(Ephesians. 2:2)
During this century determined efforts have been made to gain the supremacy of the air, and with a great measure of success, as e. g. aviation, wireless telegraphy, and radio. Enormous numbers of receiving sets of the latter are in the homes of this country, obtaining news, music, etc., from all over the world. The Word of God tells us,
It is profitable, therefore, to inquire whether the air is properly man’s domain, and whether such scriptures, if not forbidding, at least would discourage the believer from such exercises. We do not wish to offer any instruction to worldly men, as such, but the Christian is “dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world.” (Col. 2:2020Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Colossians 2:20)).
We find from Scripture that the enemy works in two ways, by “corruption and violence” (Gen. 6:1111The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. (Genesis 6:11)). We would consider a little the influence of the “prince of the power of the air” in its corrupting character, as affecting God’s people today. The heavens, we must remember, contain countless spiritual beings. The angels, that have kept their first estate, minister to those who are heirs of salvation (believers) (Heb. 1:1414Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? (Hebrews 1:14)). Others, who have always opposed God’s work in souls, the “wicked spirits,” are equally yet in “heavenly places,” and are the cause of ceaseless conflict to the Christian (Eph. 6:1212For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12)). The “wireless corporations” who transmit, are worldly associations, which are not under the direct guidance of God’s Spirit, and their programs are not calculated to edify the Christian.
Persons say that they can shut it off, if there is anything coming on of which they do not approve. But, in practice, from curiosity or other reason (the old nature in us, if not kept in the place of death, soon regains the upper hand) after the news and music (harmless in themselves perhaps), one is led on to other things. Is there not a danger of the enemy succeeding in getting the spirit and the power of the world into the very citadel of the Christian’s home?
We have all heard of the capture of the city of Troy. The Greeks are said to have besieged it for near ten years without success, and then resorted to a stratagem. They constructed a wooden horse, which they filled with armed men, and placing it during the night in full view of the city, retired as if abandoning the siege. The Trojans, who had met the open assaults so often, at length allowed their curiosity to overcome them, and drew the horse into the city. In the night the armed men in the horse opened the gates to their army, and the city was taken.
We think we may not unfairly call the radio, spiritually for the Christian, the enemy’s “Trojan horse” of today. We have heard of cases where believers will listen to things on the “wireless” which they would not think of admitting for themselves or their children at a concert or a theater. Is there not the suggestion of the “wiles of the devil,” that for those who do not go to the world for the reason only that they do not wish to be seen, he has put in their hands that by which they can have the world in the home and no-one can see them? No-one?
“The eyes of the Lord are in every place” (Prov. 15:33The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. (Proverbs 15:3)) and He sees, if in the very sanctuary of the believer’s family life, there is a source of defilement.
Is it sufficiently realized that, however wonderful the “wireless” is, the believer has, for faith, something infinitely more marvelous? For, if by the radio a message can girdle the earth in a few seconds, it can never rise above earth. But prayer in faith, and transmitted by the Spirit, immediately reaches “far above all heavens” to the ear and heart of our Father. (Rom. 8:26, 2726Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26‑27)).
O, that God, by His Spirit, would make more real to all of God’s people the divine “wireless” (if one may use the expression without irreverence) which He has provided for us— “praying in the Holy Ghost” (Jude 2020But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, (Jude 20), 21). And may He also give us to know far better the divine link, which binds all believers on the earth together, as “one body in Christ” (Rom. 12:4, 54For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. (Romans 12:4‑5)), and the communion with the Father and the Son, which is our happy portion, as we “walk in the light, as He is in the light” —the glorious knowledge of God fully revealed in Christ. What an encouragement is the word in Isaiah 65:2424And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. (Isaiah 65:24),
“Before they call, I will answer!” Even the very thought of need of His children, before it is expressed, finding an echo in the Father’s ear and heart!
May the Lord give us, dear brethren, to consider our ways. He has given us much truth and great privileges. May we be, all of us, “ensamples to all that believe.” Is the world and are worldly-minded Christians to see that, in spite of all our truth, we admit the “lust of other things entering in,” which “choke the Word, and we become unfruitful”? (Mark 4:1919And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. (Mark 4:19)).
“Behold I am with you, saith the Lord of Hosts,” and “My Spirit remaineth with you.” (Hag. 1 & 2:4, 5).
“Fear ye not,” He adds, and
Only thus can we stand against the “wiles of the devil,” and in putting on “the whole armor of God... praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.” (Eph. 6:1818Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; (Ephesians 6:18)).
May He keep us from the spirit that is in the world, for “all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away... but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.” (1 John 2:16, 1716For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1 John 2:16‑17)).