A SMOKING FURNACE AND A BURNING LAMP
"And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces."—GEN, 15:17.
NOW to-night comes the great question: If God and sin cannot meet, how is the soul, worshipping sinful Self, in the Land of Loneliness under death and fit for judgment, to be saved from its sinful Self, and be drawn to an external Center near which its sin cannot come? How is the rescue to be effected? How is the way to be made for the sinful souls of men in the Land of Loneliness into the joys of Relationship? It is plain that God only can answer that question. He must draw near to His sinful creature in grace. But how? His righteousness demands judgment on sins, and the fire of judgment must light on sin. How can God draw near to save sinners? God is Light, but light can only expose sin, and reveal His spotless holiness. But our God is also a "consuming fire." And the Fire can do what the Light cannot do.
What a strange and wonderful scene is before us to-night! There stands a man alone upon that great plain of Mamre, a man whose soul is dwelling in the Land of Loneliness, and yet a Voice is reaching him from another sphere. It comes from behind the flashes of the Flaming Sword, telling him of nothing but blessing. It is night; around him lies the vast plain, above him glitters all the jeweled panoply of the eastern heavens. "Fear not, Abram," cries the Voice;
"I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward." Then follow promises rich and rare—given to him, an old and childless man—promises of earthly inheritance; and he is told that as the countless stars that glitter in those heavens above his head "so shall his seed be"; and more, in his seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed. Does he believe it? Yes; the Word works faith in that soul, the Light of God gleams in upon its darkness. He believes the promises, and from that precious heaven-sent seed the Tree of Promise takes root upon the earth.
But do you ask, How could a holy God bless a sinful creature dwelling in the Land of Loneliness? Abram cried, "Lord God, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?" God. will show him in figure how He can draw near to ratify His promise; and that He has found a way by which His Fire and His Light can come in to comfort and to help, and not to destroy a fallen race, and to maintain God's right to bless man as He will and when He will.
He will come forth as Fire and Light! Strange and wonderful' scene! As the next day wears to its close, that God-directed man passes out on to the broad plain of Mamre with a heifer, a goat, a ram, and two birds that flutter in his hands. In that vast solitude he slays the beasts and the birds,—and as the shadows of evening gather round him, he stands there alone with death. The earth at his feet is dyed with blood, and before him, in awful array, lie the cloven carcases of the slain beasts. Afar off the heifer, " cloven in twain, "the one hall on the one side, the other half on the other side; then the goat," cloven in twain, "the one half on one side, the other half on the other side; then the ram," cloven in twain," the one hall on the one side, the other half on the other side; then at his feet a bird stiff in death on the one side, and another bird stiff in death on the other side. It is a ghastly, blood-stained avenue. As the sun sinks low in the glowing west, the scent of blood rises on the evening breeze, and the whirr of eager wings is heard, as the carrion birds of the desert gather to the scene of death. Shall they touch those silent witnesses to the mastery of death? Never! the lonely watcher drives them away—no beak or claw of theirs must feed upon or tear those sacred cloven sacrifices. Suddenly the sun's fiery disc dips in the far horizon, and a strange, deep sleep masters the lonely watcher, and even as the rapid darkness of an eastern night sweeps up over the valleys, the plains, the mountain heights of the outer earth, so does a horror of a yet deeper darkness fall upon that soul in its inner Land of Loneliness. "A horror of a great darkness fell upon him." Surely it is the darkness of its distance from God—a darkness that might be felt, a sense of the sin of its nature in its far-off land, growing stronger every second as the great and holy God draws near—draws near to show him in figure how He can come forth from behind the Flaming Sword of judgment, through the deep waters of Death, in Fire and Light, to fulfill His promises of blessing. And then the soul of the prostrate patriarch beholds a strange procession sweeping silently and solemnly through that avenue of death. "Behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces."
God was coming into the Land of Loneliness by Fire and Light; He was coming in to ratify His promise of an earthly inheritance to Abraham and to his seed by Fire and Light—Fire and Light, that he saw in vision, coming in through death. So, surely, must our souls, if they would enter on the enjoyment of a heavenly inheritance, understand that it is through Fire and Light alone, as they have reached us through death, that they can be rescued and led forth into the joys of Relationship. "Our God is a consuming fire." Sin must perish at His presence, but through death the smoking furnace has drawn near to purify and not to destroy. "God is Light," and Light must expose the guilty, but through death, the burning Lamp has come in to manifest darkness on the one hand and to reveal God's way of escape on the other hand.
They must come to work out the counsel of God, whether for an earthly or for a heavenly inheritance, on which counsel all His promises are founded. And we shall see that as His Fire and His Light led Abraham's descendants out of Egypt into the earthly land of promise, so His Fire and His Light must conduct our souls out of the Land of Loneliness into the joys of Relationship. "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children"—that is, sonship,—"by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will" (Eph. 1:55Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, (Ephesians 1:5)).
Now, I am sure you all know what a promise is, and I am afraid some of you know very well that human promises are often broken. The worth of a promise depends on two things: the faithfulness and the power of the promiser. I once had a promise made me by a person that she would repay me a certain sum of money. I knew her well, and I could trust her; her promise was a good one. But when the time came she had not the power to fulfill it; that promise was broken, not through want of faithfulness, but through want of power. I heard the other day of a man with plenty of money, who had promised to pay what he owed another, and never did. That promise was broken, not through want of power, but through want of faithfulness. Now God's promises cannot be broken, because His faithfulness and His power are both perfect, and His promises are only the outcome in time of His purpose which was fixed in eternity.
The other night, as I was standing at the door of the house in which I was staying, I saw a long straight beam of white light stream across the dark sky above me. It startled me at first, but when I saw that it moved, and sometimes streamed over the sea and sometimes over the land, then I knew that it was an electric search-light. Sometimes it showed objects before it, sometimes behind it. That is something like the light that is thrown from God's Word; it opens up things in the depths of eternity, and it opens up things in the past and future of time.
When I was a child I was told that no one could understand that word Eternity. I used to sit and think and try to understand it, but of course I never could.
How can we understand just a little of what it means? Let us try. I once climbed up a very lofty mountain in Scotland. We were hours getting to the top, and when we were there, we could see all the country below us for many miles. There was a town called Sterling in the distance, and a line of railway ran from this town for many miles to another town. I could see the train start, and I could see its journey's end all the time. The engine-driver could only see just a short way before him, the passengers could see less. If a bridge had suddenly fallen which was hidden by a curve from the engine-driver, I could have seen it; and I could have said, "There will be an accident to that train," and it would surely have come to pass.
Now, God is in eternity, and time is like the little railway, with a beginning and with an end. We know nothing of what is coming to pass—God sees it all. He reveals what He pleases by His Word, which comes from Him in eternity. We see by that wonderful light, whose crystal ray bridges all time, that from the height of eternity's great changeless amphitheater God had foreseen that when the Earth had been created, and Adam and Eve had been placed upon it, the great Enemy would tempt and ruin His feeble creatures. Do not ask me what great contest between good and evil was above and beyond the creation and the fall of that creature Adam. It is well to bow our heads and veil our faces in the presence of things too high for us, and to leave the great issues of that awful question to Him, who alone knows the end from the beginning. But so it was, that God purposed to bring glory to Himself out of all the ruin that the power and the malice of the Enemy and the feebleness of the creature should make. What! Did He foresee how the one who had set up the idol Self in our hearts was to be destroyed? Yes. Did He foresee how sin was to be dealt with? Yes. Did He determine how a pathway should be made through the death that surrounded the Land of Loneliness? Yes. Did He purpose how the Fire and the Light should get into that dreary land, not to destroy and to convict the dwellers there, but to purify, to comfort, and to lead them out of Loneliness into Relationship? Yes, that was the purpose of the God of Love. Oh, thrice wonderful purpose! Love inaugurated, Light disclosed, Power effected its deep and blessed counsels.
But who would be found to go to the rescue of these helpless beings, saturated with sin, and therefore unable to approach God, unable to stand the fire? Who could be found that would go down from heaven's glorious heights—out of eternity into time—to carry help to those woeful captives? Who? Who could be found that could become Man, and as Man face the flashes of the fiery sword that shut fallen man out from God, that could pass through its scorching blast unscathed because of righteousness, and open once more to man the closed way to the Tree, of Life? Who could be found who could plunge into the fathomless, bridgeless waters of Death that circled the Land of Loneliness, to burst its dark waves asunder, and to tread out a path in righteousness as Man through Death to Life? Who? Did an angel, excellent in beauty, pure as the fire, answer to the summons? He could not. Did an archangel, mighty in power, excelling in wisdom, undertake the commission? He dared not. There was but One who could. There was but One who would, and in the volume of the book of those secret counsels were written these words, "Lo, I come to do Thy will, O God." Who was the I? Who was the Person who dared to face this great stoop out of eternity into time, out of heaven to earth? It was One of the Three Persons of the Godhead. It was the eternal Son Himself; it was He, because He only could, because He only would. Then God spake to Him, saying, "Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee." "Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever, a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Thy kingdom. Thou halt loved righteousness and hated iniquity; therefore God, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows" (Heb. 1:8, 98But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 9Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. (Hebrews 1:8‑9)).
Did the angels understand it? No, not then, "which things the angels desire to look into." Did the ancient prophets understand it? No. "Unto whom it was revealed that not unto themselves, but unto us, they did minister the things which are now reported unto you."
For prophets might wonder as they sang their spirit-taught chants of Him "whose name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace" (Isa. 9:66For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)), and angels might long to understand it in vain; all was hidden in a closely-veiled mystery, till man had reached that point in Time, at which God from His lofty eternity was always looking—Calvary's Cross. Then the Voice of the Lord of Hosts was heard crying, "Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, and against the Man that is My fellow." And the Son of God sheathed that Flaming Sword of righteous judgment against our sin in His own sinless breast.
"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly; for scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth His love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:6-86For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6‑8)). "That through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Heb. 2:14, 1514Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:14‑15)).
I have read a story, a touching story, of the devotion of a young American officer to his country's interests. It was a time of war, and blocking ingress or egress from a port, floated a huge ironclad man-of-war belonging to the enemy. What could be done to relieve the city? to save its inhabitants from surrender or starvation? The small vessel on which this young officer was serving was quite unable to cope with the mighty foe, or to drive her away. But so it was, that she had on board of her one of the first torpedo-boats that had ever been constructed. This boat was so formed that she could go down under the water out of sight, and be directed to the keel of the enemy's vessel, and then the men in her could explode the deadly torpedo. But what a terrible service it was for any to undertake; for none who entered that boat, and went down in her under the waves, could ever hope to breathe the upper air again. Shattered by her own weapons, she must perish in the struggle, and her brave occupants must lay down their lives in that awful death-grapple with the enemy; they must be willing to perish to win the victory. The captain in command of the steamer could never order a man to go on such service as that, so he called his crew together and asked for volunteers. Would any one be found to face that dreadful death, under the deep waves, to save his beleaguered friends, to destroy the great enemy which lay between them and liberty and life? There was a pause—but presently out stepped this young officer and said, "I will go." Then a brave seaman came forward too and said, "I also will go." What a day that was upon that vessel! A day never to be forgotten. There was a farewell banquet made for the two heroes, who were to lay down their lives for their friends. The hours passed all too quickly, and as the sun rolled down into the west those devoted men took their last look upon the fading daylight, the heaving waters, their comrades' faces, and hand clasped hand in a last embrace, while hearts swelled with feelings too deep for utterance. As the darkness deepened the steamer moved quietly in nearer and nearer to her mighty foe, who lay on the waters in all the pride of her magnificent strength; and the men who crowded her decks little dreamed that two heroes would be found to go to the death to work out her destruction. The moment came, the steamer lay to, and the torpedo-boat was launched with its living freight. There was a pause of terrible expectancy, then a mighty shock, a dull roar, shouts of terror, cries for help, and the great vessel sank out of sight amidst the seething waves. The blockade was over. The port was open. Their friends were saved, and all that was needed could be carried to them. Long afterward divers went down below the waves, and there they found the little torpedo-boat lying beside her mighty foe, with the entombed heroes within her. They had perished in the death-grapple, but they had done their work.
Our hearts thrill as we recount the story of human heroism, but how little have we entered into the wonderful deed that opened for us the way from death to life; the way from Loneliness to Relationship! All human illustrations fail beside it. On the Cross the question of the judgment of sin was settled for God, and then He who hung there went down into the great sea of Death, that surrounds our Land of Loneliness, and He entered into that dark Land, into distance from God, for our sakes. He cried, " My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?"He as the Sin-bearer was utterly alone. We cannot follow Him there, but with awe we can hear His Voice from out of those vast depths crying," Out of the belly of hell, I cried unto Thee "(Jonah 2:22And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice. (Jonah 2:2))." Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of Thy waterspouts: all Thy waves and Thy billows are gone over Me " (Psa. 42).
He was there under the deep dark waves of Death, not for His friends, but for His enemies. "While we were yet sinners Christ died for us." Oh I marvelous love that fathomed that, to us, fathomless sea, and met there, and conquered our foe. The Fire of Judgment might search Him through and through, but it could not destroy Him; it could only "enfold itself"; the waves of Death might overflow Him, but they could not hold Him down; for while amidst the roar of that wild storm He laid down His human life for us, and gave Himself a sacrifice for sin—He "could not be holden of it," but He rose again in victory. Thus through Death He destroyed him that had the power of death, and He "spoiled the strong man's house"; and because He was the Son of God, He came up out of those deep waters still as Man, bringing with Him the keys of Death and of Hell. He ascended to the right hand of God, and down from above with the sound of rushing wind, with the glow of burning fire, came the Promise of the Father—promised so long ago—to lead lost human souls out of their Land of Loneliness into the inheritance of Relationship. He, the Holy Ghost, the third Person of the Godhead, came in through. the avenue of Death, strong to purify, wise to direct; glowing with love, mighty to fulfill the promise founded on the purpose, formed in eternity ere the world was. Oh, thrice wonderful plan! This was God's way by which sinners in death and loneliness could be led into Life and Relationship. Through death to life.
As we talk together this evening we look back on that great work accomplished for us by the Son of God. Nothing remains to be done for the expiation of our sin. The Holy Spirit dwells upon the earth to-night. All is clear on God's side; but each soul born into the Land of Loneliness has to become conscious of its woe, conscious of its danger, to see by the Light the way of escape that God has provided, and to avail itself of the Power which can alone lead it on in victory. It is this journey of experience that we are now about to begin, during which the work that the Light of Faith shows us was done for us is made good in us by the power and the warmth of the Spirit of God. You do not understand this, I daresay. But I trust that as step by step we tread along our wonderful journey of experience, God may teach us what He would have us learn about it. "For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren" (Rom. 8:2929For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:29)).
And from the opened heavens the Voice of a living Savior cries through the dreary Land of Loneliness: "God is Love"—"Fear not; I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death" (Rev. 1:17, 1817And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 18I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. (Revelation 1:17‑18)).