous with us. He is, after all, the God who loves a cheerful (Gk., hilarious—spontaneous, not with a bargaining spirit) giver.

So substantial are these unsearchable riches that Paul made it his life’s work to invite everyone he met to share the mother lode with him (Eph. 3:8-9). Your stake in heaven’s wealth is not diminished by giving it away.

In reality, dispensing it is the very way we come into the enjoyment of it.

Has your appreciation of heaven’s riches waned? Go show some of them to a new believer. You’ll be the beneficiary. You’ll catch their excitement in the discovery.

Go ahead. Take heaven’s challenge. Try to outgive God. No one has been able to do it yet. Nor will they ever, for He is “no man’s debtor.” Live like a king.

Spread the wealth. You have enough to be generous.

J. B. Nicholson Jr.

CONTENTS

UPLOOK Volume 67

November 2000

Number 9

Features YOUNG MEN IN THE OPEN AIR George Goodman

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ACCEPTED OR ACCEPTABLE? C. H. Mackintosh

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AUDIO-LIT MINISTRIES Warren Hagey

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FOSTER PARENTING Barbara Batts

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NO TIME TO QUIT David Dunlap

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THE DAY THE CHAINS FELL OFF George Sturm

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THE OTHER JOHN 3:16 H. P. Barker

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JOURNEY BACK INTO ETERNITY J. B. Nicholson, Jr.

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CATAPULT TO THE HIGHER LIFE John Bjorlie

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THE LIFE WITHIN Watchman Nee

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LOFTY, LOWLY, LOVELY F. C. Mogridge

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MINISTERING TO THE POOR C. F. Hogg

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KEEP ON KEEPING ON Jim Cormack

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IN THE SCHOOL OF GOD Lorraine Darwin

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THE DRAWING POWER OF THE CROSS John Duncan

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Departments EDITORIAL FRONT LINES WHAT’S GOING ON BOUQUET OF BLESSINGS Subscription Information: The Uplook magazine mailing list is maintained on a subscription basis. There is no charge for a subscription, however you must renew your subscription annually in order to continue receiving the magazine. An initial subscription is for six issues.

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UPLOOK Founded in 1927 as Look on the Fields, UPLOOK is published monthly except January and August by Uplook Ministries, 813 North Ave., N.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49503.

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www.uplook.org • NOVEMBER 2000

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E VA N G E L I S M 101

GEORGE GOODMAN

Young men in the open-air but do it right.

Do it, brother,

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n some respects young men have an advantage in open-air preaching over those who are older.

They are as a rule less cautious, and therefore more ready to take risks that the older would not take. They see visions where the older dream dreams. There is, moreover, a freshness of faith and a simplicity of utterance that has a peculiar charm. They are less conventional, and make mistakes in their early efforts which, though they may raise a smile, are often convincing in a certain way, for to see a young man so in earnest that he does not mind being a fool for Christ’s sake is a strong argument for the truth.

I have watched open-air meetings where young men have been taking part, and blessed God from my heart, not at what they were saying (for it was often doctrinally rather poor), but for the fearless enthusiasm for Christ and earnest desire for the salvation of others. Now these qualities are best seen in the openair. In a building where the audience is used to well-considered gospel addresses, such efforts often fail.

Many a young preacher is as bold as a lion in the open-air, and as shy as a maiden behind a pulpit—free in the one and awkward and constrained in the other. Each in his own sphere.

Obviously, then, the young men should be given scope in the openair. And they should be encouraged to make new ventures and devise new ways of reaching the people.

The ordinary street corner

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open-air meeting does not command the hearing it once did. It served the older men in their generation; it is for the younger to meet the demand of their days. But while all this is true, it needs qualification. If the younger are at an advantage in respect of their early love and youthful enthusiasm, they are not so wise nor so experienced in warfare as the veterans. They should therefore be guided as well as encouraged.

Here are some suggestions for young men who are serious about furthering the work of the gospel.

1. Sometimes proper behavior and decorum are lacking. To see a group of young people chatting and laughing among themselves while one of their number is attempting to preach gives the appearance of careless irresponsibility. Eyes are looking on critically and forming judgments from the conduct and behavior of the group. We should be conscious of the dignity of our service as witnesses for Christ. Stand reverently, join in the singing, pray for the brother preaching, and listen respectfully to what is being said.

2. Some young men in the openair are harsh and even offensive.

They seem to want to emulate Elijah and call down fire from heaven, or John the Baptist and denounce their hearers as a “generation of vipers.”

For example, a young girl was seen to smile—possibly quite justifiably—at the preacher. At once he turned on her with the threat: “You may laugh now, but you won’t laugh in hell.” Such conduct is inexcusable and should be sternly rebuked.

3. There seems to be with some young men the idea that one should not prepare for the open-air. Why not, it is difficult to say. If the speaker depends on the inspiration of the moment, he is usually left to the disorderly shouting of texts or uttering of platitudes, which give the impression to the hearers that he has nothing to say, but feels he has got to say something.The open-air speaker should go with a message from the Lord carefully prayed over, the result of exercise of heart and thought.

It was said of a well-known breezy Member of Parliament, that when he spoke in the House of Commons, he did not know what he was going to say when he began, while speaking he did not know what he was saying, and when he sat down he did not know what he had said. Of much I have heard at street corners this has been true.

4. The very first qualification for open-air work is the ability to get a hearing. If no one wants to listen, and those who do turn away feeling it is not worth listening to, then the speaker could do better by more prayer and thought.The conclusion

YOUNG MEN in the OPEN-AIR of the whole matter seems to me to be found in the word: “Let these also first be proved then let them [serve]” (1 Tim. 3:10), and “Let every man prove his own work.” For the honor of the Name is at stake as well as the welfare of the assembly. If anything is done in the open-air, let it be done well. Let the meeting be orderly, dignified, and reverently conducted. Let the leader see that what is done will not only commend the gospel, but commend itself to every man’s conscience as a serious and faithful effort to carry the Good News to men. Let the young men have opportunity and scope.

If they are showing the right spirit and have a message from the Lord, let them have every liberty for the exercise of their gift and outlet for their love and zeal. If, however, they fail in this, let them be restrained, but encouraged to do better. Many a great soul-winner made a poor beginning, so that more than one opportunity should be given.

The open-air is one of the best training grounds for a young speaker. He must learn to interest his hearers or else they disperse. He must be loving and gracious, and

not get angry because he sees a sneer of contempt or mockery on the face of an onlooker. He must keep his temper under control, and keep his head in emergencies, as when a drunken man assaults the meeting or an infidel shouts out taunts or objections. He must learn to speak to individuals courteously and faithfully as opportunity occurs. And, very importantly, he must know when to stop. All this is good training and is acquired by practice in the open-air.

Many of our open-air efforts have not been altogether a success lately. Possibly better ways of getting a hearing may be devised. In some cases, the evening gospel meeting has been held in the open-air, seats provided, and a regular service held. This has been attended with much success. In other cases, a bandstand has been rented and good-sized companies gathered, who find seats ready for them. At other places a tent has been erected on a vacant space with quite good numbers attending. In any case, let us not be content with failure but wait on the Lord and carefully consider and devise fresh means that will reach the masses.

ACCEPTED or ACCEPTABLE? “He hath made us ACCEPTED in the beloved “ (Eph. 1:6) “Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be [ACCEPTABLE to] Him” (2 Cor. 5:9)

hough rendered by the same word in our AV, these words “accepted” and “acceptable” are not the same. The former has respect to the person of the believer, the latter to his practices. It is one thing to be accepted; it is quite another to be acceptable.

The former is the fruit of God’s grace to us as sinners; the latter is the fruit of our earnest labor as saints, though, surely, it is only by grace we can do anything.

It is well that the Christian reader should understand this distinction. It will preserve him from legality on the one hand and laxity on the other. It remains unalterably true of all believers that God has made them accepted in the Beloved. Nothing can ever touch this. The very feeblest lamb in the flock stands accepted in a risen Christ.

The grace of God has placed them all on this high and blessed ground. We do not labor to be accepted. It is the fruit of God’s free grace. He found us all alike dead in trespasses and sins. We were morally dead—far off from God, hopeless, Godless, Christless—children of wrath, whether Jews or Gentiles. But Christ died for us, and God has co-quickened, co-raised and co-seated us in Christ, and made us accepted in Him (Eph. 1 & 2).

This is the inalienable, eternal standing of all, with-

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out exception, who believe in the Name of the Son of God. Christ, in His infinite grace, placed Himself judicially where we were morally, and, having put away our sins and perfectly satisfied, on our behalf, the claims of divine righteousness, God entered the scene and raised Him from the dead. With Him all His members were also raised, as seen in His own eternal purpose, and to be called in due time, and brought into the actual possession and enjoyment of the marvellous place of blessing and privilege, by the operation of the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, we may take up the opening words of the Epistle to the Ephesians, and say, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: having predestinated us into the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved.” All praise to His Name throughout the everlasting ages!

—C. H. MACINTOSH

www.uplook.org • NOVEMBER 2000

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FRONT LINES GOSPEL OUTREACH The saints at Grace Gospel Chapel in St. Petersburg, FL are having a week-long series of gospel meetings November 5-12. Billy Stevenson (relocating to FL) will be the Lord’s messenger. Please be in prayer for this work.

Jasper Scott: (727) 536-8820 TAVISTOCK FALL CONFERENCE Tavistock and Area Assemblies’ Fall Conference is scheduled DV for November 11, from 9:30 to 4:30.

Larry Price is to minister on Dispensationalism—How it affects the interpretation of the Word; and Gary Weeks on the Holiness of God. Meetings will be held at the Tavistock Mennonite Church in the village of Tavistock, ON. Contact: Mike Bastiaansen (519) 475-4528 WORD ALIVE SOUTHEAST The Christians at Lakeside Bible Chapel, Lincolnton, GA, and Washington Chapel, Washington, GA, are hosting a series of monthly intensive Bible studies.

The goal is to equip the saints to do the work of the ministry. Those wishing to attend should be recommended by the elders of their local assembly as the course work will be designed with the most serious believer in mind.

December 2, 2000: AM Bible Study Methods Sam Thorpe, Jr. (GA) PM The Book of Daniel Mike Attwood (GA) All classes will be held at Washington Chapel (808 E. Robert Toombs Ave., Washington, GA) For more information, contact: Sam Thorpe at 706-359-6297 thorpes@g-net.net SINGLES RETREAT & CONF. Singles (21-40 something) are invited to a conference on the book

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of Philippians with Alan Parks at Seabrook Island (Charleston, SC) December 1–4. Contact: Skip or Kathy Elliott (843) 873-7083 FATHERS AND SONS Kingsley and Benjamin Baehr will be the speakers at the annual Father and Son Retreat to be held November 10, 11, and 12, 2000 at Camp Iroquoina in Hallstead, PA. Don’t miss an opportunity to spend a weekend away in the Endless Mountains of Pennsylvania with your sons. For information: John MacPherson (570) 967-2577 AUTUMN BIBLE CONFERENCE The Christians at Southside Bible Chapel in Lafayette, LA are pleased to announce their annual Autumn Bible Conference, November 11 and 12. Mr. Jack Spender, widely known church planter from Bethany, CT will minister the Word.

Meetings will be held November 11 at 3:00 and 7:30. Sunday services begin with the Lord’s Supper at 9:30, Sunday School at 10:15, and the Family Bible Hour at 11:15.

William Walker 103 Robert Dr. Lafayette, LA 70506 (337) 232-6577 CONFERENCE IN RAMSEUR Ramseur Gospel Chapel (Ramseur, NC) would like to announce their annual Fall Conference November 12-16. Randy Amos will be speaking on Church Truth. For information or directions: Mike Moody at 336-824-5525 or Jeff Buckles at 336-879-5695.

HOLIDAY CONFERENCE The saints at Holiday Gospel Assembly in Holiday, FL are happy to announce their annual Fall conference to be held on Friday, November

17 from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM and Saturday, November 18 from 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM. The theme of the conference will be: “We Beheld His Glory.” Speakers expected are: J. Boyd Nicholson (ON) and James Harvey (FL). Refreshments will be provided Friday evening and lunch will be served on Saturday at 12:00 noon. The assembly is located on Grand Boulevard one mile from US 19. Contact: Lee Cappiello, 7416 Royal Crescent Ct., Port Richey, FL 34668. Phone: (727) 845-4572 WORD ALIVE WEEKENDS These are ministry intensive weekends designed for Christians of all ages who want to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ through the in-depth study of His Word. Each weekend includes a Friday evening Word Alive Rally (especially for youth); and allSaturday Word Alive Seminar (one Bible book or topic per seminar); and ministry at the host assembly's Sunday meetings.

The dates and speakers for 2000/2001 season are: November 24-26 Gary Weeks (ON) January 26-28 Joe Mikhael (ON) February 23-25 Joe Reese (ON) Mar. 30-Apr 1 J B Nicholson (MI) Ron Hampton: 874 London St., Winnipeg, MB R2K 3P7 (204) 669-6026 or (204) 663-9628 WordAlive@attcanada.ca SKIING IN THE SMOKIES Young people (and the young at heart) are invited to the third annual Skiing in the Smokies weekend retreat scheduled January 12-15, 2001 at Camp Living Water in Bryson City, NC. You will appreciate the Bible teaching of speakers Rex Trogdon (NC) and Ken Additon (FL) along with a great time of fellowship. Skiing the mile-high (5400')

Front Lines Cataloochee Ski Area will offer plenty of outdoor adventure, too!

Call or write for further information.

Camp Living Water 1510 W Deep Creek Rd Bryson City, NC 28713 828-488-6012 dclw@juno.com BIBLE STUDIES IN FLORIDA Recently a Bible study has been started on Thursday evenings in Zephyrhills, FL with 10-12 attending. Presently there is no assembly in Zephyrhills, but it is the prayer of those in this area that the Lord may use it to form an assembly. If you live in the area or winter here, please join us and encourage this effort. For more information, please contact: David Dunlap (813)-996-1053 d.dunlap@juno.com Les Crumpler (813) 780-9540 PROPHECY STUDY TOUR Join Randy Amos for an exciting 10-day prophecy study tour of Israel—the land of the Bible.

Included will be visits to: Joppa, Jericho, Caesarea, Capernaum, Mt. Carmel and the Galilee region. Five days are planned for Jerusalem alone visiting the Temple Mount, Gethsemane, the Mount of Olives, the Garden Tomb and other thrilling sites from the Scriptures. For those who are interested, there will be an opportunity to extend the trip with a two-day tour of Cairo, Egypt to visit the Sphynx, the Pyramids, the Cairo Museum, and more. Learn about the biblical history of significant places in Israel and their future in prophecy.

The dates for this Bible Lands study tour (including optional Egypt extension) will be March 25-April 5, 2001. Host: Charles Myers.

Mark Kolchin P.O. Box 305 Lanoka Harbor, NJ 08734 mkolchin@juno.com

TEACH & TESTIFY TEAMS 2001 TnT Teams is a short-term missions opportunity for believers to evangelize and serve the Lord Jesus Christ in the Republic of Ireland. It is an authentic cross-cultural missions exposure that doesn’t require having to learn another language to be effective. After orientation and training, the team member is involved in a concentrated program of evangelism and ministering to Irish assemblies and believers. For believers 18 years and older.

Dates: May 28–June 21, 2001 For more detailed information on the 24-day program including costs, contact Ron Hampton: 874 London St. Winnipeg, MB R2K 3P7 Phone (204) 669-6026 or (204) 663-9628 COMMENDATION Michael Campo The saints and elders at Oak Forest Bible Chapel (IL) have commended Michael Campo to the work of itinerant preaching and church planting. He looks forward to starting evangelistic Bible studies as the Lord leads.

Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Warner The believers at the Gospel Chapel in Nashville, TN commend to the full-time work of the Lord Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Warner.

Pat serves as an elder and Bible teacher, as well as heading up the Emmaus prison ministry for the assembly. He serves on the board of directors for Horton Haven Camp and is the director of the Nashville Child Evangelism Fellowship.

Myrtle serves very faithfully with her husband, especially with her gift of hospitality.

Dr. Suresh Samudre The saints who gather in the

name of the Lord Jesus Christ at Tidewater Gospel Meeting (Norfolk, VA) commend brother Samudre to the work of the gospel in India. They have supported him in this work with prayers and financial gifts over the past several years and have rejoiced to learn of the Lord’s great blessing on his ministry in India.

PROJECT BARNABAS REPORT The Project Barnabas prayer program at Camp Iroquoina asks individuals to commit to pray for someone at camp for a week or more.

“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (Jas. 5:16) is the theme verse, and we believe that certainly was true this summer. More than 240 individuals participated in Project Barnabas, and the program was announced in about 17 assemblies. Over 1000 letters and emails were sent to our prayer partners. The fewest number of people praying for a week was 90, and the most we had was 158. In all but one week multiple people were assigned to pray for each person at camp.

One Family Camp director credited Project Barnabas for how smooth-running and problem-free his weeks of camp were. Also, one older woman who lost her husband recently volunteered to pray for a couple weeks and was overjoyed to hear how a camper she was praying for made a profession of faith.

We look forward to continuing this program as an integral part of our summer camp program.

Benjamin Baehr (717) 967-2577 benbaehr@juno.com.

HOMECALLS (reports will be in Dec. Uplook) Ray Blais from Rochester, NY was called home on September 22.

Liddon Sherridan of Birmingham, AL went home on October 12.

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SPECIAL REPORT

WARREN HAGEY

Audio-Lit Ministries The North American Spanish-speaking population—a white harvest.

“F

or from you sounded out the word of the Lord…”

(1 Thess. 1:8).

A few months ago I had the pleasure of visiting Mariano and Pearl Gonzalez at their home in Lombard, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago). This couple, along with about half a dozen volunteers, run an extensive ministry to the Spanish-speaking world quite literally out of their basement. They are involved in the distribution of audio recordings and printed literature both for believers and for the lost.

Audio-Lit Ministries has been in existence for about 30 years. The audio side of the work includes the radio program “En Esto Pensad” (“Think on These Things”), a Chicago area telephone ministry (“Telefuerza Diaria”), and the distribution of cassettes (“K-setinas Angel”). The literature they produce includes a quarterly newsletter (“Ahimaaz”), tracts, magazine articles, and a list of Spanish resources.

The heart of the ministry is the 15-minute gospel radio program “Think on These Things.” This program is written and produced by Mariano at Studio Shalom (in the Gonzalez’ basement). It is currently being broadcast over 1800 times a week from 225 radio stations in 22 countries. These broadcasts cover Latin America and also include Spain, Equatorial Guinea in Africa, Australia, and even Sweden. This is truly a worldwide ministry.

When an interested individual or radio station has available broadcast time, they can contact Audio-Lit to

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establish a new broadcast. All the broadcasting costs are funded either by local believers or radio stations which are willing to air the program.

Audio-Lit Ministries does not buy radio time, and since the work is done from the Gonzalez’ basement, operating costs are kept to a minimum. Some stations broadcast the program up to three times a day, while others air it only once a week, with Audio-Lit supplying tapes as needed.

Cassette distribution is also an important part of the ministry. Used cassettes which have been donated to the ministry are erased and rerecorded with Bible messages in Spanish and then sent to Bible teachers, elders, missionaries, and any others who can use them. Some 32,000 such cassettes have gone out during the past six years. This ministry allows the Word of God to reach places that may otherwise have no gospel witness.

Besides all this, there is the literature ministry. The quarterly newsletter (in English) informs supporters of the latest developments in the work, including encouraging letters received and prayer requests. They also produce Spanish gospel tracts and booklets teaching biblical doctrine,

which are widely distributed. There is also a constant stream of letters coming in from all over the world, and volunteers are kept busy replying to these and sending out materials to those who request them.

You can contact Audio-Lit Ministries at the following address: P. O. Box 371 Lombard, IL 60148 USA Fax: (630) 495-9671 E-mail: Josuecaleb@usa.net http://www.audiolit.net If you are in the Chicago area, call (773) 384-0775 to hear a short message from the Word of God in Spanish.

In a world of darkness, it is encouraging to know that God’s Word is still going forth and producing much fruit. Praise God for those who labor faithfully for Him.

BARBARA BATTS

GRACE at WORK

Foster parenting Have you considered making your home a temporary haven?

P

ure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world” (Jas. 1:27).

Have you ever been challenged, as a believer, to become actively involved in the life of an underprivileged or unwanted child? There is a tremendous need today for Christians to put reality to their faith by reaching out to some of the Lord’s youngest treasures who need special attention. Opening your home and caring for these young ones is certainly needful, but there are many other ways of helping in this ministry. I trust that in sharing some ideas and personal experiences the Lord might use them to stir your heart to pray more effectively and perhaps even serve Him in some part of this work.

For twenty years the Lord allowed my husband and me the wonderful privilege of caring for forty-three

babies. Many of these little ones came from home situations that made foster care necessary for their safety and well-being.

Such an experience for us began late one evening with a phone call from a Social Service caseworker.

She was trying to place toddler-age twin girls whose mother had been admitted to the hospital earlier in the day. There was no knowledge of the location of the father.

We were faced with a quick decision as far as checking on schedules and the needs of our family. In addition to serving the Lord at our local assembly, we were the parents of six children who were active in school programs and sports. As

much as we desired to help others, our family was our first responsibility. We immediately asked for wisdom and guidance from the Lord and He gave peace to our hearts.

We advised the caseworker that we would be able to take the girls and made the necessary arrangements for their transition.

When the girls arrived, they were accompanied by the caseworker and two older brothers. All the children were tired, hungry, and frightened after spending most of the day in the Social Services office. As we were taking the little girls from the car, one of the boys asked if he could stay with us also. I explained to him that he would be staying at another home since we didn’t have enough room for him. His eyes quickly filled with tears as he said, “Please let me stay, too. I promise I’ll be very good.” My heart ached as I watched them leave after assuring both boys that a loving family was waiting especially for them.

www.uplook.org • NOVEMBER 2000

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FOSTER PARENTING

Sleep came quickly to the little girls who had been left in our care as their tummies were filled and loving arms reached out to comfort them. My heart was reminded of Matthew 19:14: “But Jesus said, Suffer (allow) little children, and forbid them not, to come unto Me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” How precious children are to Him. Suppose these were your children or grandchildren facing an uncertain future with no one to help. There is a real opportunity for us to share the gospel with hurting families, especially children who are so receptive to God’s love. I believe this love can be communicated even to the youngest infant by singing to them or softly praying for them during those night feedings. Only eternity will reveal the effect our methods have had on these young lives.

Our ministry with newborn babies was truly an exciting and yet heart-rending work. We volunteered to help a private adoption agency who assisted unwed mothers with major decisions regarding the future of their babies. They offered help if the mother wanted to keep the baby, or they aided in finding a loving family to adopt the child if that was her choice. Abortion was not offered as an option.

We considered our efforts a wonderful labor of love, even though we heard some discouraging remarks occasionally. Some folks thought it would be impossible to really love an infant and give it away to strangers, while others questioned the wisdom of caring for newborns who were unable to make a decision for Christ.

Fortunately, the Lord Himself gives special grace and vision to those who open their hearts to serve Him in this way.

Many times we witnessed powerful answers to prayer while caring for these special babies. We always began

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praying when the baby was born for all who would have a part in deciding the child’s future.

The Lord miraculously answered prayer by intervening in the adoption of a beautiful baby girl born at Christmas, whom we named Noel. She was very small, but healthy and alert. She was in our home for six weeks before we were notified that she was to be adopted.

On the morning that Noel was to meet her new parents, our family prayed that they would be the Lord’s choice for her.

When we arrived at the agency, we were told that the new father was not sure Noel was the child for them since she was so small. He had been assured by the pediatrician who attended her since birth that she was healthy and now weighed eight pounds.

He was not satisfied and decided that he and his wife would wait for another child.

Everyone was appalled, including the nurses, but all agreed that Baby Noel was not meant for that couple. Our family knew that the Lord had answered our prayer!

A few days later, our precious little girl met her new family, who loved her unconditionally. Praise the Lord for His great love and protective care.

We know foster parenting is not for everyone. It is difficult to let go of a baby who has been dependent on you for all their needs during their first weeks of life.

We have shed many tears when one of our little ones has gone to spend their first night with their new family.

They are tears of joy, but the separation is painful.

There are various ways that God’s people can share in this blessed ministry: • Prayer is vital for everyone involved.

• Preparing a meal for a foster care family, running an errand, or baby-sitting are practical things we can do.

• Some might be led to help financially. Foster parents desire their babies to be dressed as nicely as other children and so providing a new outfit would give grandmothers a great opportunity to go baby shopping.

May the Lord use these feeble efforts to stir your hearts to minister to precious children who need to be shown the love of Christ.

“And He took them up in His arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them” (Mk. 10:16).

There are various ways we can share in this blessed ministry

DAVID DUNLAP

INTERVIEW

No time to quit Ed Harlow talks about the beginning of the Emmaus Correspondence School

H

e wrote the standard Bible knowledge entrance test for North American Bible schools; he pioneered simple commentaries for people learning English as a second language; he was co-founder of the largest Bible correspondence school in the world. He has a grasp of world missions like few living today. Do you know him?

DD: How did you prepare yourself as a young man for your later service for the Lord?

EH: I was working at the Canadian Post Office and met a man on the streetcar one day by the name of Ernie Tatham. He went to our assembly, but I didn’t know him very well; he was two or three years older than me. He had a stack of books under his arms so I asked him if he went to school. He said, Yes. I asked him which one and he said, “Toronto Bible College.”

I said, “Bible college? What’s that?” I didn’t know there was such a thing as a Bible college. I thought, “Here I am taking all my high school work at night—Latin, French, Geometry and all those sorts of things and there he was studying the Bible in a classroom atmosphere.

Wouldn’t that be wonderful!

The Bible college turned out to be only about a half a mile from where I was working at the Post Office. I had an old Model T Ford— an open-air taxi. It had automatic doors; every time you put on the brakes, the doors opened automatically. I toddled around one day, went in to the school, asked for an application, and filled it in. At the time I

was working from 2 in the afternoon until 10 at night so I could easily go to classes in the morning. It made a complete change in my life. In fact, after three-and-a-half months of systematic Bible study, I was ready to offer my services to the Lord.

I had an extra job on Saturdays “slinging groceries” at a supermarket. I remember the thought came to me one day while I was working there, “If the Lord ever wanted me, I’d be willing to go to the mission field.” That was about the year 1928.

So it was a blessing to me to study the Word of God like that. I also had other opportunities in the assembly with open-air preaching and Sunday School work.

Margaret Burritt. She was exercised about the mission field, too. And finally we got an understanding that we were both on our way to the mission field. If anything happened to either of us that we couldn’t go, then the engagement would be over. But it all worked out.

In the meantime, I went to university and graduated in 1934. We went out to the field in 1935.

DD: How did the Lord lead you from speaking to you in the grocery store to actually taking you to the foreign field in Africa?

EH: I began to ask myself, “What is the most needy field in the world?” I thought of Arabia. So I went down to the University of Toronto bookstore and bought an Arabic grammar book. I think I got up to about page four in that book— it’s a very difficult language to learn.

In the meantime, it occurred to me that it might be good to get some experience with a veteran missionary. So I got in touch with some missionaries at Nyunkunde, at that time in the Belgian Congo. I especially wrote to Mr. Gordon Searle, a godly missionary out there. He wrote back and encouraged me to think about coming to that field.

Then I became associated with the lady who became my wife,

DD: How long were you there in Africa before you returned to the States.

EH: We stayed for five-and-ahalf years during which time we had two children. The war was on. It was very difficult to get shipping at all, but finally a captain offered space for us on an around-the-world tour ship, leaving from Cape Town, South Africa. We had to travel by car to the southern part of Congo, then take a train to South Africa and then wait for the ship to arrive.

After a momentous journey we arrived in New York City in 1941.

DD: When you arrived home,

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NO TIME to QUIT did you have any idea of how the Lord would lead you in the future?

EH: It wasn’t too feasible to go back. After two or three months an outstanding Christian in Toronto, Allen Yuille, came down to see us. We had been in touch with him. He said in the course of the conversation, “Oh, by the way, we’re starting an evening Bible School at Central Hall in the fall and you’re one of the teachers. I said, “Oh.” And that was my introduction to that.

Ernie Tatham and John Smart were the Bible teachers and they wanted me to participate in that, too.

Then in the second year, 1942, we started the correspondence program. I could take you to the place at Guelph Conference Grounds where I was talking to brothers Tatham and Smart. We were there for the summer Bible School. I said, “We have to get together and talk about our classes for the fall.” It was August and we still didn’t know what we were going to teach.

I said, “Brethren, we’re never going to reach all the young people in the assemblies that we want to reach unless we have a correspondence course.

They said, “What’s that?”

I said, “You brethren prepare your notes for your lessons on a mimeograph sheet and I’ll prepare a test to go along with it. And then we’ll send it out to people that request it. When they finish all the tests successfully, we’ll give them a certificate.”

John Smart said, “That’s great! I’ll do mine.” He was on the New Testament.

Ernie Tatham couldn’t see it at first. It took him about two years to get caught up to us, and then he did it. But in the meantime, John Smart and I started. I was teaching Sunday School work: child study, pedagogy, and Sunday School administration.

DD: What kind of interest was there in the correspondence school as you began this?

EH: Well, there was plenty of interest. We soon had hundreds of students. We had to have a duplicating machine. We bought a second-hand one for about a hundred dollars—it was quite elegant. But when we were going to start the correspondence school we needed to have something a little bit better. So I called up Gestetner Duplicator, a very high-class British company, and they said there were only four left in Canada and when they’re gone there won’t be any more until the war is over. So I said, “Ok, send it up. We’ll take a look at it.” The price was two hundred dollars but they promised if we turned in the machine that we had just bought for a hundred dollars they would give us credit for that plus they’d give a 2% discount if we paid cash.

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It was a beautiful machine!

The very next day, we received a check in the mail from a totally unknown source in the United States including a gift for $75 from someone who had died that we’d never heard of before, and $25 from another source, an assembly, I believe. With the American exchange at the time, that came to $95.80. So I threw in the two dimes and, as cool as a cucumber, I said, “We decided to keep the machine.” The Lord blessed. And that was just the start of the thing because He kept supplying the needs right along.

DD: When did the courses go overseas?

EH: In 1947, Bill MacDonald joined us and we started a school in Chicago. The idea was to have a correspondence course for the unsaved. So he conceived a course called “What the Bible Teaches” and he invited the staff to each write a chapter. I wrote one on sin and the consequences. We put that out. It was to be sent without charge. I said to him, “Bill, you’ll never get unsaved people to buy a correspondence course.” So we sent it without charge.

Another major milestone occurred when Cyril Brooks in the Philippines said, “I’d like to use this in connection with my radio program. At the end of the question sheet, he added, “Give us a list of the names of your friends and their addresses, and we’ll send them a sample correspondence course.” Of course that multiplied the thing logarithmically. It spread like wildfire.

Then three students in Africa took English courses and we were kind of exercised about it. So my wife and I decided to take a two-year leave of absence from Emmaus Bible School and go to Africa to try to introduce these courses called “On the Field” at that time.

Gertrude was already there, working on translating the Bible. She found the time to translate “What the Bible Teaches” into Swahili. My job was to see if they could use the test because they weren’t used to tests in Africa. They were true and false questions. So I took the senior class and taught the lesson orally. Then I said, “Here are some questions on the lesson” and I showed them how to do it. They did quite well and I was convinced that the Africans could use and benefit from the courses. Since then millions have gone out to millions around the world. To God be the glory.

See the advertisement for Dr. Harlow’s new biography, NO TIME TO QUIT on page 25

W H AT ’ S G O I N G O N ?

TE BLE SI THE BI nder living u e r t do a s n st. Mos stia i i r r h h C C s n u lio in Jes , the 200 mil eir faith py of the Bible h t r o f he on wn co ous in t i o r r restricti o i t e c i h t v rs have to be en Doo p not even d has given us O . y a Go very d sa weapon e face e w s ch offer e i l t h t a w b e l t i sufa s spiritu ide our ew web v n o r a p s p a l h d’s o he ministry people t a portion of Go org r o f y a w ibleSite. unique d sisters B n e a h T s . r e w roth . ww fering b to them t s o c o tn Word a

HOME ALONE Twenty percent of children in the United States ages six to twelve are regularly left alone after school until their parents return home from work, according to an Urban Institute survey of parents. Researchers report that the trend towards leaving children without adult supervision cuts across income and racial lines. It is clearly a fact of life for millions of working families. —World Magazine COOL WELCOME From Europe’s hot spot to one of its coldest, 70 refugees from Kosovo have been repatriated to Iceland. The small, largely homogenous country of 275,000 people has established a reputation as a haven for the dispossessed from Europe. It has also accepted newcomers from Poland, members of mixed marriages from Croatia, and Vietnam.

The refugees are eligible for citizenship (after five years), free medical care, a financial grant, and a small, furnished home. They receive a year course in the Icelandic language, but children are encouraged to learn their native cultures. Those who choose citizenship, however,

must take an Icelandic name.

In the town of Dalvik, a Kosovar told the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, “In Kosovo our children were nervous, wild. No discipline. No schooling for months. Even here, when they see a uniform, they ask, ‘Are these policemen going to kill someone?’

But they are becoming happy again.

They enjoy school. Even though we are Muslims, we sometimes go to the local church. No problem. There is only one God.” —World Pulse LAOS UPDATE Christians in Laos continue to suffer persecution from a government crackdown on believers, and they cannot visit friends or travel freely because the secret police follow them everywhere. Some have been forced to recant their faith.

“Even when we are in our homes, they are trying to find something against us. If they see us traveling around anywhere, they will arrest us,” one believer said in Luang Prabang province.

Christians in Laos are usually arrested on the pretext of illegal activity rather than for their faith. A

church leader in Thailand says Christians in Laos are not out to overthrow the government or call for democracy or anything else. They are simple people seeking to worship Jesus and trying to make a living.

Meanwhile, a letter from a Christian in Laos says a committee of officials from the provincial, district, and village levels detained 12 Christians March 11 to April 10 and forced them to sign an affidavit recanting their faith. The believer wrote, “In our group 11 signed the statement. However, I did not agree to sign. In the end, all 11 in our group pleaded with me and I then signed as they did."

Officials told the believers that being a Christian is illegal because Christianity is a lying religion, it violates Laos custom, and the Bible teaches deception. They also accused Christians of being enemies of the state and warned them that it was a serious violation of the law if they did not sign forms recanting their faith. —M. Fischer, Compass Direct BIBLES IN MONGOLIA The Bible has become a bestseller in the country of Mongolia. The day after the first Mongolian Bible went on sale, all ten thousand copies were sold. A team of translators worked several years to produce a Bible that the Mongolian people could understand. The growth in Christianity is evident, as the Church in the formerly Communist country has grown from fewer than 50 people in 1991 to about ten thousand today. —MNN PERSECUTION IN INDONESIA The situation in Indonesia isn’t getting any better between Christians and Muslims in Ambon. Bombs and gunfire continue to wreak havoc on that area as Muslims have pledged to eradicate Christians from the island.

Pray for safety and wisdom during this time of violence there. —MNN

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BOUQUET

BE ENCOURAGED “God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have showed toward His name, in that ye have ministered to the saints.”

Hebrews 6:10 r. J. H. Jowett tells of the impact of one word of

D

encouragement in his life: When I stood at the crossways in my early life to choose my career, I decided become a lawyer. My father was making all of the necessary arrangements for my being articled in a solicitor’s office, but just as I was about to begin, an old Sunday School teacher of mine met me. I remember it perfectly.

He asked me what I was going to do with myself, and I told him I was going in to law. He quietly answered, “I always hoped and prayed you would go into the ministry.” That was a momentous word. It threw all my life into confusion. I went exploring down another road, and I met the great Companion, Christ. In reverence I obeyed His call to follow. At the end of thirty-five years, I have to say that I have never regretted my choice.

The whole armor of God is awkward equipment for an easy chair.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10 I gave my service but with heavy heart, And with it went but little love or trust: He was my Master, I must serve or die, And so I gave my service, for I must— This is the voice of Destiny.

It takes so little to make us sad, Just a slighting word or a doubting sneer, Just a scornful smile on some lips held dear; And our footsteps lag, though the goal seemed near, And we lose courage and hope we had— So little it takes to make us sad.

It takes so little to make us glad, Just a cheering clasp of a friendly hand, Just a word from one who can understand; And we finish the task we long had planned, And we lose the doubt and the fear we had— So little it takes to make us glad.

—I. G. Morris A story is told of a preacher who mourned over a backslider in his assembly who had once been a regular attender at the prayer meeting, but for months had not been seen by his brothers and sisters in Christ.

His voice, formerly heard so often in the prayer meeting, was missed. So the preacher went to his home one night after the meeting and found him sitting in front of an open fire.

The absentee, surprised, quickly placed another chair for his visitor and then waited to receive the expected rebuke. But not a word was said.

Taking his seat by the fire, he silently took the tongs and, lifting a glowing coal from the midst of its fellows, laid it by itself on the hearth. Remaining silent, he watch the blaze die out.

Then the absentee spoke, “You needn’t say a single word, brother. I’ll be there next Wednesday night.”

Then, o’er the dreary dullness of my soul There came the kindling ray of better thought: I owed my services to a loving God, And so I gave my service, for I ought— This is the voice of Duty.

As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 1 Peter 4:10

And lo! the Master made the service sweet, And, like a ray of glory from above, There came the knowledge that to serve was joy, And so I give my service, for I love— This is the voice of Devotion.

At the close of an address by D. L. Moody, a highlyeducated man said to him coldly, “Excuse me, but you made eleven mistakes in your grammar tonight.”

Mr. Moody replied, “I probably did. My early education was very faulty. But I am using all the grammar I know in the Master’s service. How about you?”

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GEORGE STURM

AUDIBLE WORSHIP

The day the chains fell off One short statement set him free from the fear of man.

T

he time was December of 1983. The place was the office of Jean Gibson at Fairhaven Bible Chapel in San Leandro, California. My wife Nancy and I were attending the Discipleship Intern Training Program that Jean and William MacDonald had organized. The program began in late August of 1983 and ran through May of 1984. Each “intern” (as we were called) was required to write out his personal goals for areas of spiritual growth. Four months or so had passed. It was now December and Mr. Gibson had asked me to come for a chat in his office in order to review my goals and evaluate my progress.

“Please sit down, George,” said Mr. Gibson. We exchanged a few minutes of cordial chit-chat, and then Jean began to review the goals that I had written out four months earlier. “I see that one of your goals was to ‘deepen your well’ in the Scriptures,” he commented. “Yes, you’re doing quite well academically,” he added. I gloated a bit in selfglory. After making a few more comments on other goals, he said, “I see another goal was that you wanted to become a ‘worshiper of God.’ That is a wonderful goal.”

Then as he leaned over his desk and looked directly into my eyes, he asked, “So George, tell me, how many times have you made a contribution in the Lord’s Supper since you have been here?”

It was like a spear going through my heart. The self-glory I had been basking in before suddenly evaporated. I felt that every eye of heaven

was upon me and that I was laid bare before the bar. I had no defense.

The facts were as clear as the air on a cold winter night. I had made only one contribution during the proceeding four months: I had timidly called out a song. Oh, yes, there were definite times when I had felt the leading of the Holy Spirit to pray or give a short meditation from the Scriptures, but…what would others think of me? Would I pray without making a mistake? What if I said something wrong? Surely, it wouldn’t be as good as Brother Smith’s contribution. The justifications were without end. I was totally consumed by the fear of man and love for self and effectively “chained to my chair” in silence.

What happened after Mr. Gibson asked me that question? It was one of those rare moments that perhaps should happen more often: I broke before God. In tears and with my head bowed in complete shame, I answered Mr. Gibson and said, “Once.” I then laid my head upon his desk and wept uncontrollably.

Jean obviously was a bit startled by the fact that his simple question had extracted such a reaction from me. However, perhaps recalling Proverbs 12:25, “Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad,” he rose from his chair, came around to me, comforted me with a few good words, and gave me a few tissues to wipe my eyes. He then put his arm around me and helped me up while saying, “Look, George, many young men have gone through what you’re going through. However, you must

get out of this bad rut that you are in. This Sunday at the Breaking of Bread, I want you to worship the Lord publically. If all you do is get up and say, ‘I love you, Lord,’ and then sit down, that’s alright. But you must make a contribution and break out of your rut.”

I quickly left his office and virtually ran home and fell on my bed. I was so ashamed of myself. My fear had paralyzed me. My love for self was stronger than my love for the Lord. I had failed the Lord. Yet I confessed it all to Him while asking Him for strength, and He heard me.

The next Sunday arrived very quickly. I was seated in the Lord’s Supper with love for my Lord in my heart. I was ready to worship. Yet, the old enemy was there as well, saying, “You have nothing to say.

You can’t pray as well as Mr. Smith…” However, about mid-way through the meeting there was a moment of silence. With a few drops of sweat on my brow, I arose from my chains, lifted up my heart and voice to the Lord, said five words, “Lord Jesus, I love You,” and sat down. I suspect Mr. Gibson, maybe even the angels in heaven, might have smiled a bit. But I believe the Lord was as well-pleased with those five words as He would have been with any five-minute meditation. A spiritual work was once and for all accomplished in my soul.

From that moment onward the fear of man at the Lord’s Supper was broken and put to death, and the truth of this verse became a reality in my soul: “For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power,

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The DAY the CHAINS FELL OFF and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7).

When was your last contribution at the Lord’s Supper? Perhaps there is a young man reading this article who is struggling with this very real and very common problem, and your answer is, “It has been a long time.” Dear brother, God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of power to overcome the fear of man. He has given you a spirit of love to overcome love for self so you can express your love for the Lord. He has given

you a sound mind to realize that you must break out of the chains as God helped me to do.

When was your last contribution? May we all be able to say, “This past week!”

George and Nancy Sturm are presently serving the Lord in Pogradec, Albania. They were commended from the Marne, MI, assembly in 1993. They have six children.

The OTHER John 3:16 ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ H. P. BARKER ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ What preacher does not delight to quote John 3:16? To what Christian are not its wonderful words familiar? Is it not the best known gospel text? Who can estimate the number that have been led to the Saviour by its message of love? But who stops to think that there is another John 3:16 in the Bible, a text not so familiar, nor so often quoted, but put on record for us by the Holy Spirit? The sixteenth verse of the third chapter of the Epistle of John is as much a part of the inspired Word as the sixteenth verse of the third chapter of John’s Gospel. Let us quote it: “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 Jn. 3:16).

The first thought presented in each text is the love of God. In the Gospel it is God’s love proved; in the Epistle it is His love perceived. The proof of love was the gift of His Son; we perceive that love in the length to which it went, even to laying down the life of the One who was sent.

The result of God’s gift, in the

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Gospel text, is that everlasting life is bestowed on all who believe. In the Epistle text the result is that he who believes is expected to become Christlike. He laid down His life for us; we ought to lay down our lives for those whom He loves. It cannot be too strongly emphasized that we are saved, not merely that we may be happy and have a sure hope of going to heaven, but that we may be Christlike men and women.

We are destined in the future to be conformed to His image (Rom. 8:29). It is an axiom of Scripture interpretation that what we are to be or do in the eternal future, we may go in for being or doing that very thing now. When, therefore, we are told that we are to be conformed to the likeness of Christ in a day to come, it is that we may aim in larger measure at such conformity now, even to the length of utter self-sacrifice.

While we glory in the full-orbed gospel message of the best-known John 3:16, let us not forget the teaching of the other John 3:16.

J. B. NICHOLSON, JR.

MIND STRETCHER

Journey back into eternity What was happening before time? You were in God’s mind, on His heart.

G

od’s wonderful Word actually begins before the beginning in Genesis 1:1. The Lord lets us in on the pre-planning that occurred in the divine counsels before time’s clock began ticking. He has “made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself” (Eph. 1:9). We are heaven’s intimates.

Matthew cites Psalm 78:2 and applies it to the parabolic ministry of the Lord: “That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world” (Mt. 13:35). In other words, the spoken ministry of Christ actually told out the confidences of the divine Persons, secrets kept in the heart of God through thousands of years of human history.

What was God doing before He made man? We dare not speculate where God is silent, but He has revealed ten statements regarding His pre-time activities. As such, “We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory” (1 Cor. 2:7).

The Lord pressed Job, “Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou

hast understanding…Who laid the corner stone thereof; when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?”

(Job 38:4, 6-7). Man is a relative latecomer to the process. When he arrived, the stage was already built on which the great drama of redemption would be played out.

The lights (with both bright and dim settings) had been positioned above, set against the velvet curtains of the heavens.

1. The central figure in the supreme love story of the ages had prepared His entry long before He came: “Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you” (1 Pet. 1:20). In order to accomplish this key part, He veiled His true identity as Writer of the script and came in the lowly garb of a carpenter from Nazareth.

2. Of His return to His former place of honor, He prayed: “And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was” (Jn. 17:5). While the Lord Jesus lived on this planet, His glory, though veiled, shone through. John wrote: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the

only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (Jn. 1:14). But this must be different from the glory of which the Son spoke in John 17. It is a glory unrevealed in time.

On His return to earth, He will “appear …in glory” (Col. 3:4) and we shall bask in that glory with Him. What a day that will be!

3. Before time, the main acts had already been written. The role of King had been given to the only One worthy to wear the diadem of the universe, and His kingdom was secured before ever an angel rejoiced or a demon raged in His august presence: “Then shall the King say…Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Mt. 25:34).

4. The deeply moving scene at the center of the plot was as good as done before the first star flamed through the night sky, for the Lord of life and glory is “…the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Rev. 13:8). Isn’t it comforting to know that God had the ultimate safety net in place long before sinful man needed it? He is not willing that any should perish.

5. Before any debt had accumulated against the human race, the Lord had calculated the mighty cost and by matchless grace agreed to pay it in full. “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began” (2 Tim. 1:9).

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JOURNEY BACK into ETERNITY 6. With what holy intimacy we listen in on the Saviour’s prayer to His Father, “Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me: for Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world” (Jn. 17:24). It is the only time the Lord Jesus expressed His own will. And what does He want?

You and me! With Him! In glory! Forever!

7. What shall we be doing there? Finding out the infinite reasons that the Father has loved the Son since before the world’s foundation. The Father will show us how to love the Son as He deserves. It has been the purpose of the Father all along to have a holy, blameless family in heaven, chosen in the Son to love the Son with Him: “According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love” (Eph. 1:4).

8. By His foreknowledge the divine Record-keeper has guaranteed safe passage for those who trust Him. There is not a shade of doubt concerning the eternal security of those who would receive God’s way of salvation. Known before time, the assurance of their journey through time and into eternity is sealed with the divine autograph. Every believer is included in the number of those whose names are “…written in the book of life from the foundation of the world…” (Rev. 17:8).

9. This life, eternal life, the very life of God, was a pre-temporal offer. “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began” (Titus 1:2). The Father knew what it would cost Him as the Great Planner in the giving of His only Son. The Son knew what it would cost Him as the Great Sacrifice in His descent “even to death on a cross.” And what has it cost the Holy Spirit as the Great Indweller, not only coming into a sinful world as Christ did, but into a sinning Church? He is the seal, the earnest, the guarantee that God will not give up on us, and will bring us safely to the land where our names are inscribed in heaven’s handwriting. We are as sure of being in heaven as those names which are already there.

10. But it is not only as individual believers that the Godhead in the divine counsels considered us before the foundations of the world. Paul declared his two-fold commission in these words: “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of

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the world hath been hid in God, who created all things

by Jesus Christ” (Eph. 3:8-9).

Gospel truth and Church truth were the two pillars of Paul’s ministry. And just as the gospel was prepared before time began, so the Church in general, and I in particular was not a second-best alternative after Israel “stumbled” (Rom. 11:11). And just as each individual is secure in the fact of our final destination “ever…with the Lord,” so the future of the Church is as certain as the eternal promise of God: “Now to Him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began” (Rom. 16:25).

These pre-time revelations are not recorded to satisfy our curiosity. They reveal to us three glorious truths: i) the meticulous nature of the divine plan; ii) the eternal greatness of divine love and grace; iii) the absolutely secure position of every believer.

Thus before human history there was eternal reality.

God’s eternity flows with all its gracious fullness into man’s time-world. David may well express our sentiments when he writes: “Many, O Lord my God, are Thy wonderful works which Thou hast done, and Thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto Thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered” (Ps 40:5).

But it wasn’t just the vast number of God’s eternal thoughtfulness that thrilled David. He also delighted in the intricacy and complexity of them: “O Lord, how great are Thy works! and Thy thoughts are very deep” (Ps. 92:5). Paul expands on the idea in Romans 11, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, And His ways past finding out!

For who hath known the mind of the Lord?

Or who hath been His counselor?

Or who hath first given to Him, And it shall be recompensed unto him again?

For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, Are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” (vv. 33-36) There was one thing more on David’s heart, and it is this that stirs us to join him in worshipping our God together: “How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God!” (Ps. 139:17).

JOHN A. BJORLIE

CURRENT TRENDS

Catapult to the higher life Three cautions before you take the ride.

F

rom that spot in the Lake District of central England, the lofty view looking down Derwentwater has made overcomers out of otherwise common men. For a victorious location, the town of Keswick was chosen for annual conventions that began in the 1870’s under the leadership of Robert Pearsall and Hannah Whitall Smith (author of The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life) and Hanmer William Webb-Peploe. Today what are called “identification” truths are a carryover of “deeper life” teaching, “victorious life” teaching, or “Keswick” teaching. In the 1870’s an annual conference at Keswick became a popular inter-denominational gathering place for men like F. B. Meyer, and Grattan Guinness. By teaching Romans 6, 7 & 8 as keys to a higher plain of spirituality, Christians saw the possibilities for personal holiness and victory over sin without falling

into the errors of perfectionism.

Watchman Nee in his books The Normal Christian Life and The Release of the Spirit gives prime examples of the best things taught in these conferences.

Hudson Taylor, C. I. Scofield, L. S. Chafer and other prominent preachers and Bible teachers have been stirred and moved by the Keswick movement. After World War II the Keswick emphasis took hold of American Fundamentalism under such men as W. Ian Thomas, Alan Redpath, and Stephen Olford.

George W. Dollar, in his book, A History of Fundamentalism in America (1973), gives a critique on page 191, Deeper Life conferences, stressing and preaching the victorious life and the Lordship of Christ, have been widely accepted. The movement has been very influential in such places

as Columbia Bible College in Columbia, South Carolina, Moody Church in Chicago, Calvary Baptist Church in New York, and Prairie Bible Institute in Three Hills, Alberta.

Many pastors and churches have resorted to this special brand of spiritual uplift, which offers unusual guidance in the life of the individual Christian. It is experience-centered, and that has a sparkling appeal to emotion hunters and frustrated believers. It is a ‘honey and sugar’ type of sanctification and as such has wide glamour in a day of spiritual breakdowns and tensions.

There are three cautions about the Keswick emphasis.

1. The emphasis on a two-class Christianity. This appears by amplifying the Carnal Christian idea as dealt with in 1 Corinthians 3. For instance, some Deeper Life teachers give the impression that in Romans 8 Paul is speaking about three people: the natural man (who is not converted), the carnal man (who walks after the flesh but is really an “unsurrendered” Christian), and the spiritual man (who walks after the Spirit and is a “surrendered” Christian). But when you read the first seventeen verses of Romans 8, are there really three kinds of people there, or only two? The plain reading of the text tells me there are two.

One is in the flesh and he walks after the flesh; the second is in the Spirit and he walks after the Spirit.

This distinction is important because there is a big difference between a stumbling Christian who is carnal, and a wicked person who

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CATAPULT to the HIGHER LIFE has never surrendered to Christ, and therefore has no evidences of new life. If we take a description of the man in the flesh, who walks in the flesh, and think that there Paul is speaking of true Christians, we are making a huge loophole that allows for empty professors of Christianity, who are wicked and unrepentant, to be thought of as genuine Christians.

2. The emphasis on the crisis. Growing out of the idea of two-class Christianity is the need for a mechanism to launch the hum-drum, low-level Christian to this higher life. Christians are not strangers to the dramatic experience. Not every conversion is an explosion of emotion, but some are, and throughout the Christian pilgrimage many have experienced crises. But is it the crisis we are seeking, or the Christ? A crisis there may be, but it is not a requirement for true spirituality.

3. The Keswick emphasis on being yielded. The slogan “Let go and let God” is pure Keswick thinking and Miles J. Stanford (author of The Green Papers) was forever telling people that it is wrongheaded to “strive” in the Christian life. But is biblical faith passive? Jesus

told His disciples to “strive to enter in at the narrow gate.” The writer of the Hebrews talks about how his hearers “have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.” James 2 speaks about two kinds of faith: one is a dead faith which has no works; the other is a living faith which is proven by works. We gather, then, that living faith is not passive, but active. As in Hebrews 11, faith actively does things. By faith Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice; Noah built an ark; Abraham offered Isaac; and Moses forsook Egypt. By faith people energetically “embraced” God’s promises all throughout that chapter. Paul speaks in Galatians about “faith working by love.” Contrary to brother Stanford’s persistent claims, faith in God is not passive.

On the plus side, the Keswick movement has taught us the words of Romans 6: know, reckon, yield. The Bible does not teach a self-improvement program for the flesh; rather, the work of Christ condemns the flesh.

The true way to victory over self and sin is not in improving our incurable sin-nature, but in replacing it, as is clearly taught in Galatians 2:20.

The life within

A good taste of ministry from Watchman Nee

T

he Lord Jesus tells us in John 12, “Except the grain of wheat falling into the ground die, it abides alone; but if it die, it bears much fruit.”

Life is in the grain of wheat, but there is a shell, a very hard shell on the outside. As long as that shell is not split open, the wheat cannot grow. “Except the grain of wheat falling into the ground die.”

What is this death? It is the cracking open of the shell through the working together of temperature, humidity, etc., in the soil. Once the shell is split open, the wheat begins to

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UPLOOK • NOVEMBER 2000

grow. So the question here is not whether there is life within, but whether the outside shell is cracked open.

The Scripture continues by saying, “He that loves his life shall lose it, and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal.” The Lord shows us here that the outer shell is our own life, (our soul life) while the life within is the eternal life which He has given to us. To allow the inner life to come forth, it is imperative that the outward life be lost.

Should the outward remain unbroken, the inward would

never be able to come forth.

It is vital that we be broken by the Lord. It is not that the life of the Lord cannot cover the earth, but rather that His life is imprisoned by us. It is not that the Lord cannot bless the Church, but that the Lord’s life is so confined within us that there is no flowing forth. If the outward man remains unbroken, we can never be a blessing to His Church, and we cannot expect the Word to be blessed by God through us.

—The Release of the Spirit, pp. 11-12

F. C. MOGRIDGE

IT’S A CLASSIC

Lofty, lowly, lovely His stooping to save was only exceeded by His glorious ascent.

L

et us bow in adoration as we meditate on the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, and whose Name is holy, dwelling in the high and holy place, whose “glory is set above the heavens” (Ps. 8:1), even our Lord Jesus Christ, “the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light, which no man can approach unto” (1 Tim. 6:1416).

THE LOFTY ONE (Isa. 57:15) In the year that King Uzziah died, Isaiah “saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphim…and one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory” (Isa. 6:1-3).

What was the effect of such a manifestation of the Lofty One, who was none other than our Lord? John tells us that Isaiah saw His glory, and spoke of Him (Jn. 12:41). Just as the “place was shaken where they were assembled” (Acts 4:31), so here “the posts of the door moved at the voice of Him that cried,” and the house was filled with smoke, probably incense. Isaiah makes his confession: “Woe is me” (after pronouncing six woes on others in the preceding chapter). Conviction of sin is followed by cleansing and the commissioning of Isaiah.

This was the sequel to a sight of “the King the Lord of hosts” (v. 5).

Would it not be well for us to continually behold “the glory of the Lord” (2 Cor. 3:18), and if we did, what a transformation would take place in our characters.

When the Apostle John turned to see his glorified Lord in the midst of the seven lamps (Rev. 1:13), so won-

He laid His glory in the dust to save the creatures which He had made from the dust.

derful was the sight that he writes: “When I saw Him I fell at His feet as dead” (Rev. 1:17). And Job’s testimony was: “Now mine eye seeth Thee I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:5-6).

O for a greater sense of the majesty of Him “who coverest Thyself with light as a garment, who walketh upon the wings of the wind” (Ps. 4:2-3), “who hath measured the

waters in the hollow of His hand, and meted out heaven with the span and comprehended the dust of the earth in a balance” (Isa. 40:12).

“To whom then will He liken Me, or shall I be equal, saith the Holy One,” and we reply, “There is none Holy as the Lord, for there is none beside Thee” (1 Sam. 2:2), and like Thomas we exclaim, “My Lord and my God” (Jn. 20:28).

THE LOWLY ONE (Mt. 11:29) The Lofty One became the Lowly One, for He who was “in the form of God took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the cross” (Phil. 1:6-8). What a stoop from the “form of God” to that of a Man, from the throne of majesty to that of the cross!

What a bottomless ocean for wonder, what at a mountainous height for worship.

How does He come into this world? By a village maiden, poor, and yet of the house of David (Lk. 1:27), for “when the fullness of the time was come God sent His Son, made of a woman” (Gal. 4:4), not to be born in a palace.

Wonder of wonders, “the Ancient of days” (Dan. 7:9) became the infant of days, was born in a stable and cradled in a manger.

He who hung this material world upon nothing is seen hanging upon his mother’s breast; for “the Word became flesh and tabernacled

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LOFTY, LOWLY, LOVELY among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (Jn. 1:14). Such was His lowliness in coming into this scene.

Later we read He “was subject” to His mother and Joseph. His first recorded utterance is, “Know ye not that I must be about My Father’s business?” (Lk. 2:49).

His food was to do the will of Him who sent Him, and to finish His work (Jn. 4:34). His ear was opened morning by morning to hear, consequently His words were not His own, “I have not spoken of Myself, but the Father which sent Me He gave Me a commandment what I should say and what I should speak” (Jn. 12:49).

As to His works, He said, “The works which the Father hath given Me to finish, the same work that I do bear witness of Me that the Father hath sent Me” (Jn.

ly One” and “the chiefest among ten thousand” (Song of Sol. 5:10). “A root out of a dry ground” (Isa. 53:2) to those “who perceived not” (Isa. 6:9), who “shut their eyes” (v. 10); but a “tender plant” growing up “before Him” (Isa. 53:2) of the most exquisite beauty and yielding perpetual perfume to the “husbandman” (Jn 15:1).

“The Lord God planted a garden” (Gen. 2:8), but no plant in Eden was so beautiful or fragrant. His cheeks were as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers; His lips like lilies dropping sweet smelling myrrh (Song of Sol. 5:13). “Yea, He is altogether lovely.”

“This is my Beloved and this is my Friend,” said the bride (v. 16). “As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my Beloved among the sons. I sat down under His shadow with great delight and His fruit was sweet to my taste” (Song of Sol. 2:3).

Christ possessed by faith here is young heaven and glory in the bud.

—SAMUEL RUTHERFORD

5:36). And again: “I do always those things that please Him.” Not only do we see God incarnate lying in a cradle, but also the great Commander of the hosts of heaven walking a path of absolute and unswerving obedience until He becomes “obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

Mark those beautiful feet as He wends His way through this world, scattering blessings among the sons of men, “going about doing good,” in the end to be “hated without a cause.”

The culminating point is reached in that lowly, lovely life when we see the Creator upon a cross, where He offered a propitiatory sacrifice, sufficient for the sin of the whole world, because of the infinite personality of the victim: “Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world” (Jn. 1:29).

Today He would say to us, “Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Mt. 11:29).

THE LOVELY ONE (Song of Sol. 5:16) The lofty and lowly One is also the “altogether love-

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The root and the plant became the fruit-bearing tree, and we sit down with great delight in the banqueting house and partake of the fruit of His toil with the Banner of Love over us and “the voice of our Beloved,” saying, “Eat, O friend.” We respond, “My beloved is mine, and I am His” (2:16), waiting for His further word, “Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away,” for the winter will soon be past for us, and everlasting flowers in the Summerland of love will be our eternal portion.

The Branch that grew out of the stem and root of Jesse (Isa. 11:1) was the carpenter’s Son of the house and lineage of David, who grew in favor with God and men, and as He grew He manifested the blossom of the most perfect humanity that the world has ever seen, or ever will see, “holy, harmless, undefiled,” without spot or guile.

“What manner of man is this,” exclaimed His disciples. “Never man spake like this Man!” said His enemies. “Thou Holy One of God” was the testimony of demons. “My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased,” was the proclamation of His Father. We add our voices to the rest: “Thou art fairer than the children of men” (Ps. 45:2).

C. F. HOGG

PRACTICAL LIVING

Ministering to the poor The rich and the poor: “The Lord is the Maker of them all.”

T

he poor man is the man without a margin. His income, even when it does come in— and he has no assurance that it will not fail—barely covers the irreducible minimum of the subsistence expenditure of his family. Life for him is a straitened business, in which he has no room to move about, no sense of freedom, no power of choice—which things are the natural heritage of men, and for which, since he also is made in the image of God and after His likeness, his nature craves. He can manage, if his wife is capable, but that is all, and then only if nothing untoward happens—no unemployment, no broken time, no sickness, no confinements, no dentist’s fees, no unforeseen drain on his exiguous resources. This is the line of poverty, of precarious subsistence; beyond it yawns the threatening abyss of wretchedness and despair.

The rich man is the man with a margin. Life for him is, on the whole, a roomy business; no sense of material limitation robs him of his courage to choose freely among the avenues to enlarged experience, though, of course, these will be open to him in varying degrees. His income is ample enough to admit indulgence, to a greater or lesser extent, in those things that are not necessary to existence, the things without which a man may live, indeed, but without which he cannot enjoy life. This is the line of comfort and comparative security; beyond it lies luxury and sumptuous living.

The ultimate motive of the movement for better wages on the one

hand, and for larger profits on the other, is the ambition to secure, or extend, this margin. Incidentally, character and spirituality are often sacrificed in the pursuit. It is to be remembered, however, that in the appointment of God the desire for “a sufficiency of one’s own” (1 Tim. 6:6) is an end legitimate in itself, as it is also that a man should “provide for his own,” and keep out of debt (1 Tim. 5:8; Rom. 13:8).

Agur prayed that it might not be denied him to have so much of the necessaries of life as would preserve him from poverty, while he repudiated any desire for a superabundance lest in the gifts he should forget the Giver (Prov. 30:7-9).

The Bible has much to say concerning the poor, and, in particular, concerning the responsibility of the man with a margin towards the man without a margin. This is mainly by way of warning, or of reproof, for the delusion that “a man’s life consists…in the abundance of his possessions” is inveterate in the human mind, and persists in the Christian despite the explicit warning of the Lord. To the latter the consequence is that his spirit is impoverished and his sense of heavenly realities obscured, and that hereafter he will not be able to enter upon possession of the “true riches” (Lk. 16:11). The immediate result of this false belief is that even Christian men readily cherish base thoughts of the poor, and harden themselves against the needy, as Moses warned Israel would be their danger (Deut.

15:7-9).The law of God provided against these tendencies, to which

human nature had become subject at once the consequence and the evidence of its fallen state, by making the prosperity of His people contingent on their considerate treatment of those who were in less happy circumstances than themselves:“The stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat, and be satisfied…Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be

grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land” (Deut. 14:29; 15:10, 11). “He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse” (Prov. 28:27).

The poor also have their rights, and these God has undertaken to

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MINISTERING to the POOR maintain: “I know,” says the Psalmist, “that the Lord will maintain the cause of the [needy].” “Woe unto them that…take away the right from the poor of My people” (Ps. 140:12; Isa. 10:1, 2).

To oppress the poor is to reproach the Creator of the poor; to show kindness to the needy is to honor Him (Prov.14:31). To those whose hearts were given over to covetousness, all the while maintaining a profession of godliness, Jeremiah addresses the pointed question: “Is not this (that is, consideration of the poor) to know Me? saith the Lord.” Neglect of the poor is the fruit of ignorance of God (Jer. 22:16). Therefore blessing is reserved for him “that considereth the poor,” for the man that pities the poor, and gives practical expression to his pity, makes an investment on the security of God (Ps. 11:1; Prov. 19:17).

In the book of Proverbs, assertions that the well-to-do have a responsibility before the Lord for the poor are too numerous to quote here. This is true of the Prophets also; they testify repeatedly that the condemnation of Israel in their declension lay in this—that they had failed to care for their poor. This was palpable evidence that they had in heart turned away from God. The deterioration of the character of the people, and the consequent decline and fall of the nation, seem to have been due largely to this cause.

Other evidences of declension were not lacking, but in the burdens of the prophets this is a chief complaint, as a few passages will show. “The people of the land have…vexed the poor and needy.” “Forasmuch, therefore, as your treading is upon the poor…I know your manifold transgressions, and your mighty sins…they turn aside the poor.” “Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail…the Lord hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob, Surely I will never forget any of their works.” “Thus speaketh the Lord of Hosts, saying…oppress not…the poor…But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder…they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law…therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of Hosts” (Ezek. 22:29; Amos 5:11–12; 8:4-7; Zech. 7:9-12).

In the blessing pronounced by the Psalmist on the man “that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in His commandments,” the proof and evidence of his attitude toward God culminates in this, that “he hath dispersed, he hath given to the needy; his righteousness endureth for ever.” And these words are appropriated by the Apostle to the bountiful and cheerful (hilarious is the Greek) Christian giver, whom, in a special way, God loves (Ps. 112:9; 2 Cor. 9:7).

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New Testament teaching concerning the poor does not differ in principle from that of the Old Testament.

The Lord Jesus had an eye for the poor because He had a heart for them. Therefore the widow’s gift attracted His attention (Lk. 21:2-3). Their interest in His message cheered Him, and provided a proof of His Messiahship (Mt. 11:5). He Himself was not only man, He was a poor man, who knew by experience the lot of the poor.

What better evidence than this could be given that God holds the poor in respect, and that He would have His people imitate Him in this as in all else?

James warns us against holding men in contempt, or even in comparatively low esteem, because they are poor (Jas. 2:2-6). Paul readily acknowledged that the obligation to care for the needy imposed on the people of God in the Old Testament remains in force under the greatly altered conditions of the new dispensation (Gal. 2:10). And this, indeed, because God’s laws are never arbitrary; they are always the expression of His own unchanging character.

Hence the Lord Jesus in His attitude to the poor is the revealer of God, and would have us to confess Him, to be His witnesses in our ways with them. The needy thus afford to the Christian perpetual opportunity to imitate his Master in doing them good, and such as consider them are assured of reward at the resurrection of the just (Mk. 14:7; Lk. 14:13-14).“Ye have the poor always with you,” said the Lord, so that opportunities for pleasing God in the service which their needs demand are limited only by our will to please Him. It is fatally easy to supply the wrong corollary here.

It was not the intention of the Lord to suggest that poverty is inevitable, and that we may safely allow ourselves to become indifferent to the suffering it entails.

On the contrary, it is implied that we are to wage unrelenting warfare with poverty, to do all that in us lies to alleviate its bitterness, and to arouse and to encourage its victims to shake themselves free from its shackles, that, delivered themselves, they in turn may have to give to those that are in need.

We must be vigilant against an entirely un-Christian sentiment that readily insinuates itself to the mind. If it were permitted frank expression in words, it might be summed up in a statement like this: “I am comfortable;

The needy afford to the Christian perpetual opportunity to imitate his Master.

MINISTERING to the POOR and you ought to be content!”

Ministry to the poor, or, in quite plain English, the serving of the poor is everywhere commended by the apostles. Romans 12:8 is a case in point: “He that giveth, let him do it with [liberality].” Something is lost in the translation here. The word rendered “giveth” is, more properly, shareth, and sharing rather than giving is the Christian ideal. It is not always possible nor, if possible, would it be always wise, to share silver and gold, but a higher form of service is open to understanding sympathy, in the alleviation of disease and distress, and in a thousand ways discoverable by the exercised heart.

Against one easy fallacy we must be on guard: The Good Samaritan did not wait for a certificate of character before he came where the half-dead victim of the

robbers lay. John Ruskin somewhere remarks that the question really is, not whether this particular person deserves to have a half-crown given but whether I deserve to have it to give him! Disconcerting enough to the self-complacent, but a healthy question just the same, one calculated to sanity of mind, lest we should “think of [ourselves] more highly than [we] ought to think” (Rom. 12:3).

It is true, indeed, that such knowledge as we have of love is “because He laid down His life for us”; and therefore it follows that “we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” But “whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love

of God in him?” (1 Jn. 3:16-17).

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JIM CORMACK

THOUGHT-FULL

Keep on keeping on Yes, it’s uphill all the way.

“A

nd the women also, which came with Him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulcher, and how His body was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment” (Lk. 23:55-56).

Think about these women for a moment. They had just returned from the funeral of Jesus—this One who had all the evidences of being the Christ, the Son of God. He could do anything. He was invincible! He was going to set up His kingdom, and they were His closest friends.

But now He was dead.

They had watched through that long day the unremitting suffering of their Messiah, heard with shock and amazement the cry, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” and heard, I’m sure, with resignation the cry, “It is finished!” The One in whom they had such confidence was gone and all their hopes and expectations had been sealed in His tomb with Him. What questions must have gone through their minds! Why has this been allowed to happen? With His foreknowledge and power surely He could have avoided it. How can Israel be redeemed now? Where was God in all this, anyway? The leaden thud of the stone as it rolled into place would still be echoing in their hearts.

It was all over now. What would they do? They returned and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment. Despite their disillusionment, their sorrow and confusion, they continued to do what they

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knew God expected them to do. No hint of anger or rebellion; just an acceptance that God was still in control and they would continue to put His commands first in their lives.

It may be that a time will come in our lives when we are faced with the shattering of our dreams. Our concept of where God was taking us in our Christian experience is suddenly turned upside down; forces prevail that God had the power to subdue but seemingly did not. We wonder, “Where is God in all of this?”

It is at a time like this that we can take a lesson from these faithful women. Our loss and insecurity can never be greater than theirs. And in our darkest times we too must continue to do the things we know God has asked us to do, whether or not we ever understand the events swirling around us.

Their example is not an isolated incident. Job lost everything, but was willing to take the bad with the good, knowing from where they came. He would honor God regardless of circumstances or consequences.

Nor is there any hint of resistance in Joseph’s life. At every turn, both up and down, we find him continuing his activities for God and his fellowship with Him. Look at David. He had been anointed king over Israel but God had not removed Saul. Hunted like a partridge, he continued to live for the Lord, waiting for His own time.

Daniel, with his expectations shattered, purposed in his heart to continue to do what he knew God had asked him to do. Human logic

may have dictated another course, but his heart followed God. Paul suffered the loss of all things. I’m sure he often wished that the Lord had arranged things differently, but he learned in every circumstance to be content. To the Corinthians he says, “Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” To Timothy he says, “Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast

been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.”

Let us learn from these disciples and be obedient to the things we know, even when we cannot understand. Let us keep on keeping on, knowing that the end of the road we travel reaches inside the Celestial City.

LORRAINE DARWIN

CHRISTIAN LIFE

In the school of God A teacher recounts lessons learned from the Master Teacher.

A

s I sat in my cozy living room…in my comfortable apartment…in my hometown, I remembered the short poem, “Only one life, ’twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.” For several months my heart had been burdened to move to Little Rock, AR to join the believers who had moved there to start a new assembly. It thrilled my heart to see the Lord work during the initial outreach, and then to hear reports of this new assembly growing. There had been much prayer, counsel from elders, and long talks with a couple who had already moved there. All the doors were open to go.

But I was just a regular person.

Could I really step out in faith like this? Could I leave behind my parents, church family, home, a wonderful teaching job—my entire comfort zone? I decided to go, and I knew the Lord would go with me.

Two verses provided special encouragement: “Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations” (Ps. 90: 1), and “Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared” (Ex. 23:20).

Moving to Little Rock in June, I had time to settle into my new apartment, adjust to a new city, and get to know the saints before starting my teaching job. Everything went just fine—until I started my job at the end of August. I didn’t expect to be exempt from trials just because I had “done the Lord’s will,” but I had no idea how difficult the school year would prove to be.

It wasn’t just one trial to deal with, but new ones day after day. I felt like I was under a waterfall of trials, and at times I felt I would drown. It seemed like every possible thing that could make a teaching job miserable was served onto my plate.

The school year is now over and I have spent much time looking back on the year and considering what the Lord has taught me. Perhaps these simple thoughts will be an encouragement to some reader going through a trial.

1) Never belittle someone else’s trial. The dear, caring saints in Little Rock heard all about my trial. I think it would have crushed me if someone had said, “Hey, it’s not that bad.

Lighten up.” It was that bad for me—I had never experienced anything like it. My friends never ceased to be supportive and loving. They prayed me through the year. I’ll never forget the example they were to me.

2) One need not feel guilty for experiencing a trial. When we compare our difficulties with those around us who are going through much worse things, we may become even more discouraged, thinking that we are weak because we are not able to handle it. “Sure, I could call this a trial if I had cancer, or if a loved one died, or if I didn’t have a job at all,” we may think. “Wow, I must be a wimpy Christian. If I were a better Christian this wouldn’t be a trial at all, and my circumstances wouldn’t be affecting me like they are.”

Scripture makes it plain that God allows trials for all kinds of reasons, such as developing patience, con-

forming us to the image of His Son, and getting us ready to minister to others. We must not think that the trial we are experiencing is somehow an exception to the rule.

2 Corinthians 10:5 is a good reminder not to let our minds dwell on ideas that don’t line up with Scripture: “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”

3) Trust His timing. The Lord determines when the trial hits and how long it lasts. (Satan may attack, but God is sovereign.) I almost laugh when I think back to my first week or two into the trial. The thoughts of my heart went something like this, “Thank You, Lord, for giving me this firm reminder that I need to be more dependent on You each day. I’ve learned a good lesson, NOW GET ME OUT OF THIS!!!”

That was not His plan; He wanted me to learn a lot more. The Lord also knew that all this would happen after I moved to be involved with the

www.uplook.org • NOVEMBER 2000

27

In the SCHOOL of GOD local assembly. It was frustrating that demands from my job limited my time with the saints. A dear sister encouraged me that God didn’t bring me to Little Rock just to be used in the lives of others, but so He could work in my own life. I learned that several other believers who had moved to help with the new work also found themselves blasted with trials during their first year there.

4) “A bruised reed shall He not break” (Isa. 42:3a).

One day as I drove home from work, wiping the tears from my eyes, thinking I could simply not handle any more, I lashed out at the Lord and said, “You said You wouldn’t break the bruised reed...and You haven’t kept your promise!” A Sunday message I heard soon after the incident warned of questioning God’s character during trials, accusing Him of wrong-doing in our lives.

My heart was smitten. How could I have possibly blamed my loving Saviour of doing anything uncaring in my life? He is my Refuge and Strength and Help. I confessed my sin to the Lord. I realized that I was not broken; the Lord keeps all His promises. I was feeling what it is to be bruised.

5) Now is the chance to praise Him in the dark. How beautiful it must be to the Lord when the sweet song of praise comes out of the darkest night. We think of Satan speaking to God regarding Job, “But put forth Thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse Thee to Thy face” (Job 1:11). And we also remember those powerful words of Job that followed incredible loss, “…the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). When we are hated without a cause, rewarded evil for good, and misunderstood, we can thank Him for the opportunity it provides to know the fellowship of His sufferings. We can also actively look for things to be thankful for. I needed to force my focus onto the good points of my job. Although the school year was a difficult one, there were many experiences and relationships which were truly blessings.

6) God is in the business of digging ditches. Not long after the school year finished, I read Charles Spurgeon’s book, Praying Successfully. When I came to the following portion I felt as if it had been written just for me. I was so grateful for these words of encouragement that I wept. Spurgeon writes, Therefore, you,…my sister who has deep spiritual challenges, I want to comfort you by showing you that this is God’s way of making something out of you. He is digging you out. You are like an old ditch that cannot hold any more, and God is digging you out to make room for more grace. His shovel will cut sharply as it digs up clump after

28 UPLOOK • NOVEMBER 2000

clump and throws them aside. The very thing you would like to keep will be thrown away, and you will be hollowed out and dug out so that the word of Elisha may be fulfilled: “Make this valley full of ditches. For thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water” (2 Ki. 3:16-17). You are to be tried, my friend, so that God may be glorified in you (p. 23).

7) God is the God of hope. “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost” (Rom. 15:13). About halfway through the year, I hit a major low. I felt hopeless; there seemed to be no light at the end of the tunnel. The circumstances that surrounded me were dismal; to look up to the God of hope and trust Him for the future was sunshine to the heart. As I waited on Him and continued to pray about my situation, He opened doors that I had never considered and provided me with a new job for the following year.

We must remember that God is refining our faith during trials (1 Pet. 1:7). He is a wise and loving God that has a purpose for everything in our lives (Rom. 8:28). And He will never leave us nor forsake us (Heb. 13:5). “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 8:38-39).

The Refiner’s Fire He sat by a furnace of sevenfold heat, As He watched by the precious ore; And closer He bent, with a searching gaze, As He heated it more and more.

He knew He had ore that could stand the test; And He wanted the finest gold— To mold as a crown for the King to wear, Set with gems of a price untold.

Can we think that it pleases His loving heart To cause us a moment’s pain?

Ah! no, but He saw through the present loss The bliss of eternal gain.

So He waited there with a watchful eye, With a love that is strong, and sure; And His gold did not suffer a whit more heat Than was needed to make it pure.

JOHN DUNCAN

CAN YOU RESIST?

The drawing power of the cross “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me” (Jn. 12:32)

T

he prince of this world held men in his thrall, but Jesus by His death judged the devil.

“Lifted up,” He says, “I will draw all men to another prince. I will draw all men unto Me.” Oh, Satan is sadly foiled! Christ was crucified in weakness, hung on a tree, buffeted, derided, spat upon, despised of men, “a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief,” but He endured the cross and thus draws all men to Him. Those once proud run to the Meek and Lowly who in His humility, was crucified. Those who once sought honor one of another, and not the honor that comes from God, run to the Taunted, the Condemned, Vilified, and glory in the cross.

The worldling looks to the One not of this world, lifted up above the world on a gibbet of wood, a poor despised dying Man, and he leaves all, and runs to Him. The votary of pleasure, sinful pleasure, looks on this scene of deepest pain, of holiest pain, and he quits his lusts, and runs to the holy Sufferer. Christ draws.

He draws the miser from his hoards, draws the sensualist from his pleasures, draws the self-righteous from his efforts, draws the proud from his arrogance.

What kind of men will you find that the Saviour draws? “I will draw all men unto Me. This He said signifying what death He should die.”

Christ is all attraction. The world does not know that. The world thinks Him all repulsion, but He is all attraction. He repels not; He draws.

“Him that cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out” (Jn. 6:37). He is

all attraction; but lifted up on the cross He is most attractive.

All His drawing power is concentrated there. We might think there was more attractive power when He was lifted up on the Mount of Transfiguration; when He was lifted up and set on the right hand of the Majesty on high.

There is attractive power there, and these only draw when the cross has drawn. If you do not see Him dying for you, you see nothing to attract.

It’s not a crown of glory; it’s a crown of thorns. These are not the robes of heavenly splendor; it is a coat of mockery. These are not all the angels of God worshipping Him; they are knees bent in derision.

There is no honor there, no splendor there. Nothing that the world likes; everything that the world hates. So unless there is attraction in Himself and in His dealing that show us His heart, there can be nothing extrinsic to draw the sinner.

What do those drawn say about it? Some of them can give very little account of it at all, for a man may feel drawn rightly and deeply, and not be very good at explaining. And those who can give some account may give an inadequate account.

Woe to the man who thinks he can tell all he sees in Christ!

But surely the drawn can give some account. Once we said: “He was despised, and we esteemed Him not” (Isa. 53:3). When drawn we see that “He hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.” What did one drawn man say about it? “I am cru-

cified with Christ, nevertheless I live…and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:20).

“Ah, now,” says the erstwhile pleasure lover, “there is a bitter cup for Christ—but a sweet cup for me of holy joy.”

“There,” says the ambitious man, “there is awful degradation for that glorious One. It humbles me in the dust to think of it. His head is encircled with the mock crown of thorns, that I may wear the crown of life.”

“And there,” saith the covetous man, “is He who was rich became poor for me that I might be rich with a treasure which fades not away.”

What a host He has drawn! He has drawn Jews, Romans, Greeks; distant isles have heard, and hearing have submitted themselves to Him, and the strange gods have faded out of the strong places. And He is the same yesterday, and today, and forever. Lifted up once on a cross, His crucifixion in one sense is perpetual.

In the proclamation of it, in the power of it and in the remembrance of it, He draws still.

www.uplook.org • NOVEMBER 2000

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NEW READING WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES — GENESIS

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UPLOOK

God in the

D E T A I L S

Dr. Helen Roseveare, the famous British missionary doctor in the D. R. Congo, tells of this incident in her autobiography, Give Me This Mountain.

One evening, I was helping a mother give birth in the maternity ward. Despite our best efforts, she died, leaving us with a tiny premature baby and a crying two-year-old girl. It would be hard to keep the baby alive, because we had neither electricity nor incubator, and the nights were often drafty and cool, even though we were on the equator. An assistant fetched our last hot water bottle to keep the baby warm, but soon came back in desperation, because it had burst. “OK,” I told her, “hold the baby as close to the fire as you can, and keep it out of drafts.”

The following day, I had a prayer time with the orphans. I told them about the newly-born baby, the two-year-old orphan, and the broken hot water bottle. During the prayer time, Ruth, a ten-year-old with the typical brutal directness of African children, prayed, “Please, God, send us a hot water bottle.

Tomorrow will be too late, God, because the baby will be dead by then, so please send it this afternoon.” I took a deep breath because of the prayer’s directness, then heard her continue: “and while You’re at it, would You please send a doll for the little girl, so that she knows that You really love her?”

To be honest, I could not believe that God would do that. Oh yes, God can do everything. I knew that, theoretically—it’s written in the Bible. But there are limits, aren’t there?

I hadn’t received any parcels from home for four years. And if anyone sent a parcel, why would they send a hot water bottle to tropical Africa?

Late in the afternoon, I heard that a car had come. By the time I arrived in my apartment, it had already left—but there was a large parcel on the veranda! I could feel tears welling up inside, and called the orphans so that we could open it together. Apart from clothes, bandages and sultanas, the parcel contained—I could hardly believe my eyes!—a new rubber hot water bottle! I cried. I had not dared to ask God for it, but Ruth had! She had been sitting in the first row, and ran forward, shouting, “If God sent the hot water bottle, He must have sent the doll too!” She dug to the bottom of the parcel and pulled out a beautiful small doll. Her eyes shone. She had not doubted for a moment. She looked up and asked, “Can we go to the little girl and give her the doll, so that she knows Jesus loves her?”

The parcel had been on the way for five months, sent by a Sunday School class. The teacher had been so obedient to God that she even sent a hot water bottle to the equator. One of the girls had given a doll, five months before a 10-year-old African girl would pray, “God, we need it this afternoon.” The words in the Bible are true: “…Before they call, I will answer.”