These are days when things are breaking up. Infidelity is rising like a surging flood on every hand, and that which is affecting the world is affecting the Church. Old landmarks are being rapidly swept away, and those of yesterday are not those of today. The plenary inspiration of Scripture, the doctrine of the atonement, the deity of Christ's Person, eternity of punishment-all are held by many as exploded theories of an unenlightened past.
Young Christians are more or less influenced by all this, and if they stand up boldly and faithfully for the very words and authority of the Scriptures, they are often dubbed "bigots" for their pains. No, dear young Christians, do not allow terms such as these to close your mouths for Christ, but pray God to give you strength to be faithful to Him and to His Word.
Paul knew that after his departure grievous wolves would enter in among the saints, not sparing the flock, and from among themselves should men arise speaking perverse things, drawing disciples after them.
But what does the front rank man of Christianity do? Does he give them some well-worded creed to stand by, or some powerful arguments of his to meet the evil teachers with? No; he commends them to God and the word of His grace (Acts 20:28-3128Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. (Acts 20:28‑31)). Our strength lies in dependence upon God, and cleaving closely to His Word. We may not be able to understand it all, but we can exercise faith in God and His Word, and we shall thus be led on. For instance, how many doubt the first chapter of Genesis, and tell us what science has brought to bear on the question. But what saith the Scriptures? "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God." Heb. 11:33Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. (Hebrews 11:3). Faith in the Word of God leads us triumphantly through no end of difficulties. Then these enlightened (so-called) individuals turn round and call us bigots. Bigotry is blindly adhering to a • creed. Bigotry leads to illogical positions, to a hard, dry, unfeeling line of action. But faithfulness to God does just the opposite. However, faith is outside the
province of these doubters. The joy of the Holy Ghost is unknown by them. The power of conversion has not affected them or their lives.
They may admire the terse, forcible language of the Scriptures, its poetry, its history, its moral grandeur, but they know not its power when applied to the heart and conscience by the Spirit of God. All these facts and experiences are foreign and unknown to them.
We asked a young man, converted a few weeks ago, if he understood the Bible better since he was converted. He answered in the affirmative, and agreed that before he was saved it was like a dead man coming to a living Book, and now (through the grace of God) it was a living man coming to a living Book, and a stream of blessing passing from it to him. Those who are seeking to undermine the authority of the Scriptures, and the wondrous truths of Christianity, have no conception of their own utter badness, and God's inflexible righteousness. They have never gotten into His presence, and so they can talk, talk, talk.
May bigotry never be ours, but unflinching faithfulness in these last and perilous days. May the hope of the Lord's near coming quicken our weary and lagging feet. The sight of His face -never to be withdrawn-will soon gladden our eyes, and fill our hearts with untold joy.