1964 was an eventful year, beset with sorrow and strife in many places. People who were not touched by conflicts thought of it as a year of peace; but there were sixteen different places on earth where fighting was in progress and blood was being shed. These were mostly undeclared wars and were called "brush conflicts," "peace-keeping missions," "tribal conflicts," "civil war," "local uprisings," etc. Nevertheless, all these incidents indicate the tragic reality of the world's rejection of the "Prince of Peace," and prove that "the way of peace have they not known."
1965 comes in with the world ill at ease, for many disturbing factors abound. The whole continent of Africa is teeming with unrest; and the vast population is being agitated, often by foreign troublemakers, and troubles are sure to increase. During the past year, numbers of missionaries who sought to tell those people of the love of God were brutally murdered. It seems as though the enemy of Christ has sown the doctrine among the populace, that the preachers of the gospel are relics of a colonialism which must be eradicated. Thus, he is having his sway over the passions of men in a strong effort to force the gospel out of the continent. If men will not have the truth, God will allow them to have a lie by which they will further degrade themselves. In the recent blind hatred of the gospel, men and women who were invaluable as physicians and nurses were killed or shamefully treated, and that to the detriment of the local people.
In looking over the map in view of the new year, the outlook is anything but bright. Asia is still in foment, and wars are almost sure to increase rather than decrease. Europe has many uncertain factors on the horizon besides financial and economic problems. Personal ambitions dot the world scene; and little dictators here and there add to the uncertainty. South and Central America pose problems that could affect world tranquility seriously. And in North America, the United States through its far-flung treaties and commitments is caught in world unrest on all continents.
Where then is the true Christian to look in a troubled world, and in a world fraught with many explosive situations? His peace deepens on his looking upward beyond the scene of strife and turmoil, for his God whom he knows as his Father is above all the unrest. We need to remember (as another has said) that events do not affect God's throne, nor stay His hand. We belong to the One who is above all circumstances of earth, and who works all things according to the counsel of His own will. The poet Cowper well said,
"Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain."
We can safely rest in His love and His care. Circumstances cannot affect our peace if we rest in Him whom nothing disturbs.
1964 brought changes in world governments, and 1965 is bound to bring more of the same; but not one thing will happen without God's overruling power and design. Floods, fire, and windstorms brought death and destruction in different places. By these things God would bring man to a realization that he has to do with Him. But modernists in the professing church are bold enough now to challenge the truth of a God who is supreme and overrules all things. Shocking and daring unbelief and atheism now plague Christendom. We marvel at the longsuffering grace of God that allows the world that cast His Son out of it, and even now rejects Himself, to go on with unbridled lips of defiance any longer. They mistake His forbearance for either indifference or incapacity to judge; but judgment is sure and certain.
Fellow-Christians, may we have grace to sing with the poet:
"O think not of this world of woe,
Though subject still to grief;
But seek your portion there to know,
For this will give relief.
"Aye, trust, forever trust in God
For every promise given,
And dwell with Him, thro' Jesus' blood,
Within the veil of heaven."
1965 is that much closer to the coming of the Lord to claim His own than 1964 was; His coming is imminent. It is the blessed hope of the Christian and may be realized before the year's end. We would desire that the hope of seeing Him who gave Himself for us may cheer our hearts and keep us in lively anticipation of the coming nuptial moment when Christ will call His bride-the true Church, composed of all who accept Him as their only Savior-to Himself. Then He will "present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing" (Eph. 5:2727That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:27)).
It is better that the hope of seeing Him should draw our hearts out of this world, than that they should be driven out by adverse circumstances. If the knowledge of His love fails to draw our hearts away, the Lord may see it necessary to drive them out. The language of the former is found in the words of a hymn, " 'Tis the treasure we've found in His love that has made us now pilgrims below."
"O worldly pomp and glory,
Your charms are spread in vain!
I've heard a sweeter story;
I've found a truer gain.
Where Christ a place prepareth,
There is my loved abode;
There shall I gaze on Jesus;
There shall I dwell with God."
When the Apostle Paul stood before the Roman governor Felix, he reasoned with him of "righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come"; and at that "Felix trembled." O that some modern theologians would imitate the conduct of Felix on this occasion! But it is far otherwise with many today who are apostates from the faith of Christianity. In the November 1, 1964 issue of The United Church Observer, published by the United Church of Canada, a prominent churchman, Dr. George W. Goth, set forth what amounts to bold atheism. He attacked faith in Christ and all that we hold dear as having come by revelation from God to us. We read in Hebrews 1 that "God... hath... spoken unto us." What great grace that He should do so, for He was under no obligation to do it. But now that He has spoken, man is under obligation to hear what He has said.
The infidel preacher denies that salvation is only through the Lord Jesus Christ and His work on the cross. He would allow that Moslems, Jews, humanists, agnostics, and a host of others will attain heaven. But God says, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:1212Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12). To reject that statement and set up some other way to salvation is to make God a liar. Surely that man will not go unpunished for controverting the plain word of Him who cannot lie.
The noted preacher also says, "I do not believe in some illusory second coming of Christ." Is not this the language of the scoffers described by the Apostle Peter?-"There shall come in the last days scoffers... saying, Where is the promise of His coming?" God's word spoken by Peter also says that the "heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment." And again, "The earth... and the works that are therein shall be burned up"; but Dr. Goth says, "I cannot believe that the creator plans to destroy the good earth and the whole temple of man's achievement in history." Has he never read how that God once destroyed the temple of man's achievement in history at the flood? Has he not known of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, of Nineveh, of Babylon, and of many other civilizations and their works? The man must be spiritually blind who does not see "reserved unto fire" written on all man's enterprises. Judgment is on its way, and man's devices cannot delay it when God's time has come. "God is not mocked."
We might then ask, What does Dr. Goth envision for this world of man's achievement? He says that he believes in "the kingdom of God on earth." Does he then imagine that God will tolerate men and women in His kingdom who challenge His rights and power? He also says since he is looking for that kingdom of God on earth, that he is "not persuaded that this would be a better place if we were to achieve the kind of salvation that these people [those who preach the gospel of God] offer." Is that salvation purchased by God at the cost of the death of His Son esteemed by a so-called minister of the gospel as of so little worth that it can be despised with impunity? He must utterly reject God's word which says, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
May the increasing numbers of those who are deceived and are deceiving others only indicate to us the sureness of the Lord's coming at any moment (2 Tim. 3:1313But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:13)).
These "false apostles" not only reject the true faith, but say that those who preach the firm foundation truths are outside of "the true Christian tradition." The moment is at hand when persecution for Christ's sake may be the lot of those who would bear faithful witness for God.
Rejection of the truth may well lead to persecution of real Christians as it has in other lands. "But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of" is the word of God to us. We are called upon to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 33Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. (Jude 3)). But "hold fast," dear Christian reader, for very soon "He that shall come will come." We have not long to wait. As wickedness and apostasy increase and abound, look up, for He is coming!