Part 1
Many of our Christian young men are now in the army, navy, and other branches of government service. Each one of us is personally acquainted with many who have gone and are now in widely separated parts of the world. These dear young men have left their homes, and the valued circles of Christian fellowship. May our prayers follow them in these days of scattering.
In the eighth chapter of the Acts there is an account of another scattering which was allowed by God. Then it was a persecution of the Christians that scattered them abroad from Jerusalem. Let us look at this scripture, and see if we may draw some conclusions from it, and perhaps learn some lessons that might be of value to us now.
After the death, resurrection, and ascension of the Lord Jesus, the Spirit of God came down and dwelt in the believers. The church of God was formed on earth at that time in the city of Jerusalem, and the gospel was preached there. Thousands of people were saved; three thousand were saved at one preaching, as recorded in the second chapter of the Acts. These early Christians had a happy season together as the church of God flourished in Jerusalem in those days.
“That repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
Then turning to the opening chapter of the Acts, we see that they were told to wait at Jerusalem before going abroad preaching until the Holy Spirit had come.
Here then was their commission—await the coming of the Holy Ghost, and then go forth with the gospel. While beginning at Jerusalem, they were to carry it far beyond. Jerusalem was only the starting point. God, who is interested in the gospel of His Son, wanted it carried far and wide. But notice in these early chapters of the Acts, what the apostles and early Christians actually did. They all remained at Jerusalem, enjoying their feasts of good things.
In order that His instructions might be carried out, the Lord saw that a scattering was necessary; and forthwith a persecution broke out. They were careless about going out with the gospel; so the Lord got them started.
Among those scattered was Philip who had been one of the deacons in the sixth chapter, and looked after the care of the needy. His work was no longer necessary when the church was scattered; so he went out also in this scattering.
And happy fruitful preaching that was. They did not just preach sermons, but preached “the Word” and “Christ.” Blessing followed that preaching, and there was much joy in Samaria, as many souls were saved. Philip then was sent to the desert to meet the Ethiopian eunuch, who also got saved, and went on his way rejoicing. Others who were scattered traveled far and wide preaching the gospel.
“Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen, traveled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the Word to none, but unto the Jews only. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord” (Acts 11:19-2119Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. 20And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. (Acts 11:19‑21)).
Much blessing followed their labors, and the ground-work was laid for that important Gentile assembly at Antioch. Thus we see how the Lord triumphed in the scattering and used the ones scattered for bearing precious seed, which He bountifully blessed.
Now, let us bring all this down to our day. Fellow-Christians have we not settled down in this world, and forgotten to be diligent in spreading the gospel? Has not the tendency been to forget the unsaved who are about us, as well as far beyond? We have, and rightly so, praised God for our salvation, and have enjoyed the blessings He has given us; but in a large measure, we have been careless about the unsaved and the gospel. When all goes well with us there is a disposition to enjoy our own blessings—our salvation, fellowship of our saints, our families, our homes—and neglect to be diligent in the Lord’s things. It is very easy to sit in our comfortable homes and sing:
How sweet the truth, ye sinners hear it,
Mercy’s free, Mercy’s free.
Ye saints of God to all declare it,
Mercy’s free, Mercy’s free.
Visit your neighbor’s dark abode,
Proclaim to all this love of God,
O spread the joyful news abroad.
Mercy’s free, Mercy’s free.
But are we really faithful in this? Have we not all been more or less lax? We need to remember that we have not been left here to please ourselves, but to live for the Lord.
Now the Lord has allowed many of our young brethren to be suddenly called away from homes and meetings, and to be thrust forth into many other places. It is not without a cause, nor is it without a purpose. We are hearing very frequently of faithful testimony being rendered to their Lord by these young men, and it makes our hearts rejoice. They have gone forth and are carrying the gospel quietly, but effectively along with them. Souls are being saved through their testimony. May we bear them up constantly before the Lord, and may we at home be stirred up to more faithfulness.
From time to time we hope, the Lord willing, to print some accounts of the testimony being rendered by our young brethren who have left us. In the mean while—
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:5858Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58)).