/2001_05 by Uplook

SEPTEMBER 2001

AKING A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE EELING F G IN K IN S T • THA INISTRIES M ’S N E M O •W ESS N E IV G R O F E • TRU REST T R E S E D E H •T

EDITORIAL

A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE What can one person do? What difference does it make?

t is a fact that rock—hard, lifeless rock—can become soil that is rich and fertile and workable. So rich that the world’s hungry can be fed from its tableland. So pliable that a child can let the soil run through his fingers. How does it happen? What forces are brought to bear against such unyielding material? A raindrop will do it. Or a snowflake. A seedling wafted by a breeze from a nearby tree. Or the tendrils of a wildflower whose fate it is to hug the inhospitable surface of some granite face. Is it true? Can such little things make a world of difference? Pedologists, the uptown name given to soil scientists, speak about the physical disintegration and chemical decomposition of rock. Sometimes water droplets penetrate a rock surface and then freeze within, expanding and physically breaking the rock. At other times the water dissolves minerals in the rock. Wind, snow, ice, lichens, tree roots, and scores of other almost imperceptible forces slowly turn rock into soil. In a similar way, our often flinty hearts yield to the gentle influence of little things. Have you not found this to be true in your life? A little kindness shown; a little word of correction, instruction, comfort, or encouragement; a little word of prayer in a moment of crisis; a little verse of Scripture applied by the Spirit to our need; a snatch of a meaningful hymn—and what could have been a hardening experience actually softens us. I remember words and deeds like that in my life. The gentle hand of Dave Sylvester on my shoulder after a baptism and his even gentler words, “What hinders you from being baptized?” The soft and kindly voice of Les Dockstader (a one-time bare-fisted boxer before God softened him through the gospel) who took me aside after a Lord’s Supper in which my voice had not been heard: “Who was sitting on your knee this morning?” Or the words of a dear sister who stood by, watching an older brother straighten me out after I had preached. “Listen to that brother,” she said, “it will be a great help to you if you learn to take correction. But I want you to know that you were an encouragement to me tonight.” Of course we know that, under pressure, soil can turn into rock as well. Sedimentary rock once provided

UPLOOK • SEPTEMBER 2001

a place where life could be sustained, could flourish. But under such pressure as would squeeze the life out of it, the soil became rock. So, too, the hard things of life can make us hard. Beaten down by circumstances, we can find our souls becoming lifeless and unfeeling. Is there hope when we look within only to find a barren wasteland where once a flourishing garden grew? We feel like we fit the Lord’s description of leviathan: “His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone” (Job 41:24). Is there any hope for us? The Lord promised Israel that He would restore the wilderness land He had given them: “The desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose” (Isa. 35:1). But He said He could also do something with their deserthearts: “A new heart also will I give you…I will take away the stony heart…and I will give you an heart of flesh” (Ezek. 36:26). What a world of difference the Lord can make in others’ lives through us! What power for blessing (or bane) we have in our words and deeds. “A word fitly spoken” is as healthful as an apple, as valuable as gold, and a beautiful as a fine painting (Prov. 25:11). An unknown author has written this reminder to us all: What will it matter in a little while That for a day we met and gave a word, A touch, a smile upon the way? What will it matter whether hearts were brave, And lives were true, that you gave me The sympathy I craved, as I gave you? These trifles, can it be They make or mar a human life? Are souls as lightly waved as rushes Are by storm or strife? Yes! Yes! A look the failing heart may break, Or make it whole; And just a word said for love’s sweet sake May save a soul.

J. B. Nicholson Jr.

CONTENTS

UPLOOK Volume 68

SEPTEMBER 2001

Number 5

Features THAT SINKING FEELING R. G. Mowat

THE DESERT REST Norman Campbell

MINISTERING SISTERS A. C. Rose

ENCOURAGE YOUR SISTERS

RISE UP & WORK REPORT

OPENING OF GFP BOOKSTORE

DISAPPOINTMENTS J. M. Kelly

GOD’S SURE PURPOSE J. C. McVicar

A LID FOR THE SOUL Harold P. Barker

DIME REPORT

HELP IN TIME OF NEED T. J. Barnardo

FORGIVENESS George Sturm

REPAYING EVIL WITH GOOD William MacDonald

SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN L. W. G. Alexander

Departments EDITORIAL WHAT’S GOING ON? FRONT LINES BOUQUET OF BLESSING 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. Thereafter any time you renew, your subscription will be extended a further eleven issues. There are three ways to renew: 1) by using the reminder envelope sent to facilitate your renewal; 2) by using the form on our website at: http://www.uplook.org/magazine_uplook/subscribe/ 3) by contacting our office at any time, by phone, fax, mail or e-mail. Please advise us of any address changes at least six weeks in advance and include your customer number from your mailing label.

2 9 5 17

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. Phone: (616) 456-9166 Fax: (616) 456-5522 Website: http://www.uplook.org E-mail: uplook@uplook.org ISSN #1055-2642 Printed in USA. © Copyright 2001 Uplook Ministries UPLOOK magazine is intended to encourage the people of God in fidelity to His Word, fervency in intercessory prayer, labors more abundant, and love to the Lord. Believing in the practical Headship of Christ and the local autonomy of each assembly, this is not intended to be an official organ of any group or federation of local churches. The editor and authors take responsibility for materials published. For any blessing which accrues, to God be the glory. UPLOOK is copyrighted solely for the purpose of maintaining the integrity of the material. It is not intended to limit the proper use of articles contained in the magazine. Please include the words: “UPLOOK magazine, by permission” on photocopies made for personal use. For large quantities or other purposes, contact UPLOOK. Submissions Please enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope with all unsolicited material. News items must be submitted at least two months in advance of issue requested. Selected news items will be carried for two issues (if time permits). The editor reserves the right to determine those items best suited for the magazine. Editorial decisions are final. Photos accepted. Please enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope for photos you wish returned. Postal Information US POSTMASTER: (USPS 620-640) Send address changes to UPLOOK, P. O. Box 3640, Grand Rapids, MI 49501-3640 Periodical postage paid at Grand Rapids, MI. CANADIAN POSTMASTER: Send address changes to UPLOOK, P.O. Box 427, St. Catharines, ON L2R 6V9 International Publications Contract No. 1064363 (Canadian Distribution) BRITISH POSTMASTER: Send address changes to UPLOOK, P. O. Box 1163, Bristol BS39 4YA

Donation Information: Uplook Ministries is a tax-exempt corporation looking to the Lord to provide for the needs of this ministry. This magazine is sent freely to those who request it, but evidently is not freely produced. Donations may be made by check or money order denominated in US $, Canadian $ or £ sterling. All checks should be made payable to UPLOOK and sent to one of the above addresses. Donations may also be made by VISA, Mastercard/ACCESS or Discover in US dollars, either by mail or at our website: http://www.uplook.org/home/about_us/contributions.html We do not advise sending credit card numbers by e-mail. Please include your card number, expiry date and the amount in US dollars you wish to donate. Receipts are issued for all donations received and are valid for tax purposes in the US and Canada. Making a donation will automatically renew your Uplook subscription.

www.uplook.org • SEPTEMBER 2001

R. G. MOWAT

WA L K O N WAT E R

That sinking feeling “Through the paths of the seas” (Ps. 8:8)

hen someone informs us that Brother Downanout is passing through deep waters, we know at once what is meant. There are few who have had any experience at all on the journey heavenward who have not, at one time or another, been through the deep waters of testing. It may have been by reason of sickness, or bereavement, through business worries or a time of distress occasioned by slanderous tongues and lying lips. Whatever the cause, there are few who have not plumbed the depths of some dark experience. There used to be a facile method of classing all such experiences as judgments sent from God because of man’s own follies and misdemeanors. Certainly, if the prophet Jonah, for instance, had obeyed the Word of the Lord, he would not have found himself down in the deep, in the midst of the seas, where the floods encompassed him and the weeds wound themselves around him (Jonah 2:3-5). Yet these bitter consequences of his disobedience became a glorious experience nonetheless. God tested his faith, but Jonah proved the constant faithfulness and love of God, so that he was given grace to declare: “I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord—and HE HEARD ME.” But it is a mistake to assume that all such crises are judgments sent from God. To think this is to miss the whole grandeur of our Father’s wise plan in leading us so that we might hurry to Him in our need and lean on Him in dependence and confidence. Thus we can enter into Jeremiah’s plaint when he said:

UPLOOK • SEPTEMBER 2001

“Mine enemies chased me sore, like a bird, without cause…Waters flowed over mine head,” and in despair he cried: “I am cut off.” But then his faith revived, and he was able to look up and declare: “I called upon Thy Name, O Lord, out of the low dungeon. Thou hast heard my voice…Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon Thee: Thou saidst, Fear not” (Lam. 3:52-57). It has always been our Father’s purpose to reassure His children that, in spite of trials and troubles which may sweep over us like a stormy sea, He is with us in the storm, and that we may hear His comforting word: “Fear not; for I am with thee” (Gen. 26:24). It was this which enabled the Apostle Paul to assert that no depth of woe or circumstance could ever separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord (Rom. 8:39). Like the Apostle, the Psalmist was also upborne by the serenity of his faith, even when that sinking feeling threatened to overwhelm him, and he cried to the Lord from the depths (Ps. 130:1). “If I take the wings of the morning,” he said, “and

dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me” (Ps. 139:9-10). O, that we might always remember that no matter how deep are the waters through which we are called to pass, deeper still were the sorrows which our Saviour bore for us in the place where there was no standing. We allow ourselves to fear that, because we experience trials, our God is far from us, when all the time it is His opportunity of assuring us of His constant love. In fact, it is His way of bringing us Home to Himself. “[Thou hast] made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over” said Isaiah; “therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion” (Isa. 51:10-11). And so, as waves of trouble and perplexity come rolling with ever-increasing intensity upon this saddened world, we can look forward with a calm spirit to that time of our last great need when, if our Lord has not come for us to the air, we shall walk through the valley with the shadows of death towering above us on either side. But, even then, we will fear no evil, for as we step forward we will find that we do not walk alone. Then the noise of the waters will be hushed as we look up in our Saviour’s face with perfect trust, and say: “I will fear no evil, FOR THOU ART WITH ME.” He will keep me till the river Rolls its waters at my feet; Then He’ll bear me safely over Where the lov’d ones I shall meet.

FRONT LINES

NEWS FLASH!

Word Alive SE for teens A golden opportunity to get a grip on the Book.

new outreach for teens in the southeast United States will be starting, Lord willing, September 29, 2001, at the Overbrook Gospel Chapel in Greenville, SC. The purpose is to reach seriousminded teens, ages 13 to 18, who hunger for God’s Word, desire to walk in holiness and have a love for the people of God and the fellowship of the assemblies gathering in His name.

YOUTH CONFERENCE IN WI A youth conference is planned for teens, ages 13 and up, at Country Bible Church, Casco, WI, on Saturday, Sept. 22. John Glock (TN) has been invited as the main speaker. The conference will begin at 10:00 AM and will conclude at 5:00 PM. An evening activity is also planned. Lunch and refreshments will be provided at the chapel. All teens in Wisconsin and the surrounding states are invited to attend. There is no charge for the conference. Overnight accommodations are available for Friday and Saturday. Those planning to attend, notify: Mark Dhuey N5938 Birchwood Circle Luxemburg, WI 54217 920-845-5656 or Dan Doran N6164 Apple Court Casco, WI 54205 920-837-2418 doran@itol.com

Registration begins at 8:30 AM with classes from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Lunch provided. There is no charge for the program. Course materials and five 50minute classes will be structured around a threefold theme: Biblical Studies —My Bible and I Personal Godliness —My Body and I Church Truth —My Assembly and I The ministry will be shared

by Mike Attwood (Washington, GA) and Sam Thorpe, Jr. (Lincolnton, GA). For more information call WORD ALIVE Southeast: 706-678-3180 or 706-359-6297 thorpes@sylcom.net or saved2serve@nu-z.net

PROPHECY CONFERENCE Randy Amos, of Rochester, NY, will be the speaker at a Prophecy Conference, Sept. 22-23 at Riverview Chapel (16th Avenue and Temple Street, Hinton, WV). The meeting times are Saturday, 11:00, 2:00, and 3:30; Sunday, 11:00, 7:00. Harry Pilkington 304-466-0950 Brent Jones 304-466-4738

www.gospelcom.net/knowtheword honeyrock@juno.com. To register, send fully-refundable amount (no later than Sept. 17) made payable to Honeyrock Ministries Inc. and mail to: Mark Kolchin P. O. Box 305 Lanoka Harbor, NJ 08734

ADIRONDACK ANNUAL Make plans now to attend a special Fall get-away scheduled, Lord willing, for Monday, Sept. 24 through Friday, Sept. 28. Dr. Dan Smith, Chancellor of Emmaus Bible College (IA) will be ministering the Word for this annual five-day gathering. It will be held at Camp-of-theWoods, a deluxe conference facility located in the scenic Adirondack region of NY state. The cost is $265 per person and includes meals, deluxe accommodations, and special event fees. For more information:

FALL CONFERENCE IN OMAHA The annual Fall conference at Keystone Bible Chapel in Omaha, NE, is scheduled for Oct. 5-7. Meetings will start at 7:30 PM Friday and continue through Sunday evening. Meals will be served at lunch and dinner both Saturday and Sunday. There will be children’s meetings during the afternoon sessions. Youth activities are scheduled for Saturday night. The speakers, Lord willing, will be Art Auld (OH), Joe Mikhael (ON), and Floyd Schneider (IA). For more information, contact:

www.uplook.org • SEPTEMBER 2001

Front Lines Jeff Patterson 14426 County Road 40 Kennard, NE 68034 402-238-2878 jkpne@aol.com NORTH CAROLINA LADIES’ MISSIONARY CONFERENCE The 50th Annual North Carolina Ladies’ Missionary Conference will be held on Oct. 6 at North Raleigh Chapel (542l Six Forks Rd., Raleigh, NC). The conference is scheduled to begin at 9:00 with registration and refreshments. The morning session will be at 10:00, followed by lunch and the afternoon session. Invited speakers are Mrs. Charles Wooler (Holly), Honduras and Mrs. Fred Kosin (Jenny), South Carolina and overseas. Contact: Mrs. Marvin Whitt 4836 Green Tunnel Lane Raleigh, NC 27613 919-847-0861 CONFERENCE IN SPRING HILL The assembly in Westbrook, ME (Spring Hill Gospel Hall, 225 Spring St.) extends an invitation to those in the area to attend their conference Oct. 6-7. The expected speakers are Clark McClelland (NC) and David Dunlap (FL). DEARBORN CHAPEL REUNION The saints at Dearborn Chapel (Dearborn, MI) invite you to join them as they celebrate forty years at the Monroe St. location. On Saturday, Oct. 6, the events will be held at Dunning Park Bible Chapel (24800 West Chicago, Redford, MI) from 11:00 until 5:00. On Sunday, Oct. 7, the regular meetings will be held at Dearborn Chapel (4180 Monroe Blvd., Dearborn Heights, MI) followed by lunch at 12:30 and a special program at 1:30. You are encouraged to bring old photos. Nursery services will be pro-

UPLOOK • SEPTEMBER 2001

vided. Accommodations are available. RSVP before Sept. 3 if you plan to attend. Call: Terry or Sandy Henning 734-242-8557 MT. HERMON CONFERENCE The annual Pacific Coast Christian Conference will be held Oct. 8-12 at the Mt. Hermon Conference Center (75 miles south of San Francisco amid the redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains). The conference begins with dinner Monday evening and ends Friday morning. Speakers will be John Williams from Vancouver and James Cochrane (Dominican Republic): Max Krieger 4242 W. Ave 40 Los Angeles, CA 90065 Phone: 323-256-1992 E-Mail: maxnbethk@juno.com LADIES’ FALL RETREAT The 4th Annual Fall Retreat at Camp Hope (Dahlonega, GA) is scheduled for Oct. 12-14. Dr. Ruth Schwertfeger will be the keynote speaker, and there will also be seminars on various topics offered on Saturday. Contact: Tammy Crooks 864-224-6918 tcrooks4@juno.com MISSION OPEN HOUSE You are invited to Yonkers Gospel Mission on Oct. 13 for a time of ministry, fellowship, and singing, and reports on the mission work. Dinner will be served at 5:30 followed by a service at 7:00. The invited speaker is Arnot McIntee (ON) and special music will be provided. 111th ANNUAL CONFERENCE Curtis Gospel Chapel (17753 Lenore at Curtis, Detroit, MI) will hold its 111th annual conference, Lord willing, Oct. 13-14. The invited

speakers are Doug Kazen (WA) and Sandy McEachern (NS). Meetings on Saturday will begin at 2:30 and 6:30 with dinner served at 5:00. On Sunday, the Lord’s Supper will be at 9:30, gospel meeting at 11:00 and lunch at 12:00. The conference will conclude at 5:00 on Sunday. Call: Gerald Fitzgerald 734-425-4217 50TH ANNIVERSARY The saints that meet at Loch Hill Chapel (Baltimore, MD) will celebrate their 50th anniversary Oct. 12 (7:00) and 13 (10:00 and 2:00). Tom Taylor has been invited to speak on the theme, “A Vision for the Future.” Dinner will be served on Saturday. RSVP. If you have any memories or photos of the assembly over the years, please send them to: Dick Ward 4018 Schroeder Ave. Perry Hall, MD 21128 410-529-8637 LAND OF THE SKY The saints of the Asheville Gospel Chapel and the Waynesville Christian Fellowship will host the annual Land of the Sky Bible Conference on Oct. 20 from 10 AM until 3:30 PM. The expected speaker is Alan Parks (SC). At noon a light lunch will be served in the chapel facilities at 350 Old Haw Creek Rd., Asheville, NC. FL WOMEN’S CONFERENCE The 34th Annual Women’s Missionary Conference will be held, Lord willing, Oct. 26 and 27 at Park of the Palms (Keystone Heights, FL). Expected speakers are Mary Watson (retired from Congo), Jennifer Burger (Turkey) and June Peck (Congo). Contact: Park of the Palms 352-473-4926 pop@techcomm.net

Front Lines FALL TEEN GETAWAY Young people are invited to the Fall Teen Getaway, Oct. 26-28 at Camp Iroquoina (PA). Come enjoy the ministry, singing, friends, and special activities. For details: David Baldwin 610-942-3459 sleepersawake@hotmail.com IROQUOINA RETREATS The following is a listing of the planned retreats at Camp Iroquoina (Hallstead, PA) for the upcoming Fall, Winter and Spring seasons: Oct. 26-28 Fall Teen Getaway Nov. 9-11 Father/Son Retreat Jan. 11-13 Family Retreat Jan. 18-20 Jr. High #1 Feb. 1-3 Jr. High #2 Feb. 8-10 Sr. High Retreat Feb. 16-18 Family Retreat Mar. 1-3 Men’s Retreat May 3-5 Ladies’ Retreat May 17-19 High School Retreat For further information, please contact Tom Freeman: 609-585-1835 or at tfreeman3@juno.com WOMEN’S ADVANCE The 12th annual Women’s Advance will convene, Lord willing, Oct. 26 and 27 at the Holiday Inn Southwest (Viking), St. Louis, MO. Joyce Barinowski will again share from the Word. Enjoy the ministry and fellowship. Bring a friend. Accommodations for Saturday night for out-of-town guests will be pro-

vided by area assemblies. Contact: Mary Walter 314-434-8055 or 314-837-0354 HOLIDAY MINISTRY The saints at Holiday Gospel Assembly in Holiday, FL, are happy to announce their Fall Conference to be held Friday, Nov. 16 from 7:30 PM to 9:00 P.M. and Saturday, Nov. 17 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The theme of the conference will be “That I May Know Him.” Speakers expected are: Ross Rainey (MI) and Oli Jacobsen (FL). Dinner will be provided on Saturday noon. The assembly is located on Grand Boulevard one mile from US 19. COMMENDATIONS Richard and Beth Plowman The saints gathered at the Waco Bible Chapel (Waco, TX) wish to reaffirm their original commendation of Richard and Beth Plowman to the work of the Lord. Richard and Beth have recently felt called to change the focus of their ministry from adult prison work to concentrate on young people who are either in youth facilities or are at risk because of destructive lifestyles. Their desire is to work within the schools, youth facilities, and detention centers, as well as being open to however the Lord would lead them. Richard and Beth are both active in the local assembly—Richard in teaching the Word and Beth in music. They will continue to reside

in Waco and be in fellowship with the saints at Waco Bible Chapel. Mariano and Pearl Gonzalez In 1963, Mariano and Pearl were commended to the Lord’s work by three assemblies in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. In 1979, these assemblies reconfirmed their commendation, expanded to include mass communication of the gospel. For more than thirty years, the Gonzalez have conducted an extensive radio and literature ministry out of the basement of their home. Their ministries cover a significant area of the Spanish-speaking world. Three assemblies in the US have recently added their commendation to the work that the Lord has given to the Gonzalez: Oconomowoc Bible Fellowship (Oconomowoc, WI), Capilla Evangelica (Corona, NY), and Local Cristiano (Waukegan, IL). Mariano has ministered from the platform many times at each of these assemblies and it has been profitable and much appreciated. SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES Park of the Palms Christian Retirement Community currently has two positions open: groundskeeper and director of assisted living. Qualified inquirers contact: Park of the Palms 706 Palms Circle Keystone Heights, FL 32656 352-473-4926 pop@techcomm.net

Jonathan Brower from Virginia writes: We just finished our third year of the Timothy project. It was started by a group of men and led by David Peck. Its purpose is to disciple high school age believers. It is basically a three-year study: In the first year the students are given study books and taught how to use them. In the second year, they do an in-depth study of a book of the Bible. In the third they have their studies as well as going into town for evangalism. This year there were about twenty students enrolled. They are mostly from around the immediate area. Some of the teachers are Fred Forrester, Phil Dippy, Dan Gustafson, and Jon Brower. It is a great blessing to see these kids come back for the next year. www.uplook.org • SEPTEMBER 2001

NEVER DESERTED

NORMAN J. CAMPBELL

The desert rest

“Come apart” or come apart.

s in the days when He tabernacled among men, so today the Lord, though the center of the heavenly host and the theme of their song, longs for the companionship of His saints. He wants their hearts. It is a wonderful thought! His voice calls today—to the saint no less than to the sinner—“If any man hear My voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me” (Rev. 3:20). We live in times of rush and turmoil; we are so actively engaged in a hundred and one things; we are “cumbered about much serving” (Lk. 10:40); we address meetings and attend meetings; we rush here and there with the inevitable result that often the noise about us and the restlessness of our spirits within prevent our hearing His voice. We become tired spiritually as well as physically; we lose our freshness. We need a holiday. For if we persistently rush on, even in zealous service for the Lord, and neglect the quiet of communion with Him, we quickly dry up spiritually. We need to be refreshed. And how gracious is our Lord! If we will not take time to hear His voice when we are strong and active, He may in His great interest in us and yearning for the affections of our hearts, gently take us aside out of the rush and bustle of life into “a desert place.” How many saints, tired and worn out, have thanked Him for laying them aside in sickness in order that they might “rest a while,” and while resting enjoy quiet communion with

UPLOOK • SEPTEMBER 2001

Him to an extent that would have been impossible otherwise. We frequently hear quoted in cases of sickness such passages of Scripture as, “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby” (Heb. 12:11). It is well to bear in mind that “whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth” (Heb. 12:6), but have we given thought to the possibility that sickness may not always be in the nature of chastening (as we generally use the word) but may sometimes, in the mercy of God, be His gracious provision of a holiday—in order that we might “rest a while”? After the disciples had a very tiring day and had received the sorrowful news of the beheading of John the Baptist, and “had gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told Him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught,” the Lord, with the thoughtful compassion He ever evinced for them, invited them to “Come…apart into a desert place, and rest a while” (Mk. 6:31). The crowds were thronging around them. He wanted them by themselves—alone, and away from the multitude. Why? Two answers may be suggested: First, He knowing, their frame (Ps. 103:14), wished them to rest; and second, He desired intimate communion with them away from the noise of the surging throng. It was not that He desired to impart some instruc-

tion to them. He wished them alone in a place where they would not be disturbed. So He chose a deserted place. The crowds are not usually found there. There the Lord and His own might have sweet communion and the disciples might rest in His presence. It would appear that on the occasion under consideration the rest was quickly disturbed, but we may safely assume that the incident is a sample of the Lord’s ways with His own, and that He frequently took them into a desert place to rest. Rest in a desert place with Christ—how refreshing! There is no thought of chastening, nor any suggestion that the occasion was used to rebuke the disciples. No, they were taken to rest awhile. Oh, the joy of resting with Him and in Him. It is not so much outpouring of hearts to Him for we may be too tired even to do that—but rather listening to His voice or it may be simply resting in His presence without so much as a word being spoken. And what a desert! It is no arid, uninviting wasteland, because with His presence “the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose.” Blessed rest of weary souls.

W H AT ’ S G O I N G O N ? OPE ent N EUR I M en perc A v L e s IS y l r nea illion rate of a t a sixty m old the g n y i l r w a o e r G are n ms h , there . Musli y e l l p a o r u nia. u n an nd Bos ng in E i a v i a l i n s a m lb Musli France, , rkey, A m u T u i g n l i y Be en majorit tries such as overtak eligious n s a u o h c m r n I a largest ain, Isl p d S n o d c n e —MNN es h t Italy a . s a m s lici antism d Catho n i Protest h e b uency constit

HOT SELLER IN CHINA In the last 20 years, the Bible is the second-best seller in China, reports Spotlight on China. The number one top-selling book is Deng Xio Peng’s collections. IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME Duane Howe serves the Lord in Brazil with New Tribes Mission. This is from a recent e-mail: “Four fellows who were visiting from Kentucky went in to the tribal station, Vida Nova, one afternoon and noticed a lot of smoke near missionary Pina’s house. They went over and found Pina trying to fight a brush fire that was already burning his storage shed near the house. Pina was sure his house couldn’t be spared. But three of the four guys from Kentucky were firemen!! So professionally they jumped into the flames. They threw water on the fire and managed to save Pina’s house after a hot and sweaty battle. But in the process they used up all of Pina’s drinking water. It is dry season now and doesn’t rain…but just as the barrel went dry, a cloud came over and downpoured and filled the barrel! I

kid you not!! Now isn’t that just like the Father? The rain also helped put out the hot coals of the fire. Everyone was praising Him!” BRAZIL TUNES IN TO HCJB A survey of Portuguese-speaking shortwave radio listeners ranked the Christian HCJB World Radio thirdmost listened to in Brazil, behind the BBC and Radio Japan. The average age of the respondents was 38. 48% of respondents said they listen every day; 51% listen “several times a week.” HCJB World Radio has aired the gospel in Portuguese to Brazil via shortwave from Quito continuously since 1947. —Pulse FURTHER VIOLENCE IN INDIA? Indian Christians are concerned about recent comments by Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee suggesting that social and educational programs by Indian churches are guises through which they proselytize Hindus to Christianity. The remarks were reportedly made at a meeting at the Prime Minister’s residence at a meeting of leaders of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu nationalist organiza-

tion of which the country’s ruling Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) is the political wing. In recent years, the RSS has led a hate campaign against India’s minority communities, and especially against the small Christian community. Christians are the most vulnerable section of Indian society as they are generally poor, scattered all over the country, do not believe in retaliation, and are divided into denominations (and thus unable to present a sizeable united front). Christian leaders fear that the Prime Minister’s comments may further escalate intolerance and violence against Christians, resulting in even more deaths, injuries and destruction of church-owned property by Hindu militants who support the policies of the RSS. —VOM AMERICAN YOUNG PEOPLE REACH OUT TO MEXICO From Mexico, José & Judith Barrios write: “This summer, twenty-seven brothers and sisters from the assemblies in Durham and Reidsville, NC, helped with our gospel campaign. Along with them were folks from New York and Switzerland. “God used the gifts and talents of these young people and many people heard the gospel for the first time; some accepted Christ as Saviour. “One of the villages that was visited is Soledad Atzompa. It is known as a hard and dangerous village. God worked through a group of thirty young people to make a change. The municipal agent allowed us to use the basketball court and a school area for our activities. He also sent a truck to invite the whole village to our program of mime, drama, songs, and Bible lessons for children. More than 180 children and about 100 teenagers and adults came to the event. Many of them accepted Christ. It was marvellous!”

www.uplook.org • SEPTEMBER 2001

A. C. ROSE

S T R AT E G I C S E RV I C E

Ministering sisters

Only heaven will reveal how much we owe them.

ll thinking men realize they depend on the ministry of women from cradle to grave. Therefore it is not surprising that He who was truly Man, although He came “not to be ministered unto but to minister,” was the object of the devoted ministry of women. This is characteristically brought out in the Gospel penned by Dr. Luke. The Spirit takes the beloved physician from his medicine, using him to write the good news of God’s remedy for a diseased world. In addition to the many medical words preserved, there is this, the significance of which every good physician will grant, the ministry of the gentle hand and the tender heart of women. Although the Son of God was homeless during the last years of His earthly life, this was granted to Him by His Father, this substitute for His holy angels’ ministry—the selfless service of the daughters of Eve. Their mother was, alas, “first in the transgression,” but in the supreme act of rebellion at the cross she had no place. Rather, in the person of Pilate’s wife, her imperial representative, she would have let Him go. Nor throughout the long road which led to Calvary is there any hand or voice of woman raised against Him. No painted Jezebel’s face is seen through the lattice; no fierce Athaliah’s voice is heard in the courts. The maidservant challenging Peter is the only unfriendly feminine voice that we hear as we follow those holy footsteps.

UPLOOK • SEPTEMBER 2001

The Sacred Ministry of Motherhood Mary’s is the first ministry that invites our meditation. Upon such ground we cannot step too softly. We know she was chosen by the Father to be most blessed among women by virtue of her high office. The Holy Spirit came upon her so that she became indeed “the mother of our Lord.” In uttermost obedience she cried: “Behold the slave of the Lord; be it unto me according to Thy word.” More than most of her sisters she was called to walk a path of faith, seeing through a glass darkly, and having to ponder many mysteries in her heart. Her natural motherly qualities had to suffer rebuke more than once

before the sword of heaven’s sorrow pierced her heart. We get one last glimpse of her in the upper room before Pentecost, and then she mingles in the throng of her sisters on earth. But we cannot forget that God gave us through her that sinless body which bore our sins on the tree; that through the silent years she ministered to His human needs with a mother’s skill, and watched with awe the unfolding of a life untouched by sin. Her hands bathed the only sinless infant form that earth has ever seen; her ears heard the only sinless lips lisp the name “Mother.” Her breast was His resting place, whose everlasting dwelling was the Father’s bosom. She was the first to minister to Him in His cradle; she was the last to whom He ministered from His cross before including her with every sinner in His atoning death. Mary, highly favored among women in the incarnation of the Son of God, but far more, redeemed by His precious blood and given a place with all those who are sanctified. “Blessed…are the paps which Thou hast sucked!” cried one envious woman. “Yea, rather,” He answered, “blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it” (Lk. 11:27-28).

The Winsome Ministry of Widowhood Young Mary is followed by very old Anna, the prophetess, who had been a widow for eighty-four years, and whose home was in the temple

MINISTERING SISTERS courts. There, in spite of the clamor of the money changers and those who sold doves, she maintained her watch with prayer and fasting. We may picture the scene in those historic precincts, hard by the place where the promise had been given long before, “God will provide Himself a Lamb.” See the Galilean family with their humble offering of doves or pigeons, jostled by the crowd, but intent on their obedience to the law; see the old mother in Israel venerated as a saint, and the young Prince of Glory. Suddenly her long tried faith was rewarded by the beatific vision as she recognizes in Him David’s Son and Lord. She poured out her glad thanksgivings and henceforth she had one theme of which she never tired. For there were those who refused to doubt the promises of God, and in spite of a corrupt priesthood their faith was unquenched. How the dim flame would burn as the inspired prophetess unfolded to them the glories that had been revealed to her in the face of Christ! Mercifully we are not without our Annas today; young and old, they delight to speak of their Lord in Sunday School, in the home circle, in hospital, and wherever their toiling sisters will listen; in the noisome heart of an Indian slum or in the cool refinement of an English drawing room. Can we possibly put too high a value on such ministry?

A Mother-in-law Ministers and a Nameless Sinner Peter’s mother-in-law, fresh from her great fever, rising to minister to her Lord, is followed by the nameless pardoned sinner who in the rapture of her first love mingled her tears and her perfume and made a towel of her tresses, so that her Lord might be given the honor Simon had denied Him.

So Many Others who Served their Lord So varied still is the ministry in the house of God, including lowly household tasks and rising to the heights of sacrificial devotion where neither name nor fame nor life are counted too dear to be laid at His feet. Would superior Simon ever forget losing that opportunity which brought out that sad complaint, “Thou gavest Me no kiss!” Is it not possible that some of us superior men are making the same mistake? So we reach the three of whom it is written: “The twelve were with Him, and certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called

Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others which ministered unto Him of their substance” (Lk. 8:1-3). The Lord Jesus was the leader of this company of disciples that consisted not only of poor fishermen but of women of substance, who, greatly blessed, made themselves of no reputation by becoming the servants of the Man of Galilee. Mary was His countrywoman, for she came from Magdala near the lake of Genessaret. How thrilling it will be when we hear the story of how her heart became empty, swept and garnished and made the sanctuary of peace and purity! Joanna was a lady of consequence, by reason of her husband’s post under Herod. What comforts she despised, what criticism she aroused by her discipleship. She might have served “that fox” of Esau’s line and enjoyed his glittering prizes, but how wise she was in choosing the service of Jacob’s Lord. Of Susanna’s history we know nothing as yet, but her name has been preserved in the life of many an English family; she lives for us as one of the immortals in the glorious company of Deborah, Hannah, and Ruth, the forerunners of the noble company of sister-servants whose praise is in all Christian homes and churches. We get three more fleeting glimpses of these disciples; from afar they look upon the tragedy of Calvary where even their ministry could have no place. In the dawn of the resurrection day we see them making their mournful way to the garden, laden with the needless spices, meeting the shining ones who remind them of their Lord’s promise of victory over death, so that they return to the despairing eleven with a message, so wonderful that it seemed like an idle tale. “Not she with trait’rous lip her Saviour stung; Not she denied Him with unholy tongue: She, while apostles shrank, could danger brave; Last at His cross, and earliest at His grave.” The final view given to us, before we see them face to face, is in the upper room, where to them all was given the promised Comforter who led them into all truth, enriched them with His gifts and instructed them in the fine art of ministering to the Church with the deep devotion they had shown to Christ.

The Sisters at Bethany Martha and Mary were especially honored in that their Bethany home was ideally situated as a resting place for the Lord Jesus on His way to and from the www.uplook.org • SEPTEMBER 2001

MINISTERING SISTERS Jordan valley and also during His Jerusalem ministry. From Bethany, Jerusalem can be surveyed as a sentinel on the eve of battle surveys the peaceful fields so soon to be sown with the red seed of war. Bethany is about a mile beyond Olivet, which is about a mile from Jerusalem. The inhabitants of the home were two sisters and one brother. Martha, with her active nature, was the mistress, and therefore concerned that her guest should have her best. Mary, with her meditative nature, was her assistant as became a younger sister. Of Lazarus we know little, except that he was their adored brother, sharing their great joy in the affection of the Lord Jesus. We must not weigh too heavily the gentle rebuke that was laid upon Martha. The tone of the voice and the glance of the eyes could make a caress of the correction. He who put such a premium on the value of a cup of cold water would not lightly regard Martha’s skilful, if elaborate, preparations. She wanted Him to have the best; He wanted her to have His best. Her best was temporal, His was eternal: and this was what her sister had learned, a simple lesson indeed, but one that we find as difficult as Martha did. The two ministries are complementary, but the spiritual must have precedence of the natural. It is good to minister to the body with the meat which perishes; it is better to minister to the spirit with the meat which endures unto eternal life. It was not the design of the Lord Jesus to change the

characteristics of the sisters; each had her calling; each could learn from the other. When we see Mary for the last time she is busy with the sacred task of preparing her Lord’s body for its experience of cruel death, brief burial, and certain resurrection. Our last glimpse of Martha shows her serving still. Blessed ministering sisterhood, embracing the mysteries of birth and life and death; humble and patient, gentle and wise, pouring out the choice gifts of motherhood and sisterhood, upon the one Person who alone could truly appreciate their priceless worth, and give them back refined and glorified in the gift of Himself. Nor is it too late to continue such ministry; the body of which the Lord Jesus is the Head is with us now, marred by many a spot and wrinkle, calling for selfless, patient service, The “certain women which ministered to Him of their substance” handed on their unfinished task to Phoebe and Priscilla, to Tryphena, Tryphosa, and Persis; to Julia and another Mary who bestowed much labor on Paul; to Claudia and Lydia, to Euodias and Syntyche and those women which labored in the gospel. These in their turn passed on the trust through what gentle or work-worn hands, hands twisted by torture, torn by beasts, shrivelled in the fires, into sister hands today. So the Galilean few have become the world encircling family, and that word of scorn has become the expression of reverent gratitude, “And His sisters, are they not all with us?”

Scriptures give particular and E NCOURAGE Your Sisters ✔ The practical directions for utilizing leave widows out of your ✔ Don’t social plans. Often when a husband

dies, his wife is no longer invited out to dinner since it’s “a couple thing.” Then invite a couple of widows!

sure that those who don’t have ✔ Make a husband in the assembly (single, widowed, unsaved husband, etc.) still have a voice in the affairs of the local church. Encourage them to express their views (often the most perceptive ones) privately to an elder or by a note in a box provided.

12 UPLOOK • SEPTEMBER 2001

widowed women in a visitation ministry (1 Tim. 5:3-15). They should not have to eke out a living with a low-level job if their past life has been one of service to the Lord and His people. Financial fellowship should be had with them, providing resources not only to live on, but to purchase necessary supplies for their visitation or evangelism ministry. As Paul enjoined: “Help those women which laboured with me in the gospel” (Phil. 4:3).

CONFERENCE REPORT

RISE UP & WORK

Pray for blessing! Plan your trip! Prepare for a great time!

• Pray that the Lord will be given the preeminence at the conference and that each one involved will rely solely on Him for needed direction and strength.

December 26-29, 2001 (DV) Indianapolis, Indiana

TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION:

• Pray that the organizers and planning committee will have divine wisdom for all of the practical decisions they face. • Pray that the keynote speakers will have a sense of the need of the Church today, a vision for the future and reliance on the Holy Spirit to speak through them.

If you would like to travel to the conference with others from your area, or if you have space in your vehicle for someone who needs a ride, next month’s issue of Uplook will provide a the name and phone number or e-mail address of a travel coordinator in your area.

• Pray for the seminar leaders that they will allow the Lord to prepare them to deliver teaching that will equip those in attendance for their various ministries.

Individuals from a number of locations throughout North America will be arranging for buses to be chartered. We know of buses coming from the Winnipeg area and the Toronto area. More info to follow.

• Pray that each attendee will receive ministry from heaven that meets the special need of their heart and that lives will be impacted for eternity.

Rise Up & Work P. O. Box 3640 Grand Rapids, MI 49501-3640

Conference Hot Line (616) 456-9166 Conference Fax Line (616) 456-5522 E-mail: risework@uplook.org Web Address: www.risework.com www.uplook.org • SEPTEMBER 2001

GFP STAFF REPORT

ANNOUNCEMENT

Opening of GFP bookstore New facility in Ontario also houses distribution center

n Saturday, September 22, Gospel Folio Press will celebrate the grand opening of their new bookstore in Port Colborne, Ontario. Area folks are invited to drop by for a tour of the new facility and to browse the selection of solid Christian literature. The store will officially open at 10:00 with a ribbon cutting ceremony and a short devotional message from God’s Word. Super-specials will be offered hourly between 10 and 3 on many products. Children are invited to enjoy a Bible story and craft time at 10:30 and 12:30. Adults will receive a free gift bag including a book, a tape and other GFP products. Coloring books and sticker books will be given to the children, as supplies last. Donuts and coffee will be available throughout the day and a free barbeque lunch will be served at noon. Come join us as we celebrate what the Lord has done!

A wrap-around view of half of the bookstore

The aim of the GFP bookstore is to provide Christian literature that the customer can trust to be scripturally sound. It carries Bibles, reference material, commentaries, doctrinal, devotional, biographies, children’s books, gospel tracts, music and gift items.

We’re thankful for folks like Sid & Karen Halsband (on furlough from Botswana) and their boys, Andrew, Jonathan, and Nicolas (center), who worked hard to help build the shelving for the store with Joshua Fitzhugh (Grand Rapids, MI).

Three transport trucks hauled 64 tons of books from Grand Rapids, MI to Port Colborne, ON. How grateful we are for brothers and sisters on both ends of the move who showed their support by helping to pack and unpack.

14 UPLOOK • SEPTEMBER 2001

An outside view of GFP’s new facility.

Dr. R. E. Harlow (founder of Emmaus Bible College and Everyday Publications) is a neighbor of the new GFP bookstore in Port Colborne. He was the first customer.

GFP is located at 304 Killaly Street West in Port Colborne. It is about a twenty minute drive from Niagara Falls, Buffalo, NY and St. Catharines, Ontario.

DR. J. M. KELLY

BACK of the CLOUDS

Disappointments Are they really His appointments?

e never travel very far on our pilgrimage until we are aware that God is intervening in our lives to effect His purposes of love. But often these interventions cause us much disappointment and are contrary to our natural desires. The parable of the Rich Farmer in Luke 12 is often used in the preaching of the gospel, but it contains a lesson for all of us. There are two contrasting statements. The first is, “And he said, This will I do,” and the other is, “But God said unto him.” Often a wide gap exists between our intentions and the plan that God has laid down for our lives. How important to learn to cooperate with God, yielding ourselves to His will. Unfortunately the rich farmer is not the only person ruined by success. Material things often crowd out spiritual interests. When life revolves around self, when God’s claims are ignored, it must be expected that He will intervene to save us from the fruits of our folly. “For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth” (Heb. 12:6). “But God said….” Even when His word seems unkindly, His voice is that of wisdom and love. Beyond the clouds of sorrow there always remains the sunshine of the eternal Father’s care and forbearance. We should always remember that He is the God of love, and His purposes are far beyond our knowing. When unpleasant events befall us, we should seek to recognize that “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes” (Ps. 118:23). David, a man after God’s own heart, had the laudable ambition to

build a house for God’s earthly habitation, but God said, “Thou shalt not build a house unto My name” (1 Chron. 22:8). It was a perfectly praiseworthy desire and a fit expression of his devotion, yet it was not in agreement with the divine purpose. Many Christians, like David, have desired to do something great for their Lord, such as giving up their lives to service in the foreign field. Yet God has hedged up the way and prevented the offering of such a noble sacrifice. We often hear outgoing missionaries tell how the Lord has “opened the way” for them, but it would be quite as interesting to hear the life stories of those who

attempted to go to the foreign field and found that the doors were effectively shut against them. God is not working to baffle our energies or disappoint our hopes. He seeks to lead us into paths where we will find our highest development. A God who delights to enrich, “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32). Paul attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not allow him, and afterwards he had a vision which assured him that the Lord had called him to preach the gospel in Macedonia. God intervened to direct his missionary work, and led him

www.uplook.org • SEPTEMBER 2001

DISAPPOINTMENTS into his greatest field of service. God’s deprivations prepare us for greater enrichment. Joseph was forcibly removed from the comforts of his home, but the pit and the prison were the necessary preludes to the governorship of Egypt. When he was at the height of his power he could say to his guilty brothers: “So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God” (Gen. 45:8). When the sisters of Bethany sent the message, “Behold, he whom Thou lovest is sick,” it was a call to hurry to their help. But instead of immediately responding, the Saviour remained two days in the place where He was. If He had acted at once He would doubtless have rescued Lazarus from the clutch of death. But He wanted to give them assurance of the life to come and of His triumph over death. Paul was given a thorn in the flesh, and besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from him, but instead of giving him health, God bestowed on him richer supplies of divine grace. God sometimes refuses the lesser that He might give the greater. Paul sought strength in himself, but received strength in God. The last glimpse the Scriptures give of Paul tells of a

bitter disappointment. The Apostle wrote that at his trial, “No man stood with me, but all men forsook me” (2 Tim. 4:16). Long before, he had addressed the Roman Christians as beloved of God, called to be saints, and had thanked God that their faith was spoken of throughout the whole world. When he was drawing near to Rome these saints came to meet him, and their welcome cheered him. “Whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage” (Acts 28:15). Thus we can readily understand how disappointed he felt when all the brethren whom he loved and esteemed forsook him in his hour of need. Yet he triumphantly declared, “Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me.” When friends failed him, he seemed to cling more closely to that Friend that sticks closer than a brother. The failure of his friends caused him to seek more earnestly his never-failing Saviour, and there he found both strength and confidence. “Ill that God blesses is our good, And unblest good is ill; And all is right that seems most wrong, If it be His sweet will.”

God’s Sure Purpose J. G. MCVICAR

Ihopes. t is God’s will, and I delight in it even when it disappoints my “As for God, His way is perfect”; He has a purpose which He is steadily carrying out, and He is making all things work together to accomplish it. That purpose is that we may be conformed to the image of His Son. In spite of all our perverseness and unbelief, and the thousand other things that we are ashamed of as we look back on our past lives, that purpose will one day be completely accomplished. How fine we shall be then! It will first puzzle, then astound us to pick each other out in our new garments from the shining crowd of the redeemed! “We shall be like Him.”

16 UPLOOK • SEPTEMBER 2001

BOUQUET of BLESSINGS

Rays of hope

Dark clouds can be a fitting backdrop for golden shafts of light. Behind the cloud the starlight lurks, Through showers the sunbeams fall; For God, who loveth all His works Has left His hope for all. —John Greenleaf Whittier

The devil is but a whetstone to sharpen the faith and patience of the saints. —Samuel Rutherford

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. Jeremiah 17:7

Encompassed with clouds of distress, Just ready all hope to resign; I pant for the light of Thy face, And fear it will never be mine.

We need hope for living, far more than for dying. Dying is easy work, compared to living. Dying is a moment’s transition; living, a transaction of years. It is the length of the rope that puts the sag in it. Hope tightens the words and tunes up the heartstrings. Telescope Messenger

You’ll give up on yourself before God will. Light and Love God is Light! And over all the darkness Some time shall the glorious light prevail; Therefore unafraid my heart is waiting— Waiting, underneath the dusky veil Of the night that for a little longer Hides His shining from our wistful sight. In the morning He will lift the shadow— Waken us to only, only light. God is Love! Tho’ earth has much of sorrow, Though perplexity and pain abound. Some time He will take His power and govern— Some time will our lives with love be crowned. Heart, be brave! O heart, be strong and patient! Bear your cross awhile, and ask not why. God is Love! It is enough to trust Him; Love and light will triumph by and by. —Edith Hickman Divall

Dishearten’d with waiting so long, I sink at Thy feet with my load; All plaintive I pour out my song, And stretch forth my hands unto God. Speak, Saviour, for sweet is Thy voice; Thy presence is fair to behold; Attend to my sorrows and cries, And groanings that cannot be told. If sometimes I strive as I mourn, My hold of Thy promise to keep, The billows more fiercely return, And plunge me again in the deep. While harass’d and cast from Thy sight, The tempter suggests with a roar, “The Lord hath forsaken thee quite, Thy God will be gracious no more.” Almighty to rescue Thou art; Thy grace is my shield and my tow’r; Come, succor and gladden my heart, Let this be the day of Thy pow’r. —A. Toplady In Man’s Search for Meaning, Dr. Victor Frankl, an Austrian psychiatrist, observed that a prisoner did not continue to live very long after hope was lost. But even the slightest ray of hope—the rumor of better food, a whisper about an escape—helped some of the camp inmates to continue living under systematic horror.

For Thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness. Psalm 18:28 www.uplook.org • SEPTEMBER 2001

PERSONAL HYGIENE

HAROLD P. BARKER

A lid for the soul

Keeping out the defiling influences around

hat is the significance of a statement like this today? “Every open vessel, which hath no covering bound upon it, is unclean” (Num. 19:15). Surely the circumstances to which it refers no longer exist. Is not the quotation taken from an order of ritual that has long ago been superseded by the clear light of the gospel? The chapter from which the words are quoted is one which deals with a subject of great practical importance. Of course the teaching is clothed in typical language. It is nonetheless clear on that account. The ritual of the red heifer concerns the issue of defilement contracted by any of God’s people and how such defilement may be removed. Will anyone deny that this is a matter of great practical moment for us Christians? (See Heb. 12:24; 1 Pet. 1:2 concerning the blood of sprinkling.) All around are corrupting influences, and by painful experience we have learned how easily they defile the soul. The contents of an open vessel, unprotected from the pestilential atmosphere in an eastern climate, easily became contaminated. It thus serves as an illustration of what we become if we are left exposed to the polluting influences of the world. Hence the importance of having what we may call a lid on our souls. What is it that constitutes this protective lid? The fear of God; walking with God; the consciousness of the presence of God; the subjection of the soul to the revelation of God in grace—these form an ample protection from the damaging envi-

18 UPLOOK • SEPTEMBER 2001

ronment around us. Now to have this covering upon our souls, it must be placed there. And the right time to place the protecting lid upon the soul is surely at the beginning of the day, before we mingle with persons and come in contact with things from which contamination might come. Not that the early morning is the only time for this. Whenever spiritual defense is needed it becomes us to see that the lid is adjusted for the soul’s protection. Seeking the face of God in prayer and confession, diligent and devout reading of the Scriptures: these are the means by which the soul obtains its covering. But neither prayer nor study will effect this unless they lead to what has been aptly termed the practice of the presence of God. In connection with the teaching of this Old Testament type there are two things that must be distinguished: 1. Things that may loosen or remove the lid. 2. Things that contaminate the contents of the vessel. The contaminating influences are wrong things, things of the world which in themselves are sinful, things which are easily recognized as hurtful to the soul. Not so the things that loosen the lid. These may be things which in themselves are harmless and right. It is of such things that one frequently hears the question asked: “Why should I not do it? What harm is there in it?” The question, however, should be framed differently. It is

not to the point to say that such and such a thing does not defile the contents of a vessel. Does it loosen the lid, and thereby leave the contents exposed to influences that are corrupting? The reading of a book, the spending of an hour with a companion, an act of self-indulgence, the neglect of prayer—such things as these may easily loosen the lid. Does reading a particular book blunt the edge of your appetite for the Word of God? Then reading it has loosened the covering of your soul and the influences that corrupt will find a more ready entrance. The same may be said of many things. Notice in our text the word “bound.” The vessel was only free from uncleanness that had its covering bound upon it. A lid that is bound upon the vessel with cords is not easily loosened. This is the kind of covering that we need. Morning by morning, and whenever occasion arises, we need to get the fastening of our soul’s lid tightened. We need to draw near to God and breathe the atmosphere of His holy presence. There we need to continually resort that the protective grace of His presence may be the covering of our souls, preserving them from exposure to the corrupting influences of the age.

SPECIAL REPORT

DIME

It’s worth a lot more than that!

IME is an acronym in Spanish for “International Distributor of Evangelical Materials.” The Spanish word “dime” (pronounced dee-may) means “tell me,” the cry of millions who have not yet heard the Good News of salvation through faith in Christ. Pedro and Lucy Dillon started the work of DIME shortly after they emigrated from Argentina to California in 1964. They soon discovered that there was very little Christian literature available in Spanish in the area. They began accumulating what they could buy, nationally and internationally, and reselling it from their home. They also purchased a small offset press, which they set up in their garage to print tracts. This work grew so that Pedro and Lucy were commended to full-time literature work by the saints at Hillview Bible Chapel in Cupertino, California, in 1973. The work grew so that in 1976 it became necessary for them to move to a larger house. The Lord led them to a house with a full basement (which is unheard of in this area) in which they did the printing. As well as distributing materials to Spanish-speaking people throughout the United States, DIME has sent large quantities of books, hymn books, tracts, and Sunday School materials to Central and South America, Spain and other countries where there are

communities of Spanish-speaking people. By 1995 it became necessary to rent additional space for the printing and warehousing. Again the Lord provided space just two blocks from the Dillon’s home, so that time is not wasted in commuting. Pedro became interested in sports evangelistic literature about the time of the 1994 World Soccer Cup games, which took place in the United States. At that time they published their first booklet, “Up for the Cup.” This consisted of twelve pages of schedules for the games, some information about the World Cup and an evangelistic article. This booklet became the pattern for other booklets to follow, including one for the

1996 Olympics, and one for the NFL each year since 1997. Also they produced one booklet for a NASCAR race and the 1999 Women’s World Soccer Cup. These booklets soon proved to be easy to distribute and likely to be kept as a souvenir. The cover makes them attractive to sports fans who want to keep them for the schedule, which also has space for recording the results of each event. The purpose of these booklets is to

DIME use the common interest of sports as a bridge to introduce them to Christian athletes and the gospel message. It provides the fans with an opportunity to receive free literature, such as Bible courses and Sports Spectrum, a Christian sports magazine. Space is provided on the back cover of the booklets to include the address of the assembly distributing the booklets. The response to these booklets has been gratifying. DIME has received more than 600 requests for literature related to the 2000 NFL booklet. Even seven years after the World Cup, they continue to receive requests. DIME is now in the process of distributing “More than Gold,” a booklet prepared for the 2002 Winter Olympics to be held in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the surrounding areas. This booklet also contains a map and schedule of the “Torch Run” which precedes the games. The torch will be paraded through more than 100 cities between December 4, 2001, and February 8, 2002. This gives many assemblies an exceptional opportunity to distribute the booklets to thousands who will be lining the streets waiting for the torch. For a sample copy of the booklet and an order form, write to: More than Gold P. O. Box 490 Cupertino, CA 95015 Phone: 408-253-9096 e-mail: sports@dime.org www.dime.org

UPLOOK • SEPTEMBER 2001

T. J. BARNARDO

IT’S A CLASSIC!

Help in time of need “Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there.”

ho can estimate fully God’s ways? Prosperity in earthly things, or even in the result of service for Christ, does not always go hand in hand with the soul’s advancement. Who does not know that Padan-aram, Succoth, and Shechem too often detain the steps of Peniel’s faltering, limping prince, and Bethel’s worshipping pilgrim? And yet, blessed be His Name, Bethel’s God follows Bethel’s pilgrim through all his wanderings and mistakes, and never rests until, with light and power breaking in upon his soul, the loved child hears and obeys the voice, “Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there.” Christian reader, have you never, in the midst of prosperity, had to retire to your closet, and, with quivering lip and well-nigh broken heart, poured out into the ear of Jesus your tale of sorrow, and the humbling acknowledgment of your failure, incompetence, and unworthiness? Men may have talked of your success, and you may have been tempted to listen to their tale, and at last begun to believe it true; and while contemplating with what you perhaps deemed only a pardonable amount of satisfaction in your work and your success, the forgotten and jealous Hand by whom all was sustained and accomplished permits the real burden to rest upon your shoulders. It was but for a moment, yet it has been sufficient; for who can recognize in the trembling, humbled, sorrowing child of today the self-satisfying, confident servant of yesterday? Little things—trifles, permitted

and retained yesterday—are now brought forth, and another Samuel “hews Agag in pieces before the Lord God in Gilgal.” As someone has sweetly said: “In this moment of softened restoration, ‘the little foxes’ are taken, and a highway made in the desert for the King Himself.” Is this the end? Oh, no! Others had not detected, it may be, the backsliding so terribly felt by the soul itself; and so, also, others may scarcely notice the renewed and softened glory seen in the face of one whom even Peniel and Mahanaim cannot now satisfy, but who has returned to and dwells at Bethel. And in the enjoyment of it the soul is ready to say, “Let all perish: my prestige among men, my fair name yes, all, Lord, so that this hallowed fellowship with Thee be not broken.” Allow a fellow-pilgrim and fellow-laborer, who has known a little of Shechem’s trouble and Bethel’s joy, to leave you one result of his brief experience. Distrust yourself, your plans, your efforts, and your successes; habitually think little of yourself before God; and above all things, avoid listening to the praise which even your fellow Christians will pour into your ears. And if you fail in this, better, far better, to relinquish the service which is accompanied with apparent external successes, than carry about a soul dwarfed in its affections and communings, and which has exchanged to its immense loss in time, a low place before God for a high one before men. To the Christian vox populi is never vox Dei.

Thomas John Barnardo was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1845. Converted in 1862, he moved to London to train as a medical missionary. But he was so moved by the plight of homeless children in England that he dedicated his life to their welfare. In 1867 he founded the East End Juvenile Mission which rapidly expanded into an immense ministry called Dr. Barnardo’s Homes (he obtained medical degrees from the Edinburgh College of Surgeons in 1876 and 1879). Barnardo’s motto was “No Destitute Child Ever Refused Admission.” Besides providing homes for children, his programs included social and evangelistic centers for working men, a boarding-out system, and an emigration plan under which boys and girls were sent to Canada for training and settlement. During his lifetime Barnardo and his fellow workers rescued and trained almost 60,000 children and otherwise assisted about 250,000. —Who’s Who in Christian History This short message was delivered by Barnardo in 1874.

www.uplook.org • SEPTEMBER 2001

DARE TO THINK

FORGIVENESS

When we say we have been forgiven, what does that really mean?

he apostle Paul wrote, “To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe” (Phil. 3:1). How often we who think we are “mature” are impatient with a young preacher when we hear him speak about the “simple and basic” elements of the faith. “Oh, when will this babbler finish so that we can move on to deeper things?” we might say to ourselves. Yet Paul did not despise such review lessons. In fact, he said that it is a safeguard for us all. How true this is, especially with the most fundamental concept of the gospel: How are one’s sins forgiven? One might think that all believers are rock solid on the gospel, but the frank reality is that many do not have a good grasp of the fundamentals. Their thinking is confused, uncertain. Paul himself asked for clearness in his gospel preaching. He said, “…and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel” (Eph. 6:19). If the apostle needed such help, what about us? Let us, therefore, have a brief refresher course on how one’s sins are forgiven. The Ground of Forgiveness Much confusion exists and many false ideas abound concerning the forgiveness of sins. For example, Muslims believe that fasting from all food and drink from sunrise to sunset during the month of Ramadan will make atonement for their own sins over the previous year. However, the only ground for true forgiveness is through the blood of Jesus Christ, “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Eph. 1:7). How can a guilty sinner be made right with God? Only through the blood of Christ. “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). Instead of us dying, Christ died on the cross for our sins. All our sin was laid on Him when He was nailed to the cross, “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21). He died, His blood was shed, so that we might be brought to God, “for Christ also hath

22 UPLOOK • SEPTEMBER 2001

once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God…” (1 Pet. 3:18). This forgiveness of sins is not an ongoing process, but happens instantaneously when a lost soul puts his trust in Christ: “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:13). At the very instant a sinner calls on the Lord, a divine transaction takes place—a soul passes from death to life and receives the forgiveness of sins from its penalty. Is there anything as beautiful and as simple? Yet, in Christendom, confusion abounds as to exactly what sins are forgiven at this precious moment. The frank reality is that many people believe that forgiveness is only from their past sins. The Extent of Forgiveness When a person calls on Christ for salvation, are only his past sins forgiven? The answer is that all of one’s sins are forgiven of the penalty of being cast into the lake of fire, even one’s future sins. How can such a bold declaration be substantiated? From the Lord Himself! He stated, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (Jn. 5:24). Praise God! A saved sinner “shall not come into condemnation.” This means that he who believes on Him will never be condemned to the lake of fire. Why? Because the whole issue of the sinner deserving the penalty of the lake of fire has been resolved, the debt has been paid, the matter of judgment for sin is finished. This includes our future sins since all our sins were future when He died for us. Consider the thief on the cross. When he called on the Lord for salvation, what did the Lord declare? “Verily, I say unto thee, to day shalt thou be with Me in paradise” (Lk. 23:43). At that very instant, the repentant thief was declared fit for heaven. Yet, was it not several hours before he died? Is it possible that during those next hours the thief sinned with a wicked thought or angry word against the mockers who surrounded him? Frankly, the thief would have been more than a

FORGIVENESS man if he did not sin during that time. But when did Christ declare him fit for heaven? Was it during the thief’s final, dying breath when he no longer had the possibility of committing any future sin? No! It was hours before when He said, “Verily, I say unto thee, to day shalt thou be with Me in paradise.” From that moment, there was no condemnation against that sinner. It was at that precise second that the penalty of sin was settled once and for all. All of his sins were immediately forgiven. The condemnation of being cast into the lake of fire was completely and forever annulled. Two Types of Forgiveness Perhaps someone will object to the above by citing a verse like 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness,” stating that forgiveness is not all-inclusive, but is dependent on the sinner confessing his sins on a continual basis. To answer this objection, the careful Bible student must note that two kinds of forgiveness are found in the Bible. He must learn to distinguish them, or else he will always be mired in a sea of doctrinal confusion and doubt. In short, the Bible speaks of judicial and parental forgiveness. Although these names are not found in the Bible, their concepts most certainly are. Judicial forgiveness is the once-for-all act where God forgives a repentant sinner of the penalty of his sins (eternal death) the moment he believes in Christ (Jn. 5:24; Eph. 1:7; Col. 2:13). Thus, the forgiven sinner enters into a new relationship: God is no longer his Judge, but his Father. In an unguarded moment, the child of God commits a sin. What happens? Is the child in danger of eternal death? No. Is he cast out of the family? No, thank the Lord! Among the great benefits of the New Covenant is that it is unilateral: God commits Himself to perform it and there are no conditions on the human side. And with respect to sins, it is clearly stated concerning those who belong to Him: “Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more” (Heb. 10:17). However, when a child of God sins, his fellowship (not his relationship) with the Father is broken. He receives parental forgiveness as soon as he confesses his sin. Thus, parental forgiveness involves the restoration of broken fellowship with the Father (1 Jn. 1:6; 1:9; Ps. 32:5). Now one might think that the above is Bible 101, but many do not grasp these important distinctions. For example, a missionary once said this to me concerning 1 John 1:9, …We can only say what scriptures clearly teach over and over, that a TRUE Christian (a sheep) does and must con-

tinually forsake and confess all known sin in his life. 1st John does not speak of parental but of REAL forgiveness.1 (Emphasis in the original).

This interpretation is utterly wrong. Real forgiveness (i.e., judicial forgiveness) is not dependent on whether or not I forsake and confess “all known sin” in my life. If it was, who then could be saved? While a believer will naturally confess and forsake sin as the fruit of salvation, continual confession and forsaking of all known sin are not the conditions for “real” forgiveness (eternal death). The necessary and sufficient condition for that is believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. Confusion about these two types of forgiveness will naturally result in confusion about the various tenses of salvation. We are saved from the penalty of sin (e.g., Eph. 2:8 and Titus 3:5), we are being saved from the power of sin (e.g., Phil. 2:12 and Rom. 5:10), and we will be saved from the presence of sin one day (e.g., Rom. 13:11 and Heb. 9:28). I recall a conversation with a believer who had been sitting for three or four years under the ministry of a preacher who did not distinguish between the various types of salvation. When asked to explain Philippians 2:12, “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,” the poor fellow started to go around in circles. After about five minutes of embarrassing and poor reasoning, he gave up. He really had no clue on how to explain it. However, from what he did say, his emphasis was on keeping one’s salvation by works. It is no wonder. When the preacher is confused, his disciples will be also. What happened next? A 15-year-old boy, saved for about a year, raised his hand and said, “Excuse me, but Philippians 2:12 isn’t speaking of salvation from the penalty of sin. That happened at the moment of conversion. It’s speaking about salvation from the power of sin—how we need to be very careful in our daily walk, knowing that we can easily disgrace our reputations and the Lord’s. That’s why we should have fear and trembling, not from the fear that we can lose our salvation.” Not bad for a fifteen-year-old! The Error of Partial Forgiveness When a person doesn’t clearly understand the ground of forgiveness, the extent of it, and the various types of biblical forgiveness, the natural outcome will be a belief in partial forgiveness at the moment of conversion. That is, only past sins are forgiven. Quoting a well-known Mennonite teacher, we see this confusion: www.uplook.org • SEPTEMBER 2001

FORGIVENESS When we seek the Lord in true repentance and all that it involves, and trust in the promises of God, we are forgiven all our past sins…It is God’s will that we should ever grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth...So disobedience and neglect must be guarded against, and if not, then they who have been the most brightly saved may become darkly and hopelessly damned (Heb. 6:4-6)…It is a great error that some teach that if we are once in grace, we are sure finally to be saved, and that one’s standing or acceptance cannot be forfeited and that it is not necessary to salvation that we are faithful in obedience to the Word… “Once a son, always a son” is a false doctrine.2

past sins, but sins committed in the future must be continually cleansed through religious acts, obedience to some standard, or, as in the above case, through ongoing confession. Yet, the Bible says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9). This means that forgiveness from the penalty of the lake of fire is entirely by grace. It is not based on fasting, religious acts, the frequency of my prayers of confession, or on how holy a life I live.

This is a clear denial that forgiveness is complete at the moment a sinner calls upon the Lord. Instead, according to this teacher, only one’s past sins are forgiven at conversion, and the forgiveness of future sins is dependent on one’s performance. Notice also that he denies the truth of eternal security. Notice also the total confusion from this evangelical preacher. Quoting a cassette tape,

When people do not have a clear grasp of the doctrine of forgiveness, another fruit (bad fruit) will be the denial of eternal security. “Be careful, or else” is the theme of such teachers. Listen to this evangelical preacher.

Now here we have 1 John 1:9. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” So we actually obtain forgiveness from God and the penalty, eternal penalty, or the penalty of hell is canceled. When, if we let our sins accumulate in our life, our sins will condemn us, our sins will judge us at the last great day. But when we confess that, that clears the slate, it brings forgiveness... [we are] accepted back into Him, into His arms, into His family... Confession of sin applies the blood. Now the blood was shed for the sins of the whole world, was it not?... And as far as God is concerned they are atoned for, but as far as man is concerned they are still there until they are repented of and confessed and then the blood is applied. The blood is not applied on all sins, as I understand it, before they are confessed. They will stand before you, they will haunt you, they will judge you at the great day when you stand before God unless you have confessed them.3

Obviously, this preacher does not believe in a oncefor-all act of complete forgiveness, but rather in partial forgiveness. Imagine the poor soul who listens to such teaching. Would he not believe that forgiveness from the penalty of hell is an ongoing process dependent on continual confession? How could such a soul sleep at night? Perhaps he had forgotten to confess something! Partial forgiveness is directly related to conditional salvation. Such a philosophy says that, yes, through faith in Christ, a sinner is saved, but not completely. The initial act of belief in Christ only forgives one of his

24 UPLOOK • SEPTEMBER 2001

The Denial of Eternal Security

I believe that I finished two weeks ago by saying that I don’t believe that you can lose your salvation. And I want to reaffirm that this morning. I do not believe that you can lose your salvation. Many times people ask me that, especially because my background is Baptist. And people often ask me, “Brother Denny, do you believe that you can lose your salvation?” And I tell them, No. That puts their heart at ease right away. But I do also finish by saying, But I believe that you can throw it away.4

Clever words—you can’t lose your salvation, but you can throw it away! But the end result is the same—a denial of complete forgiveness and eternal security of the believer. It becomes a system of salvation by works. The doctrine of eternal security is non-negotiable. Anyone with a clear understanding of the gospel and the complete forgiveness of sins will understand that a denial of it leads to “another gospel.” Listen to R. E. Harlow: Eternal security is one of the most cherished doctrines of Scripture…Without eternal security, you have to add works to keep yourself saved. This subtly, but profoundly, modifies the gospel of God’s grace. You are saying that the work of Christ was not and is not adequate to save entirely. In this way people are getting “another gospel” which is not another. The preacher, even an apostle or angel, is under the curse of God, repeat, the curse of God (Gal. 1:8-9).5

An Examination of Complete Forgiveness Now that we have had a review lesson, let us take an examination. The exam consists of only two problems, listed below. Each problem is a teaching from an evangelical preacher that, we will suppose, has been invited

FORGIVENESS to speak in your assembly. Your grade will be based on how well you can discern the error. Obviously, you will fail the exam if you are fooled. Go ahead and start with the first problem. Hebrews 12:14 says, “...and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” Brothers and sisters, tonight I want to say to you that without holiness we are not going to make it…There are three stages of salvation. The first stage is justification. That is the time when we are born again…After justification comes stage 2 and that is sanctification and that is a holy life…Stage 3 is glorification… You must have justification and sanctification to get glorification…Let me give you some biblical mathematics tonight. Justification plus sanctification equals glorification. You got that? Justification plus sanctification equals glorification. But, justification minus sanctification equals damnation…And there is a philosophy today going around that justification minus sanctification equals a loss of rewards. But the Bible says that justification minus sanctification is a loss of your soul.6

Your answer should be that not only is this bad mathematics, it is also very bad doctrine. According to the author there are stages of salvation, not complete forgiveness. The Bible says, “whom He justified, them He also glorified” (Rom. 8:30). Likewise, sanctification becomes a condition of glorification instead of the fruit of salvation. Now continue with the second problem. In Christ’s blood we have the forgiveness of all our sins P.P.&F [past, present and future]…It’s [sic] all by grace, only His blood, by faith in Him. How & [sic] when does all of God’s grace become practical? Now the scriptures also say if we walk in the light...the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sins. If we confess, He forgives. If we sin, we have an Advocate…We need Christ from the beginning to end. We need His blood to continually cleanse us from our sins.7 (emphasis in the original).

How confusing! First of all, the fundamental mistake of this author is that he mixes together statements from what looks like Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 2:13 and 1 John 1:7-2:1, verses that do not speak of the same aspect of forgiveness at all. Ephesians 1:7 and Colossians 2:13 speak of judicial forgiveness, whereas 1 John speaks of parental forgiveness. Secondly, since the two aspects of forgiveness are lumped together, the poor reader is then forced to conclude that the author is, in some way, simultaneously speaking of both types of forgiveness. Thirdly, the author then comes to a very confusing

conclusion concerning the forgiveness of sins. On one hand, he says, in Christ’s blood we have the forgiveness of all of our sins, but note carefully, not quite yet! The blood is only applied as we fulfill the condition of confession. Only then is the sinner cleansed, and this cleansing takes place on a continual basis, not a oncefor-all act! This gradual application of the blood of Christ sounds very much like Catholic doctrine. Note carefully that the author places a condition on receiving forgiveness. Our spiritual radars should go on full alert whenever we hear a preacher speak of a condition (besides faith in Christ) for the forgiveness of sin without a clear distinction being made between the two aspects of forgiveness. Any message is suspect when it comes across that salvation and forgiveness are never fully complete or secure, only past sins are forgiven, and the forgiveness of future sins is conditional on something the sinner must do. Did you pass the exam? Conclusion Confusion about forgiveness of sins is nothing new. Even in New Testament days false teachers tried to persuade the believers that, yes, one needed to have faith in Christ, but one also needed to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses in order to be saved (Acts 15:5). Fortunately, the brethren quickly concluded that such teachings were “subverting your souls” (Acts 15:24). We need to be just as discerning with the gospel today. May God give us all a baptism of clear seeing on the vital subject of the forgiveness of sins! Endnotes 1. Personal letter on file, emphasis in the original. 2. Rightly Dividing the Scriptures, George R. Brunk, Christian Light Publications, Inc., Harrisonburg, VA, pp. 46-47. 3. The Confession of Sin, Mose Stoltzfus, Cassette tape #1452, 1994, Charity Gospel Tape Ministry, Leola, PA, USA. 4. Warnings from Hebrews on Perseverance (Part 2), Denny Kenaston, Cassette tape #1556, Charity Gospel Tape Ministry, Leola, PA, USA. 5. The Right to Die, R. E. Harlow, Missions Magazine, January 1999. 6. Without Holiness No Man Shall See God, Jerry Mawhorr, Cassette tape #2002, 1997, Charity Gospel Tape Ministry, Leola, PA, USA. 7. Personal letter on file, emphasis in the original.

George Sturm www.uplook.org • SEPTEMBER 2001

GRACE at WORK

WILLIAM MACDONALD

Repaying evil with good

A true life story. Fictitious names assigned for obvious reasons

rnie was an officer in the U. S. Army, stationed at a large base in the U. S. Elise was content to forego an outside career; she felt that her calling was to stay at home and raise their two children. Apart from the usual minor disagreements, theirs was a happy marriage. Then Ernie was transferred to Japan. It was at a time when families were not free to accompany the parent. But this family kept in close touch by mail. It was always a high spot in the week when a letter arrived from Daddy. The children would sit on the floor near Mother while she read the letter to them. The news became the subject of discussion for the rest of the day. It seemed that Daddy was not far away. So it was a cause of alarm when a week passed without a letter. Elise had a vivid imagination. She pictured Ernie ill, or in an accident, or off on some dangerous, secret mission. Two weeks passed, and no letter. If there had been an accident or illness, she would have been notified by now. Three weeks and still no mail. Four. Finally a letter arrived, and the blow fell. Elise’s recent fears had become reality. It was incredible. What had she done to deserve this? She was devastated, too crushed to share it with the children. Finally one of the kids asked, “Mommy, what’s wrong? Has something happened to Daddy? What did he say in the letter?” It was torture to tell them that their father had fallen in love with another woman. She saw the look of shock on their faces. They obviously couldn’t take it all in at the time. But

26 UPLOOK • SEPTEMBER 2001

they did realize that their Daddy wouldn’t be coming back to them any more. Finally, one of them said, “Mommy, can I ask you something? Just because Daddy doesn’t love us any more, does that mean we can’t love him?” Elise was struck by the question. It reminded her of Psalm 8:2: “Out of the mouth of babes and infants You have ordained strength.” In her desolation and sorrow, the idea had never occurred to her. After wrestling with the question, she replied, “ No, we’re allowed to love him.” But there was a lump in her throat when she said it. Her little son said, “Well, will you write him and ask him to please keep writing to us because we still want to love him?” This meant that letters would perhaps still come from him. As they did, the details of his unfaithfulness unfolded. He had fallen in love with his 15-year-old servant girl. Subsequently, he had several children from that marriage. Elise still had a hard time in believing what had happened. But she was still not shockproof. Another outrage was in the wings. It was a letter from Ernie. “Dear Elise: I am sorry to be writing like this to you, but I have been diagnosed with cancer, and do not have long to live. I have forfeited my pension, and we are living on a shoestring. After I die, would you be willing to send some money to help my family?” After reading it, Elise said to herself, “Well, now I’ve heard everything.” She couldn’t believe his gall and impenitence. Not a word of

apology. No confession or request for forgiveness. It was incomprehensible. But on more sober reflection, she remembered what her son had asked, “Mommy, just because Daddy doesn’t love us any more, does that mean we can’t love him?” So she wrote back and explained that although she would not be able to send money, there was something she would do. She wrote, “I’ll tell you what I’ll do. Why don’t you arrange to have them come to America after you’ve passed away? They can stay in this home and I’ll teach them how to be self-supporting.” And that’s what happened. Elise later explained, “I had two choices. I could look back over the past and curse that man for what he did to me, or I could thank God for giving me the privilege of shining His light in a very dark tunnel in this world.” No doubt, shining His light in a very dark tunnel included sharing the gospel with this adopted family so that they too could become lights for the Lord. Archbishop Temple was right when he said, “To return evil for good is devilish. To return good for good is human. To return good for evil is divine.” This story is taken from William MacDonald’s new book, Living Above the Average, soon to be released from Gospel Folio Press.

L. W. G. ALEXANDER

LET’S BE PRACTICAL

Seventy times seven The measure of true forgiveness

he prayer which Christ taught His disciples falls into two parts. The first is Godward; the second is manward. The former has in view the glory of God; the latter deals with the needs of men. There are three Godward requests: “Hallowed be Thy name…Thy kingdom come…Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” There are also three manward requests: “Give us this day our daily bread…forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us…lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” These latter three touch man’s greatest needs— daily bread, daily forgiveness, and daily preservation. Notice that no conditions are attached to the Godward requests, and none to the first and the last of the manward requests. On the other hand there is a definite condition associated with the central manward request: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass

against us.” The Lord, in the most explicit language, emphasizes this: “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive you.” It is clear, therefore, that forgiving others is of vital importance—in fact of far greater importance than is generally recognized. If we refuse to give of our bread to the hungry, we know of no scripture that would lead us to expect that God will treat us in the same way and withhold His supply of our bread on the morrow; but we possess definite and repeated verses to assure us that if we refuse to forgive our fellowmen, with absolute certainty, God will repay us in kind, and will refuse to forgive our trespasses. This is an intensely solemn matter; have we thought of it sufficiently? Have we laid it to heart? How much unforgiven sin may there not be among the people of

God just because they fail, or refuse, to forgive one another! This demands serious consideration. Let us not think of it lightly. Every one of us needs to be forgiven, we desire to be forgiven, we ask to be forgiven. But do we forgive? Vain it is for us to ask to be forgiven if God knows we manifest an unforgiving spirit toward any one. We may have absolute certainty that God will not forgive us if we fail to forgive others. He has said so in the most unequivocable language. Is there no call from God for us to examine ourselves regarding this solemn matter? The Necessity of Forgiveness Let us think of the necessity for forgiveness. This will always present itself and that in many directions. We are, everyone of us, beset by infirmity. It is to be feared we often give offense because of this. We differ so much in disposition, characteristics and outlook; we have so little attained to the unity of the faith that it is difficult for us to see eye to eye. There is therefore tremendous necessity and opportunity for us to consider one another, and to bear with one another. How often offense is given or taken when such a thing is never intended! How often Satan takes advantage of our weaknesses to cause bitterness and lack of concord. How important to hold ourselves well in hand in the fear of Christ lest we sin against Christ and the members of His Body. If the spirit of forgiveness possesses us— and this is the spirit of Christ—we shall not wait long to have opportunity for exercising it, seeing we are

www.uplook.org • SEPTEMBER 2001

SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN such weak and failing creatures. The necessity for the exercise of forgiveness will always be with us so long as we are in the body. The Urgency of Forgiveness

plead for an earnest consideration of these words and an earnest application of the truth they convey. Only in this way can we be saved from sin. The Frequency of Forgiveness

Here delay is always dangerous and often deadly. What trifling things, because of delay, become roots of bitterness, springing up and defiling the many. This surely does not require to be emphasized: its fruits, alas, are all too manifest from time to time. There is, at this point, a very pertinent scripture in Ephesians 4:26, “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath.” This again leads on to verse 32: “Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” To be angry is not necessarily an evil thing, although it often is evil with men. God is angry. Our Lord, in the days of His flesh, looked round upon men in anger because of the hardening of their hearts. But with men, even righteous anger may develop into sin. “Be ye angry and sin not.” How may we sin in such a case? By allowing the sun to go down upon our wrath! By not having the cause of our wrath, “our provocation,” removed the very day on which it arises. To let the sun go down nursing our wrath often leads to permanent and sinful results. Ephesians 4:26 is a quotation from Psalm 4:4. There it reads: “Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.” The anger contemplated here is clearly an anger that has “awe” for its basis. It is not fleshly and hasty; it is a holy, solemn anger approximating to awe. Moreover it is so awesome, its possibilities for evil are so terrible, that it should be impossible to go to sleep until it has been removed from the soul’s horizon. “Commune with your own heart upon your bed”—see that everything has been removed between your soul and God, between your soul and man. Be still—still in soul—let there be no conflict, no controversy unsettled; see that everything has been removed Godward and manward. We

Peter had this point out with the Lord and cleared the matter up for us. “Lord,” said he, “how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?” The Lord responded: “I say not unto thee, until seven times: but until seventy times seven.” What does this imply? Clearly that there is to be no end to forgiveness; that so long as the necessity continues there is to be no limit whatever. It is to be ceaseless and endless. How would we stand the test if faced with the necessity for a literal interpretation and application of this truth? Have we learned enough of God to be fashioned like Him in regard to the spirit of forgiveness? Could we stand the test of seventy times seven? Could we even stand the test of seven times, some of us? God knows! It is to be feared that there are few matters in which Christians fail more manifestly than in this; and there are certainly few things that have such a dire result on their souls. This is a matter that shuts up the heavens against us, and effectively closes God’s ear to our supplications for forgiveness. It brings a blight on the life and a chill on the soul such as, perhaps, nothing else does. Long observation compels one to fear that this blight is widespread in our day. How easily offense is given! How readily offense is taken! The one is almost as bad as the other. Never should we give offense. Never should we take offense. If the love that never fails filled our hearts we would be guilty of neither the one nor the other. What trifles are permitted to estrange hearts, causing bitterness and enmity, coldness and strife! It is written in Scripture: “When I became a man, I put away childish things,” but one is sometimes compelled to conclude that boys playing marbles are not more childish than some men are when they are professedly handling the sacred and solemn things of God. They huff and pet and sulk like

As Brownlow North ascended the steps to the pulpit to preach his Sunday morning sermon, he noticed a note had been placed on the reading desk. It stated: “I knew you in your youth and was privy to some of the sins which you committed in those days.” Following was a sampling of the more shameful of his deeds. “If,” the note continued, “you dare to preach today, I will publicly expose you.” North read the whole note to his congregation. Then he said, “Ladies and gentlemen, it’s all true. But it’s all forgiven!”

28 UPLOOK • SEPTEMBER 2001

SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN babies. “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath.” Instead, alas, men often take their provocation to bed with them and hug it there until it becomes such a mountain between their souls and their fellows that often it can never be removed. This is no exaggeration: it is a naked, solemn truth, acted and reenacted again and again. And how seldom the seven times in forgiveness are reached, let alone the seventy times seven! How this must grieve the Lord’s heart. With almost His last breath, when the spikes were being driven through the quivering flesh of His hands and feet, did He not pray: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do”? His heart could only love! The Process of Forgiveness If this spirit of forgiveness dominates us, if we are prepared to go all the way to the seventy times seven— to the limitless in forgiveness—then we are in a condition to deal with a case such as Matthew 18:15 refers to. “If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.” Remember he is “thy brother,” one of these “little ones” of whom the Lord speaks in the previous verse; and “it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.” “Little ones”—a designation of tenderest affection. “Thy brother”—a designation of closest relation. See then that you go in the spirit of Christ, bursting with the spirit of forgiveness. You are playing for big stakes! If you gain your brother you have gained a treasure indeed, and probably covered a multitude of sins. On the other hand, if you go in the flesh, to demand and to humble, or just to be able to say you have acted on Matthew 18:15, it would be better if you had stayed at home. How often it is to be feared this scripture has been acted on in a carnal and cruel way. No wonder that disaster has resulted. The object must always be to gain your brother; and the problem of gaining is usually solved by the grace of forgiveness. But if it should be found impossible to gain him, in such a case a serious situation has developed. There is a danger that the “little one,” “thy brother,” may destroy himself. Hence, in the fear of God, take with you one or two others, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established—and see that they are likeminded with you, filled with the spirit of forgiveness and earnestly desiring to gain the brother. Should he, in turn, refuse to hear them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to hear the church, let him be to you as the Gentile and the publican; assured that, if such dealings

have been of God, what things you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Oh, with what holy fear and trembling should this be enacted by the individual, the two or three, and the church. Has it always been so? What follows in Matthew 18 is the parable of the king reckoning with his servants. One is found who owed ten thousand talents, and having nothing with which to pay, his lord was moved with compassion and released him, forgiving the entire debt. Can the grace of the king’s heart rise to such a height as this? Can forgiveness be so immense, so prodigious? It can! He forgave him the debt. And although our debt to God and to righteousness towered as high as the mountains, and although we had nothing with which to pay, God in Christ forgave us all. Oh, the grace of the King! Oh, the grace of God! Can we ever forget it? Then the sequel. This same servant soon after found a fellowservant who owed him a hundred pence, and, seizing him by the throat, he demanded payment. When he had nothing wherewith to pay, he cast him into prison until the debt should be paid. Hearing of this, the king called the cruel servant before him and said: “Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt....Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all…So shall My heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye…forgive not every one his brother.” We are to meet the King soon; the judgment seat is being prepared. We must give our account to God. How does it stand with us? How shall we meet the King? Have we forgiven our brother, our sister? Face the problem, and, if necessary, get things right, while yet we may. Get the channels between God and our souls cleared. They have been choked, it may be for years, because we have refused to forgive. Choked channels; a shadow on the soul; a blight in the life; no forgiving of one another. Oh, how shall we meet the King? What shall we say to Him? He has forgiven us ten thousand sins; we cannot forgive our brother or sister a trifling fault. O Lord, speak the word again—“seventy times seven.”

How does it stand for us? How shall we meet the King? Have we forgiven our brother, our sister?

www.uplook.org • SEPTEMBER 2001

The

D AY B Y D AY S ERIES & O NE D AY AT A T IME Day by Day • Through the Old Testament

X-DOT

• In the Psalms

X-DDP

• Through the New Testament

X-DNT

• In Prayer

X-2116

This book is designed to promote wider reading and more fruitful understanding of, what is today, the often neglected Old Testament. An unfolding of the Psalms themes, the main intent being to touch the heart with the spiritual treasure in these "songs from experience." Few devotional books act as a systematic guide through the New Testament from start to finish the way this one does, with short, daily meditations presented in a very readable manner. This devotional will refresh and deepen your own personal prayer life as it gives you a new appreciation for the secret solace of the believer.

Your choice of Day by Day devotionals: Retail: $13.99 US SALE: $10.88 US

$20.99 CDN $16.48 CDN

• Moments with the Master

One Day at a Time by William MacDonald

One way to ensure that our days on earth count for God is to fill our minds and hearts with the "engrafted Word" that we might grow by it. For this reason we take pleasure in issuing this book of invigorating meditations on the Word of God from the crisp, Christ-exalting writings of William MacDonald. These devotionals are not intended to replace the reading of the Word, but to stimulate your thinking in Scripture, and, by God's grace, to help you apply the truth to your daily walk. There's no better way to start the day than with an encouraging portion from God's Word. Each daily meditation is just a page long, but with each scripture presented in a fresh way, William MacDonald stirs your heart to practical devotedness to the Lord. B-ODA

Retail: $24.99 US SALE: $17.88 US

UPLOOK • SEPTEMBER 2001

$36.99 CDN $26.88 CDN

X-DMM

This volume takes the reader through the life of our Lord in 365 meditations. Arranged with maps in historical and geographical order.

The

C HOICE G LEANINGS C A L E N D A R S for

Like finding TREASURE!

✧ Be careful what you count valuable, said the Lord, for “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Mt. 6:21). ✧ The best treasure in this world is to be found in the wisdom of the Word of God. ✧ Solomon, the world’s wisest man, said, “If you seek wisdom as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God” (Prov. 2:4-5). ✧ The daily readings in the 2002 CHOICE GLEANINGS provide a map to find your way through the whole Bible in a year. ✧ The meditations are sample gold nuggets to encourage you in your search! ✧

2002

With every Choice Gleanings: • You enjoy a new meditation each day from Bible students and scholars from around the world. • You see daily the calendar month which highlights the current day. • You can read the entire Bible in one year with the reading plan. • An appropriate, stirring verse of a poem or hymn compliments the meditation.

The Desk Calendar:

• Is bound with a durable coil binding and easel. • Is printed TWO sides for lighter weight. • Also has a 12-month calendar page inside the cover.

The Wall Calendar: • Is printed ONE side for tearing off to include with correspondence, or for tearing off to take with you. • Has full-size pages that are wall-mounted on a rigid backboard with a hanger hole.

2002 Desk Calendar C-02CG 2002 Wall Calendar C-02CGW

TO ORDER, CALL TOLL-FREE:

1-800-952-2382

Retail $9.99 US / $14.99 CDN Quantity Discounts: 6-11 calendars ............... save 5% 12-23 calendars ............ save 10% 24-33 calendars ............ save 15% 34+ calendars ............... save 20%

Retail $9.99 US / $14.99 CDN Quantity Pricing: Retail $9.49 US / $14.24 CDN Retail $8.99 US / $13.49 CDN Retail $8.49 US / $12.74 CDN Retail $7.99 US / $11.99 CDN

(Applicable taxes, shipping & handling is extra.)

UPLOOK

Thou Knowest

by William Blane

“Thou knowest!” What deep thoughts the words awake! Oft when my grief-pressed heart seems like to break I breathe them softly and fresh courage take: Thou knowest.

Thou knowest when I am misunderstood, When what I do is far from what I would, My faults, too, which the strictest search elude, Thou knowest.

Thou knowest, Lord, that in my heart of hearts— Though for my failings oft the tear-drop starts— I love Thee with the fondness grace imparts, Thou knowest.

Thou knowest that these lips have ne’er express’d The heaven-created yearnings of my breast; And all my longings for Thy perfect rest Thou knowest.

Thou knowest every sorrow unexpressed That throbs within the unsuspected breast; The pang unknown to those who love me best— Thou knowest.

Thou knowest! O when this poor heart must bear The hidden grief which none can know or share, How oft these words have mingled with my prayer— Thou knowest.

Thou knowest all the waves of Life’s strange sea, And every joy and grief they bring to me; And my desire through all to live for Thee Thou knowest.

Thou knowest, too, what deep, calm peace is mine, What hours I spend in bliss almost divine; For, feeble though I am, I’m ever Thine, Thou knowest.

Thou knowest every foe that lurks within, Each untold conflict with the powers of sin; My loneness, too, amid the world’s rude din, Thou knowest.

Thou knowest all things, and I’m glad ’tis so; On this I rest through Life’s strange ebb and flow; All that I cannot, need not, would not know, Thou knowest.

Thou knowest every heart-pang, and dost hear The sigh that breaks upon no human ear; Each secret sorrow, and the unseen tear, Thou knowest.

If, ere th’archangel’s voice shall rend the sky, This body ’neath the valley’s clod shall lie, There let this sentence only meet the eye, To tell Life’s tale and point my Hope on high: “Thou knowest.”