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THE DAWN * D. J. SILVER ENTHRALLED, I watched dawn's chaperon fingers FOR AS THE DAWN, with faithful care Spread the veil of light And ministration, keeps Which hides from day's rude searching stare, Beneath its veiling light the secrets The starlit face of night, Of the starry deeps, And thought, how like my Saviour's love 'Neath Calvary's crimson veil lies that Which hides my sins from sight. O'er which Repentance weeps. ene If I had but one year to live, One year to help; one year to give; One year to love; one year to bless; One year of better things to stress; One year to sing; one year to smile; To brighten earth a little while; One year to sing my Maker's praise; One year to fill with work my days; One year to strive for a reward When I should stand before my Lord, I think that I would spend each day In just the very selfsame way That I do now. For from afar The call may come across the bar At any time, and I must be Prepared to meet eternity. So if I have a year to live, Or just one day in which to give A pleasant smile, a helping hand, A mind that tries to understand A fellow creature when in need, 'Tis one with me. I take no heed, But try to live each day He sends To serve my gracious Master's ends. —Mary Reed.
SIGNS OF THE TIMES January I. 1970 Page One OF THE TIMES SI6NSA family magazine dedicated to promoting evangelical Christianity, upholding Jesus Christ as man's only Saviour and soon-returning King, and presenting the Bible as the inspired Word of God and our only rule of faith.
VOLUME 85, NUMBER 1 JANUARY. 1970
EDITOR - - - Robert H. Parr CONTRIBUTING EDITOR - - - Arthur S. Maxwell OFFICE EDITOR David L. Stokes CIRCULATION MANAGER Allan Maberly LAYOUT Howard G. Davis
HOMELY HOMILIES LOVE AND FEAR EDITORIALS I was astonished to hear him declare that he thought The Archaic and the Inefficient? 3 being frightened of God a good motive for serving Him. Not Long Now 4 Jesus stated that to love God is the supreme principle of She Climbed Up to Die 5 life. How could anyone have the spontaneous response of love toward someone of whom he was frightened? The Apostle John sums it up well in 1 John 4:18, 19. ARTICLES One Year Mary Reed I "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. The Year 1970 ... and You John F. Knight 6 For fear has to do with punishment, and he who fears is Happy New Year Dr. Lionel H. Turner 8 not perfected in love. We love, because He first loved Landfall Lyndon Kent II us." R.S.V. That's it. God doesn't first scare us, or The Master Carver Gillian WasteII 12 condemn us, or threaten or punish. He first loves us. Ready for Harvest Robert H. Parr 16 "God is love." He is its source. We cannot generate it. Christianity Made Easy Dr. Desmond Ford 18 He first pours it forth and then we are enabled to respond. How Many Gods in the Godhead? James D. Beyers 22 We parents share this relationship a. little. Like most Modern Translator Handles a "Spiritual Missile" mothers I have a soft spot for my own children, and one W. Austin Townend 28 day I said to the littlest, "Oh, you're a little sweetie; I think I'll keep you"—a household term of affection which she understood. Then. I added, "Why do I want to keep REGULAR FEATURES you?" She did not hesitate. "Because you love me." A Place to Remember Roy C. Naden 14 The question had been too easy, so I posed another, Lines that Linger 15 "What would I do if I didn't love you?" What Did Jesus Christ Believe? David L. Stokes 25 The impish look of security on her face showed clearly Accent on Youth Desmond B. Hills 26 that she never thought it a remote possibility. Question Box Gordon D. Box 27 Bible Questions Answered Dr. Desmond Ford 30 "Oh-h," she said with feigned deliberation, "you'd A Story for the Children Myrtle O'Hara 32 throw me in the rubbish bin!" (Chuckle.) Unconsciously she had attributed to me the quality of the "perfect love" which "casts out fear." Yet all my love is only derivative. It comes from the Source of love and life and joy to the universe. If only we knew Him better, OUR COVER PICTURE how much more carefree would we be as children secure Most people have seen a field of wheat standing ready to harvest in nur Father's house. but it takes the artistic eye of the dedicated photographer to see photogenic qualities in it. Howard G. Davis of our art department saw the inherent possibilities and his shutter clicked—and we liked connie g.grench the result. We hope you do, too.
• A publication of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. the SIGNS OF THE TIMES is printed and published monthly by the SIGNS SU et/ft 60/1 PUBLISHING COMPANY (Australasian Conference Association Limited, Proprietors), Warburton, Victoria, Australia, and is registered as a periodical in Victoria. Single Copies .20 One-year Subscriptions: • All subscriptions should be accompanied by cash, such remittances Paid in Australia for mailing to addresses in Australia, being made payable to the Signs Publishing Company. All New Zealand remittances should be made by Money Order, as N.Z. Mandated Territories, and Pacific Islands ._ $2.25 Postal Notes or Stamps are not negotiable in Australia. Please New Zealand (N.Z. Currency) — — _ _ — _ _ $2.25 notify changes of address promptly. stating both old and new .20 addresses. Overseas Countries — - $3.15
Page Two December 1, 1969 SIGNS OF THE TIMES interpreting signs of the times
We can hear them rumbling among the hosts of the Not Long Now underprivileged of every race, colour and nation as they clamour for revolution. THE DAWN of New Year's Day, 1970, not only marks the beginning of another new year and another new We can hear them shrieking on city streets and college decade; it reminds us that time is running out and that campuses as rebellious youth seek to bring down the history's climax cannot now be far away. "establishment." Half a century ago, as Alexander Blok, famous Rus- We can also see the effects of these "stormwinds of his- sian poet, lay on his deathbed, he told his friends he could tory" in the collapse of moral standards, in the tidal wave hear "the stormwinds of history" blowing over his head. of crime, and in the universal permissiveness that excuses They have been blowing ever since, rising to a hurricane every kind of lewdness, pornography and immorality. in our day. Out of all the upheaval, confusion and terror of our No one can fail to hear them now. time one great fact emerges: our civilization is on the We can hear them howling in the Near East as they verge of collapse. As in the latter days of the Roman whip the fires of an ancient controversy into a renewed Empire, its moral underpinnings have rotted away. Its fury of destruction. glory has departed. We can hear them roaring in the Far East where hund- If the prophet Daniel were alive today he would cry reds of millions are being stirred to a frenzy of nation- from every radio and TV station around the world, "Thou alism. art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting." We can hear them whistling through vast factories in Daniel 5:27. many lands where huge atomic weapons are being forged What we are witnessing now are the very signs that for the last great conflict. Jesus Christ promised would appear immediately before We can hear them growling among the new-born na- His return. tions that glory in freedom but resent their poverty and In the last days, He said, there would come the greatest futility. wars, famines, pestilences and earthquakes of all time. (See Luke 21:11.) There would be an outbreak of lawlessness and violence without precedent since that era of total depravity that brought the Flood. (Luke 17:26; Genesis 6:5, 11.) There would be a global descent into immorality such as that which made the destruction of Sodom and Gomor- rah inevitable. (Luke 17:28; 2 Timothy 3:1-5.) And there would develop such insoluble problems among the nations that leaders in every land would be "helpless, not knowing which way to turn." Luke 21:25, N.E.B. These are the signs of the times—our times. Each one is a "stormwind of history" and together they form that "great whirlwind" which "shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth." Jeremiah 25:32. "When you see all this happening," Jesus said, "you may be sure that the kingdom of God is near." Luke 21:31, N.E.B.
■ The issue of wildlife preservation is not unique to our part of the world. This artist, David Shepherd, with his painting of African elephants in a dust bath, plans to auction this work in America to raise money for the protection of wildlife in Zambia. SIGNS OF THE TIMES January 1, 1970 Page Three This is the outstanding message for all of us as we gaze forward into the mists of 1970. It cannot be long now till the greatest event of the ages bursts upon us and the Man of Galilee and Calvary rides down the invisible corri- dors of space as King of kings and Lords of lords. May we be ready to meet Him when He comes. A414.4 Peoe,wete
The Archaic and the Inefficient! THE PROFESSOR OF EDUCATION at the University of Adelaide is quoted as saying, "The human teacher, anyway, is archaic and inefficient." (Melbourne Age, 15/11/69.) And so, with such a remark, we prepare to enter the sizzling seventies. It is a pity that some who seem to be in the best position to evaluate these things should see them so. As far as we are concerned, the human teacher is rather inclined to be somewhat better than the mechanical teaching devices that are intended to supersede him. Machines have a certain metallic coldness about them that the most frigid human can never approximate; apart from that, of course, there are other distinct disadvan- tages. We have some distinct memories of teachers we have known. There was one who, when a little boy lost his lunch somewhere between his home and school, on hear- ing his sobbed-out story, cheered him up magnificently and saved him from certain death by starvation by sharing her own sandwiches with him. The best of your machines and your electronic wonders will never be able to match that. We still have mellow memories of that teacher. Then there was the time we fell over and the blood flowed freely on the knee. The sight of blood is some- thing we have never been able to take with complete equanimity. But when one is seven and the blood is one's own, the sight is well-nigh overwhelming. Well can we remember that kindly teacher assuring that little boy of the long ago that he would not die, urging him to play the man, telling him that big boys don't cry and then taking him to the sick bay and bathing the knee and putting a bandage on it and completing the miracle cure with a piece of toffee fished up from the depths of a capacious handbag. What alternative teaching device can you offer, professor, to that good, old-fashioned (as opposed to archaic) motherly teacher who can cure a boy's troubles like that? Then we recall that one who had such a profound influence on us all when we were in fifth grade. She held us in the hollow of her hand; she taught us self-reliance, Every ten years the little Bavarian town of Oberammergau presents honesty and sportsmanship in a way we remember still. a passion play. This has drawn large crowds over the past few We would have done anything for that teacher; she was decades and so the town has engaged in major public works idolized by every one of us in that class. How can you (lower picture) to accommodate the estimated half a million people expected this year. The upper picture shows one of the props— call her, professor, inefficient? a huge bunch of grapes—to be used in the "Last Supper" scene.
Page Four January 1. 1970 SIGNS OF THE TIMES Another comes to mind; he was every inch a man. her to hospital critically injured. Then at last people Somehow, during the year he had us in his class, we all noticed her. They all flowed with hindsight concern and took that big leap from boyhood to adolescence. And sympathy; they all were shocked too late; they were all as far as we can check it out, none of us has trodden full of "if onlys." the miserable road to delinquency. Somehow he con- She was married to a wealthy influential man about trived, without making it at all obvious, to teach us what that Argentinian town. She could not have been suffer- citizenship meant. We learned from him what it meant ing financially. They had recently separated, though, and to respect the property of others. We were shown in her happiness and hopes were finally shattered. But she many a subtle yet forceful way that common decency is must have had friends. Probably in her position they the thing that leads to lasting happiness. Has that kind were fair-weather friends, but at least that was better than of teacher ceased to exist, professor? Only if you can no friends. Maybe. prove that his kind is no more will we begin to believe Then why would this woman not only decide that she that the human teacher is inefficient and archaic, and herself must die, but feel so desperate that she would do it ought to be replaced. at the cost of another life, too? Mother love alone would The modern teacher may be surrounded by more be enough, so you would think, to keep them both alive. sophisticated devices than ever and he may be more Something had made her so desperate that not only did highly specialized than ever before, but we believe that she choose suicide and murder, but the most gruesome there is no substitute for the teacher standing before his way at that. class, unconsciously and unobtrusively letting his good It would do us all the world of good to stop and wonder influence flow over his pupils so that they will see not what we might have done in her situation. Probably merely a man who is injecting them with facts and there lurks in the backs of many people's minds the formulae, but a human being whose values are strong and decent. No machine, device, piece of equipment or fear that were they totally bereft of their main sources of joy in life like friendship, love and the sense of being gadget can do that. Teachers, sir, are only inefficient wanted, they too might have nothing left to live for. Do and archaic when they teach subjects (no matter how well) and forget that their real purpose is to make child- we all have reasons and purposes for living that stand secure though all other temporary satisfactions may ren into better men and women of tomorrow than they would otherwise have been. cease? We enter the uncertain seventies with some trepida- She probably felt that she had everything in life at tion; what it holds is a big question mark in the minds one time. But suddenly her home and love and sense of of many. But whatever happens, people will still need being wanted was stolen from her and she found that people. We earnestly hope that, if there is to be another she had nothing else. How would you fare? generation, it will not be taught by remote-controlled Karl Marx once said that religion was the opiate of the mechanics; we hope that this decade does not phase out masses. It was their drug that allowed their escape from the element of warm humanity and phase in some piece reality; it was their hypnotism that prevented them from of electronic wizardry. That way, we feel, lies disaster. being individuals. Today, activity is the opiate of the people. Roteia H. P444 Housewives and bread winners, executives and career women, flower people and swingers, all seem hooked on activity. People fear quietness and contemplation. They immerse themselves in a programme of constant happen. She Climbed to Die ings, parties, outings, evenings, work, even study, fearful ON THE WAY UP, probably no one even noticed her. lest, caught inactive, they might think and see no sense On the way down she made international news, and those in all they do. People fear their inner thoughts like they who did see her must have wished they hadn't. She had fear death. The two are often not very far apart. climbed to the top of an eleven-storey building with her Each one of us needs something above and beyond the small child in her arms. Someone must have passed her everyday events that make up our lives to give a firm and on the stairs, or travelled with her in the lift, but it seems unchanging reason for our existence. Some purpose, no one read the desperation in her eyes, or sensed the some objective that is always there when the happenings emptiness in her soul. of life turn against us. She climbed up to die. Such a terrible thing! Whether This poor Argentinian woman of whom we spoke ear- she was alone on the roof during those last few critical lier, like many before her, had had her fill of life and was moments was not reported. But she might as well have still empty. She had drunk at many of the wells but was been alone, for no one would have noticed her. Who still thirsty. Jesus Christ declared: "Who ever drinks could have conceived just what was in her mind? this water will get thirsty again; but whoever drinks the She threw the baby over first. Eleven stories it fell water that I give him will never be thirsty again." John 4: and died instantly. She had not wanted her little one to 13, 14, T.E.V. die, but it seemed better that way. She followed her off- spring just seconds later, only not all the way. They carried Dew/a L. 51e4e4 SIGNS OF THE TIMES January 1, 1970 Page Five 'TA altintlar 1970 141ST ORICAL AUSTRALIA SERIEti a. QUOTATIONS The Year 1970
H. G. DA VI • • • and YOU
By JOHN F. KNIGHT
itemization. Possibly there are only seven or eight 1-9-7-0 ! brief headings in all. But each has been well thought SO WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU? out, and mentally turned over in his active cerebrum, New resolutions, revised ambitions, determinations possibly for many months past. made over again, wider horizons, greater achievements, "Plans for 1970" the contentment of success by the time Christmas 1970 The list is merely headed "Plans for 1970"—or inevitably comes around twelve months hence. whatever the upcoming year may be. Often it is a The start of another twelve-month span is a fine time strange collating of items. It is a heterogeneous com- to "take stock." One well-known business man (and a bination of personal characteristics, business aspirations successful one at that) accumulates his year's thinking and religious considerations. There are items listed at this time of the year—his plans, aspirations, hopes, which this man hopes will keep him in better physique; determinations. points which will help augment his growing financial In early January he commits these to paper, in a fortune; suggestions which will keep him in closer touch summarized list. It is usually not a particularly long with his church, with his God and fellow man. Page Six January 1, 1970 SIGNS OF THE TIMES When this list has been completed (and he tells me "As the year progresses, and you constantly check it may take up to a week or a fortnight or even longer to your original list, modifications of course will become compile), it is carefully placed inside his Bible. apparent and essential. These alterations can be jotted "As I try to open my Bible on a fairly regular basis, down in the appropriate place alongside." I am at least certain of having my attention frequently focussed on my list of newly acquired aspirations," he Final Assessment told me. "The constant reminder gives regular impe- The final crux of the whole exercise comes in the tus—a sort of 'shot-in-the-arm; It peps me up. final weeks of the year in question. At this point comes the grand "stock take." This is the judging session, "By mid June, as I look at my list, if I find myself the appraisal of whether the year has been "As De- not coping too well with some of the situations, I give signed," "Above Expectations," or "Below Anticipa- myself a good hard prod. I say: `That's strange. Last tions." The points annotated twelve months previously January I declared I could surmount this situation are again carefully scrutinized. The successfully com- with reasonable ease. Now I can't even make first pleted items are ticked off. The doubtful ones are base. What's the trouble? Was I fooling myself then, queried. Seldom are any points dubbed completely or am I just getting lazy now?' " unsuccessful, for all have been analysed during the Efficiency Lags year, and at least some progress has been made even with "In actual fact," he continued, "by the middle of unpopular tasks and issues. the year, you become so burdened down with the ple- And at this time of re-appraisal, comes the time also thora of routine matters that bright new ideas acquired to compile the "List for the Next Year." This follows when there was time to think somehow seem to get the routine as previously outlined. It may contain a host lost. Efficiency tends to lag. Physical and mental of entirely new items. More likely, however, it will stamina seem to get a little shaky. Enthusiasm that include several of the current points that have not been started the new year off has tarnished perceptibly. completed in tow, together with new ideas that have "However, this is not the time to despair. I re-read cropped up during the year. my list again several times over. I try to analyse why Therefore, for this man, there is very little doubt I am not going so well. Almost without fail I find as to whether or not the year has been a successful one I can attribute my sudden lack of favourable progress for him. Although accountants' balance sheets are to personal inefficiency. Digging a little deeper as to important things, they are not necessarily the crux of the cause of this, I find that great big ogre looming up living. He regards the assessment of his little list as in the background called 'Fatigue Factor.' being of greater import. For a balance sheet shows only "So the obvious thing to do is grab a bit more rest. the tangible fiscal values of life, and little else. `Sleep' is the common word for the cheapest and most "My year-end `balance sheet'—for that is sometimes exhilarating commodity known to medical science. what I call my little list—shows me much more than There's a popular notion in this finance-conscious world that," he says. "It includes many of the intangibles that `anything that's free isn't worth having.' Com- of living: my relationship to God, to my family, to my merce-wise this seems invariably true. fellow man. These, in the ultimate, are of greater "But God very graciously provided us with a spate of import than merely the dollar signs of life. physical phenomena, all of which are entirely gratis. "I repeat, my efforts are certainly not always up to Sleep is one of them, and perhaps it should head the expectations. But at least this scheme gives a systema- list. Without it we soon become reduced to inefficient, tized approach to living life to the full, and getting from unhappy, surly, bad-tempered pieces of sub-humanity. life everything that there is to get; at the same time, "But if we have the good sense to utilize a reasonable putting into life everything that one has to give." amount of this top-priority bargain commodity, we will benefit immeasurably. It will soothe the soul, revive the spirits, brighten the outlook, and most important of So, 1-9-7-0! What does it mean to you? all, raise mental efficiency to top level. Decisions that In the main, it will probably roll on without much seem ponderous a dozen hours previously become a variation from the year just past, or from the year pre- bagatelle. ceding that, or the year before. "The brain after all is little more than a human com- But it might be worth taking half an hour out from puter. Feed it the necessary data in any sort of pro- your busy routine, and jotting down your "List for gramme—be it via words, pictures, thoughts or even 1970." Put it in a handy place where you will see vague notions—give it a good rest session in which to it from week to week. And in twelve months' time, `computerize,' and ultimately out will come your answer, when the occasion for re-assessment arrives, you can also in easily managed jargon you can readily under- more accurately adjudge the "success" or "otherwise" stand. of 1970—to you. **
SIGNS OF THE TIMES January 1, 1970 Page Seven Page Eight HAPPY NEWYEAR By DR.LIONELH.TURNER January 1,1970 SIGNSOFTHETIMES
KELVIN ELLI S EW" is one of the shining words. All financial year gets under way, and in endless ways we its connotations romp up to us from become aware that a page has been turned. An era has the earliest years: exciting places seen begun. The very scent of change is in the air. for the first time, festooned for ever with Now it is a strange thing that in this period of images of rocks and tiny crabs, and sounding water greater sophistication, when there is such an impetus and the smell of seaweed; games discovered amid jar- towards efficiency, and such a keenness to capitalize on ring bodies on short green grass; the first day in a our knowledge of psychology, that we should have be- higher class with its books gay in coloured bindings come so cynical about the more serious side of New and smelling excitingly of printer's ink and glue; kin- Year's Day. In more sober and perhaps more pious dred spirits discovered miraculously and remaining to times people made quite a business of New Year resolu- hurdle with us the oncoming weeks and years. tions. To us, I am afraid, it is a ceremony that seems But best of all, there are the associations of new days quaint and perhaps a little pathetic. But I wonder. themselves, emerging casually from under morning In spite of the "divine discontent" that prompts us dews to reveal themselves clean and quite unsmudged all into desiring some change in ourselves, it is a melan- by the troubles of yesterday, and leading into all kinds choly fact that most of us are, as William James put it, of magic moments. Yes, "new" is indeed a shining "old fogeys" before we get very far into the twenties. word, and it is beautiful with the promise of fresh Our personalities harden into permanency. A com- stars, the delight of beginning again, of finding the plex of habits holds us in a strait-jacket. Thereafter it reprieve of a second chance. takes almost superhuman effort to break out of this Have you ever thought how different life would prison into a wider, freer world. Perhaps it is this be without these new beginnings? Suppose there were conviction which is responsible for the cynicism which no night to rule off the day with its firm, dark line clouds every mention of resolution to improve. But around the horizon to bring the interval of sleeping cynicism is a stale attitude that anticipates defeat, and and dreaming. Suppose daylight went on and on so why it should have such powers to quench the fires of that the only breaks and changes were artificial, man- enthusiasm in another is a mystery. Cynicism, as a made conventions. Suppose we were never able to general attitude, is a prelude to spiritual suicide and is, shrug off the past with the words, "Ah, yes, but that therefore, something to be pitied rather than something was yesterday." Suppose every hope of change and to cringe before. improvement were bedevilled by the horrid conviction But I think I have been pussyfooting around the of featureless continuity. subject long enough. Let me state my position plainly. Thank God for the night that can bring forth the I believe that if you want to have a really happy New miracle of a new day. Year, an exhilarating New Year with the real taste of newness, you need to go for change in a big way. And Are We Too Casual? that means a bold return to the old time attitude to New Year Resolutions. And I want to give over the rest And that brings us to the greater concept of the of this article to the task of telling you why, and how New Year, a concept that most of us are beginning to and what. take too casually. It is a tremendous pity if we let the New Year slip through our fingers because we fail to Why and How and What attend to it properly. Beside the concept of a new day, To begin with, it is well to realize that change is the it may seem a little synthetic. But it is real enough. very essence of living. The purpose of change is growth. It is written in the movement of heavenly bodies, move- When we cease to grow, we have begun to lose the ments that proclaim with calm tones of infallibility that flavour of being alive. If the zest for living has gone, the procession of the seasons will begin again. And it is we have already begun to die. Yet, strangely enough, etched deeply into the substance of human society. We most of us are afraid of change. We want the death make a lively gesture of changing the number of the of undisturbed peace. year. There are a multitude of new appointments. Man is the only animal who can find within himself New policies are initiated. The second half of the the capacity to exert conscious control of his develop- SIGNS OF THE TIMES January 1. 1970 Page Nine ment. Regrettably this control is limited, but it is real his sudden resolution to remain true to his father's God enough. And there is nothing so stimulating and satis- had a magnificent battle terrain. None of the old ha- fying as the experience of launching oneself upon an bits and attitudes so natural to a spoilt child could find organized and preconceived programme of change. In- a foothold here. deed, we never feel so vividly alive, so full of eager But perhaps the most important factor in launching a hope as when we are struggling with our more primi- resolution is the choice of the occasion. And here we tive selves to achieve some desired development. come back to the New Year. It is so real, so indispu- Such a programme may entail nothing more than tably a beginning, so redolent with hope and optimism, the general growth of musculature, or the development so apt a moment to turn one's back on the past. If of a physical skill, or the mastery of some aspect of there was ever a time when a resolve has a good chance knowledge, or the sharpening of some mental faculty, of running a victorious course through the long line of or the bringing under control of baser desires of which viciously flailing established habits, it is on New Year's we do not approve. But we revel in the struggle. We Day. There is another advantage associated with this delight in the rewards of achievement. We cease to occasion. It was traditional to write out one's resolu- feel inadequate, because we know that we are in the tions and make their content family property. As Wil- forefront of the battle of life and that we are holding liam James has told us, it is harder to break a resolu- our own. tion that has been announced to the world than one that So why should we do ourselves out of the enormous is whispered in the heart. potentiality that lies in New Year resolutions? And So much for the why and the how of resolutions, and, what is so funny about the spectacle of a man sum- of course, the when. Now what about the what? moning all his power of will to change his pattern of living as he stands looking out into the eastern horizon What About the What? from which a whole new series of tomorrows will There is escape from depression, relief from boredom come? in the very prospect of change. One has only to make But it is one thing to make a resolution, and quite a specific resolve to undertake a programme of develop- another to carry it out. Perhaps it is fortunate that ment to feel the assurance of a spiritual resurrection. no mortality tables have been prepared for resolutions. In the subsequent struggle there is exhilaration, however I am sure they would make discouraging reading, and mixed it may be with fatigue and frustration. The I am sure that they are directly related to age. The choice of goals is almost infinite and must, of course, be older we grow, the poorer our chance of nurturing a individual and original. resolution beyond its infancy. I mention this because it But if you want to taste the adventure of change in would be foolish to embark on the current of any resolu- the ultimate, consider the philosophy of Jesus of Naza- tion without facing that fact. reth. There was never such a spring cleaning in the We ought to make sure that we know something soul as He contemplated. He went so far as to advo- about the forces that tend to make this current flow cate that we be born again. And the Bible is full of strongly and for a long time. the imagery of the most fundamental of changes. To yield to His philosophy is to surrender to an endless Desire for Change cycle of exciting change. When He is finished with The first and most obvious force is the strength of a man, his stony heart is changed and he is mellowed the desire for change. A smoker who has just seen his into an attitude of sympathetic understanding for his best friend die from lung cancer will launch a non- fellow men. He has a contempt for material posses- smoking habit on an almost invincibly strong emotional sions and he can stare down the spectre of death. He current. But the average resolution is made much more has more interest in what he can contribute than in casually, much more ineffectually and finds itself bat- what he can get. His eyes are fixed somewhere beyond tered into submission by established habits and desires the horizon of the here and now to a future full of hope that have become too strong to be denied. and reward. He is so far free from the petty worries Another factor lies in our circumstances at the time and distresses of life that he can tune in to the mind of when the resolution is launched. It is good sense to the Infinite and grow and develop as a vine branch choose the ground upon which the initial battle is to draws nourishment from the vine. And in all this he be fought against the combined strength of hardened finds a contentment and happiness that is beyond the habits and surging emotions. We would be taking on understanding of those who have never yielded to the tremendous odds, for instance, if we were to ask a re- strange, compelling, and seemingly illogical way of the solution to abstain from alcohol to withstand the sights Nazarene. and sounds and smells of a hotel bar. When the pam- Jesus has not so many disciples today. I mean dis- pered seventeen-year-old Joseph found himself in the ciples that will go all the way with Him. It is a dis- brutal society of slave dealers where the harsh accents turbing subject for contemplation, but somewhere there of a foreign tongue bewildered his shocked conscious- waiting for us with patient, level eyes is the most mag- ness, and the weird atmosphere of heathen rites made nificent New Year's resolution of all. him feel alone in the midst of an unending nightmare, **
Page Ten January 1, 1970 SIGNS OF THE TIMES LANDFALL By LYNDON KENT SHE HAD KNOWN in her life many sorrows and dis- appointments. Yet she always faced life not only with serenity, but with exuberance. It had long been a source of wonder to me how she could dwell with such things but never dwell on them; how she who had suffered deep wounds could go, still, a blithe spirit into the fray, nay, more, would soothe the cuts and bruises of her fellow soldiers and always spread good cheer. I myself have known her balm-drenched ministrations, and that more than once. It had all long been a source of wonder to me—and then she confessed her secret. She was relating how during what was for her a most distressing stay in hospital she had observed an old couple sadly confused because time and decay had robbed them of so many of the treasures of their years together. The afflicted bed-ridden wife was not aware at what fearful cost in pain and effort her husband maintained their brief daily communion. The dear saintly old man said quietly, "Don't be vexed with me; I can do no more." It was the hand of time, heavy on them both. And then came their final parting. I said, "Wouldn't this world be a hell without the resurrection?" "I know," she replied, "I've been waiting for it for twenty-two years. Were it not for that, life would have no meaning." Alone on a vast and unknown ocean with a young family, this was her landfall through all the tumultuous seas. "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him." 1 Thessalonians 4:14. Each day she looked forward with heart aglow to the reunion with Jesus and her beloved. Here was the secret of her exu- berance, her courage, her balm. Jesus would do all things well for her, and not only explain His purpose in it all but turn even the tears into a glorious Te Deum. She laid bare her secret. Three days were passed in deep and meaningful communion with those she loved so well. Then I heard she had fallen asleep. I could not grieve for her. The long years are passed. The billows are surmounted. And she rests as a ship rests that has fought her way through tempest and still waters, and awaits at harbour mouth for her pilot to bring her in. And she waits with a great host of vessels till all those ships still buffeted on the high seas of life, storm-tossed and alone, till they, too, shall make that landfall. Then she, with all the others, shall see her Pilot face to face, and they shall be reunited each to each, and shall sail into that port in a flotilla of triumph. "We that are alive, that are left unto the coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen asleep." 1 Thessa- lonians 4:15, R.V. "Shall we meeting that blest harbour When our stormy voyage is o'er, Shall we meet and cast the anchor By the fair celestial shore?" There is for her no more waiting. She sleeps, and to her the next moment will bring her Pilot, and her be- loved. "So shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." Verses 17, 18.
SIGNS OF THE TIMES January 1, 1970 Page Eleven THE MASTER CARVER
Ng Plan Waitall
WITH LINE DRAWINGS BY THE WRITER
AS WITH MOST ARTS, there is more to sculpture than one might imagine on a mere acquaintance. Just consider for a moment that you have a plaster-of-Paris block in front of you, a chisel in hand, and you are going to carve a human head into it. How would you start? Well, here is one basic method. Now comes the rounding and allows for no human error, no patches, A drawing is taken of the front and moulding of features, in a general no additions. side profiles of the head. This is way at first, but later, more and While you think about Pieta, here's transferred on to a squared sheet so more detailed. a question to think on, too. Do you that the grid measurements of each This brief description may evoke believe that Michaelangelo existed? profile synchronise. (Figs. 1 and 2. some appreciation of the technicalities We would consider that a silly ques- involved in sculpturing. tion because there is so much evidence for his existence. When one only has Michaelangelo is one of the world's to take part in a one-way appreciation best-known and best-loved sculptors it's not much trouble to believe. A and painters. The work illustrated statue does not make demands upon (p. 13) is called Pieta, one of his anyone and Michaelangelo is long earliest works. Apply the basic prin- since dead. It cannot talk to you or cipes of sculpture to this work. What reason with you. a masterpiece of human genius! How a mere human could carve muscle But compare the most sublime and flesh in such a realistic fashion works of men with those of God. There seems beyond our imagination. is an eternity of difference. We are not contemplating a marble likeness Look at the hands—the compas- that does not breathe or weep or sion, the submission. Look at the smile. Instead, a living being con- robe—the intricacy, the accuracy. See fronts us—full of energy, with the the cloth that covers Christ's loins. It power to run, a heart to feel, a brain flows in one direction while the form to think. FIG. I underneath it flows in a cross direc- tion. Yet both are so perfect when Is Pieta a masterpiece? Of course. viewed apart! Who would deny it? Yet you and I are living masterpieces. Remember, too, that this is wrought in marble, not plaster. Chop off a plas- Here's another question. Is it easy ter nose and all that is needed is some to believe in God? Using a similar wet plaster thrown on to the fracture. approach, it should be, shouldn't it? Let it dry. Start again. But marble You and I are the living proof.
FIG. 2
By this grid or system of squares, the drawings of these profiles are transferred to the respective faces of the block. All excess plaster is knocked away, from the front pro- file, through to the back. (Fig. 3) Next, the side profile is cut away. The result looks something like Fig. 4. FIG. 3 FIG. 4
Page Twelve January 1, 1970 SIGNS OF THE TIMES They are real, they are tangible. They appeal to the senses. But the future! What does the future hold? Here is the acid test of any religion. It was D. H. Lawrence who said: "My own great religion is a belief in the blood, the flesh, as being wiser than the intellect. We can go wrong in our minds. But what our blood feels and believes and says is always true." But can we trust our senses? Can we trust our unbalanced feelings for the future? Our plans may be set days, weeks, months, even years ahead. Can we say they are absolutely certain? The future for each one of us looms out from a vague and misty horizon. For the godless who refuse to become involved, it is impenetrable. They may foist the future behind the cur- tain of the subconscious, but when it comes to haunt, what then? However, for the one who is pre- pared to trust, to become involved, to believe, the vague uncertainty becomes a rosy glow, because God promised us a Comforter, a guide for the fu- ture. This is what someone has said of the work of the Spirit— "He did not come as one who would come and go; He came to stay, to abide with us for ever. Although never within sight, He is never out of call. He came not to die for us but to live with us." God has not left us floating in in- security. He gave us the Comforter to be our continuing Sculptor, to carve intricacy and beauty into the character, to unfold life before us, a destiny beyond and above all our Michaelangelo himself said:— ically about it. But many are afraid imaginings. The same Spirit of God that carved "0 let me see Thee, Lord, where'er that if they concede this, it means be- cosmos out of chaos in the beginning I go coming involved. They are right! You can have no one-way appreciation does the same in our day for the one If mortal beauty sets my soul on fire who submits to His divine artistry. That flame when near to Thine must with God as with a cold, lifeless statue. needs expire Recognition of God brings with it And I with love of only Thee shall responsibility. Right choice brings OUR CO-OPERATION CORNER glow." duty. Acknowledgement demands ac- tion. He saw a Craftsman with skill aeons From time to time "Signs" readers beyond his and he gave Him the Are there compensations? Is it forward donations to us for various glory. worth while to become involved with worthy causes. We are happy to ack- the Master Sculptor? nowledge these gifts through our col- Why is it then that so many find umns, and to disburse the gifts as it so difficult to believe in the existence In the last part of John 16:13, we directed by the donors. On behalf of of God? You and I could no more read that the Holy Spirit "will show the various funds mentioned we grate- fully acknowledge the following don- have "just happened" than this sculp- you things to come." Like gazing at ations: ture. a sculpture. it is easy to believe in Most people would not deny that the past, in the things that have been P.H.C. (S A.) Foreign Missions $8.00 God exists if they sat and thought log- executed, experienced, completed. E.M. (N.S.W.) Tithe 102.00 SIGNS OF THE TIMES January 1, 1970 Page Thirteen A PLACE TO R
By Roy C. Naden
Luxor, Egypt
More passport troubles! But this time some thirty minutes of spirited discus- ley of the Kings." It was to be a fan- it was more serious. The news was— sion I was really warmed up to the tastic experience. and it was communicated in a stealthy subject of why aliens ought not to be The moment an ancient Pharaoh whisper—"They'll take your passport separated from their precious passports. came to the throne, he would begin to and register you with the secret police." But I might just as well have been prepare his burial chamber. Thus, the It was far from reassuring. talking to the wall. There wasn't even longer he reigned, the more elaborate The giant TWA jet landed smoothly a flicker of response. It was hand them his final resting place. We walked down at Cairo airport. Within minutes we over, or spend the rest of the night— steep stairways and along extended pas- were part of the confusion that inevi- it was now 12:30 a.m.—in the streets. sageways. The walls were covered with tably happens when scores of passen- Reluctantly I passed the said documents illustrations of the exploits of the kings: gers disembark in a foreign country, across the desk and my wife and I the colours still vibrant, the message and are unable to speak the language. went to our room. Time to rest was still clear, after the lapse of thousands Customs formalities concluded, we were short. of years. Anachronistically, names like soon in a taxi on the way to the city, Six o'clock next morning we left the Rameses. . . Tutankhamen . . . Seti and within an hour were standing in hotel. As we passed the front desk . . . seemed to come alive as we walked the foyer of a hotel that basks in the we discovered our passports were waiting in their tombs. But constantly I found euphemistic appellation "The Cleopa- to be picked up. my mind returning to another name. tra"! Then the mini-drama began. Presumably during the hours of night A name our kindly guide never men- I tried every approach and argument we had been duly registered with the tioned: MOSES! I could think of to fulfil an earlier de- aforementioned gentlemen! With a HIS burial chamber could have been cision NOT to surrender our passports! sense of relief we set out for the airport cut from the shale of this valley. The I wasn't going to give in easily. After to fly to Luxor and the celebrated "Val- exploits of HIS life could have been engraved and painted on the walls. HIS body could have been embalmed and could have been on display today in the "Mummy Room" in the Cairo museum. He could have been the object of the inquisitive attention of modern man. But no. HE chose a dif- ferent course. He did learn the philo- sophy, religion, military strategy and administrative techniques of what was then the most advanced civilization In the world. But then after nearly forty years Moses was confronted with the choice of carrying on and ultimately occupying the throne, or turning his back on it all. He chose the latter. He rejected the pleasures and privileges of palace life for the rigours of sheep herding. In this way he was trained for his Heaven-appointed responsibilities. Today Moses is a citizen of a heavenly country, the companion of angels, a worshipper at the throne of God above. Surely, Moses made the right decision when he "refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter." Hebrews 11:24. EVERY MAN MUST MAKE A DE- CISION WITH REGARD TO DES- TINIES! Better a passport to heaven, Cairo Museum, beside the River Nile. than any position on earth.
Page Fourteen January 1, 1970 SIGNS OF THE TIMES Zhe common CIZouftei If, on our daily course, our mind Be set to hallow all we find, lines New treasures, still, of countless price, God will provide for sacrifice. Old friends, old scenes will lovelier be, As more of heaven in each. we see; that Some softening gleam of love and prayer Shall dawn on every cross and care. We need not bid for cloistered cell, Our neighbour and our work farewell, linger Nor strive to wind ourselves too high For sinful man beneath the sky. The trivial round, the common task, Will furnish all we ought to ask; Room to deny ourselves, a road To bring us daily nearer God. —J. Keble (Mrs. Hazel Williams).
I DIDN'T ASK I didn't ask for life, and yet, because of life I'm glad, To think of all the golden years, the precious love I've had, The joy of watching morning dawn, to see the orbs of night O'er-ride the geese which skim the lake, before they make their flight. How wonderful this life I didn't ask for, yet God gave, He made for me a miracle—the music of a wave, He gave me sight, and ears to hear the gently falling rain, Created specially a dream of winding country lane. I like to listen to the haunted sigh He gave the breeze, To watch it stir in quiet places, rustle through the trees. He filled the fields with ears of wheat, and gently swaying corn, I didn't ask, but yet He gave all this, when I was born. —Sandra Jean Hughes (E. Hondros).
THIS DAY IS YOURS This day is yours to fashion and to mould— Each hour a gem, set in a wedge of gold! Guide well the gouging chisel of your thought— One careless thrust destroys the work you've wrought! This day is yours, to sculpture as you choose! Wield, with a force that will not mar or bruise, The hammer of your tongue; one word you say Could spoil the patient work of years, today! This day is yours; you are its architect! Yours is the blue-print, and as you select What must be done, and how, and why, and where, Know this, that what you mar you must repair. This day is yours—to polish as you will! A sculptured treasure, not of marble chill, But something better and of priceless worth, This day can be your greatest day on earth! —Robert H. Parr (Alice M. Bitcon). IN Each month a selection is made from readers' favourite quotations. No original matter please. Include source, author, and your own name.
SIGNS OF THE TIMES January 1. 1970 Page Fifteen READY FOf
IT WAS JESUS who kept coming back to the thought his teachings of what would happen. "And then shall that there would be a harvest that went beyond the mere that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume reaping of grain or the ingathering of crops. He showed with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with His disciples—and us—that there would come a time the brightness of His coming." 2 Thessalonians 2: 8. when the harvest of earth would be the souls of men and Peter, too, was not in any doubt about the "great and women; it is a sobering thought. terrible day of the Lord." "But the day of the Lord will In Matthew 13 He tells many parables—the parable come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens of the sower, the parables of the tares, the grain of shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall mustard seed, the leaven. But His disciples (who melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works surely represented the obtuse generation in which we that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all find ourselves) failed to get the hidden meaning of the these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons simplest stories. Thus they came to Him and asked, ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness." "Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field." 2 Peter 3: 10,11. Matthew 13:36. That scarcely sounds like the gentle ushering in of a thousand years of sweet peace and plenty on the earth, So He told His friends just as simply and as directly with the wicked changing their ways and the Lord Jesus as He could, so that there could be no mistakes, no two Christ wooing them to better lives and more gracious ways about it. He explained to them that the sower of living, does it? good seed was the Son of Alan (Himself) and that the field was the world. He indicated that the good seed The Old Testament closes with this very clearly ex- were "the children of the kingdom" and the tares were pounded by the prophet Malachi. "For behold," he the children of the wicked one. The enemy that sowed says, "the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and -tares was the devil (yet another indication that Jesus all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be believed wholeheartedly in the personality and being of stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, the devil), and the reapers were the angels. saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch." Malachi 4:1. Then He spelled out the meaning of the harvest. "The harvest is the end of the world." Matthew 13: 39. Is not this the same teaching as we found in the Master's parable? The destruction of the wicked at Could anything be clearer than that? the day of judgment is the thread which runs through There are some—earnest, good people they are, too, the entire Bible. God's Word is given to us that we may make no mistake about that—who have. the idea that escape the wrath to come. It is fatuous to claim to one day Jesus will come and then there will be ushered be Christians and not heed God's Word; it is foolish to in the Golden Age when all men will get that wonderful claim to stand under the banner of Christ if we put second chance, when the millennium will arrive with aside His teachings because they fail to measure up to all its lavish splendour, when peace shall reign on our preconceived ideas. earth, and evil shall be phased out of the whole scheme Malachi was directed to write, "But unto you that of things, and wicked men shall get better and better un- fear [i.e., love] My name shall the Sun of Righteousness til they are wholly good. arise with healing in His wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall." Verse 2. There is just one thing wrong with this idea: the Bible doesn't teach it. The very parable we are quoting This, too, is what Jesus taught: the destruction of speaks of the correct order of things: "As therefore the the wicked when this sick old world shall end, and the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be salvation of those who love the name of the Lord. And in the end of this world." Verse 40. This speaks of what a simple, logical teaching that is! How sensible the destruction of those who are the children of the and sound it seems as we pursue it to its ultimate conclu- wicked one (Christ's own description of them) and sion. If God is going to destroy sin, those who cling hardly speaks of a rosy future when these people will to sin must be destroyed with it; there can be no al- turn from their evil deeds and embrace righteousness. ternative. Moreover, this is precisely what the Scriptures teach In another famous utterance Jesus gave no hint of a wherever the matter is discussed. Paul was clear in glorious second chance; on the contrary, He spoke with
Page Sixteen January 1. 1970 SIGNS OF THE TIMES HARVEST No6ett Patt
a singular directness that must have struck a chill into the hearts of His hearers. On the day of judgment (if you will read the passage as recorded in Matthew 25: 31-40) He shall say to the wicked, "Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." Verse 41. To the righteous He will say, "Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." Verse 34. Let no one seduce you into believing that spurious teaching that somewhere in the sweet by and by mankind will suddenly drift into a glorious Golden Age when everything in the garden will be lovely, including the wicked who will then embark upon careers of right- eousness, gentleness and compassion. Christ and His prophets plainly teach that the wicked will not inherit those things that are prepared for them that love Him. But when shall these things be? That is the very question that the disciples asked their Master just before He left them. His reply was explicit. " Tell us," they begged, "when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?" Matthew 24:3. The list He gave is too much for us to examine in detail here, but as we précis the list for you, observe how these signs are tumbling over one another in fulfilment. There will come false Christs (Matthew 24:5), there will be wars (verse 6), there will be famines, pestilen- ces and earthquakes (verse 7), there will be persecution (verse 9), false prophets will lead many astray (verse 11) and there will be widespread apathy about those things that are most important (verse 12). We believe that, like the field that is pictured on our front cover, the harvest is about to be reaped. All the signs point to it; only those who are wilfully blind refuse to see it. For them, surely, the harvest will not be a time of rejoicing. Now for a personal question: "Are you ready for the harvest?" Put like that, there is little poignancy in the question. But remembering that Jesus said, "The harvest is the end of the world," let us rephrase our question. "Are you ready for the end of the world?" That is a steadying question when it hits you with all the explosive directness of a bullet. "The end of the world!" Could it be in my time? The Scrip- tural teaching is that it could very well be! Are you ready for the end of the world? ** SIGNS OF THE TIMES January 1, 1970 Page Seventeen By DR. DESMOND FORD, M.A., Ph.D.
Chri6tianity
IT HAS BEEN well said that the religion of many shall be as David," and of all who will ultimately be people is like a headache—they have no desire to lose saved it will be written that they "out of weakness were their head, but it hurts them to keep it. This leads to made strong." the question—Is Christianity hard or easy? Or put In other words, our salvation depends more upon another way—Is Christianity possible only to those who God than upon us, for the Bible is emphatic that all have a strong will, or can even moral weaklings "hold men, whatever their temperament or natural advan- out" and "hold on"? A third way of asking the ques- tages, are powerless of themselves to live a righteous tion is to inquire, "Does salvation depend mostly upon life. "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: God's doing or mine?" for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed Wrote the inspired Apostle Paul, "I am not ashamed can be." Romans 8: 7. of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth." "For there is no To encourage all who become aware of their weak- difference: . . . for the same Lord over all is rich unto ness it is written that "God hath chosen the foolish all that call upon Him." Romans 1:16; 10:12. things of the world, . . . the weak things of the world, The word gospel means "good news," but Chris- . . . and base things of the world, and things which are tianity would not be good news if those with handicaps despised." 1 Corinthians 1:27, 28. He promises to through heredity and environment were thereby outside thresh mountains of difficulty with human "worms." the pale of salvation. The Scriptures, however, pro- Heaven is for "every one that believeth"—Great-heart mise that through the gospel "he that is feeble . . . or Little-faith.
Page Eighteen January 1, 1970 SIGNS OF THE TIMES These promises all sound very well, but what is the This is the secret of the Christian life, revealing to process whereby such promises are implemented and us how Christianity can indeed be made easy. The power fulfilled? It is easy to see from Scripture that a man to live the Christian life is not a power generated from receives forgiveness and a new heart the moment he within us or by us; it is a power from without, even beholds the love of God for him and by consecration the power of Christ freely given to everyone that by surrenders his all to Christ, simultaneously by faith faith maintains a living union with Him. Jesus, as the taking all of Christ as his. This is well begun, but Son of man, confessed His own lack of personal power: the job is still only half done. As Spurgeon said: "I can of Mine own self do nothing." "The Father "We want to be purified as well as pardoned. Justifi- that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works." John 5:30; cation without sanctification would not be salvation at 14 : 10. all. It would call the leper clean and leave him to die As the Father lived in Christ and enabled Him to of his disease; it would forgive the rebellious, and allow be victorious in every phase of His experience, so Christ the rebel to remain an enemy of his king. It would promises to dwell in every believer, empowering him remove the consequences but overlook the cause, and to live a righteous life. Christ declares, "Without Me this would leave an endless and hopeless task for us. It ye can do nothing," but then encourages us by saying would stop the stream for a time but leave an open that we "can do all things through Christ which streng- fountain of defilement, which would sooner or later theneth" us. Early this century Charles G. Trumbull, break forth with increased power. Remember that the famous editor of The Sunday School Times, had an experience which changed his whole subsequent min- the Lord Jesus came to take away sin in three ways. He istry. He wrote up the story of this experience. It came to remove the penalty of sin, the power of sin, says in part: and at last the presence of sin." Here, then, is the "I realized for the first time that the many references problem of the Christian life, how to become holy in in the New Testament to 'Christ in you,' Christ our order that one may lead a holy life.
NOTICE that Romans 1:16, in defining the gospel, "JACARANDA" PHOTO says that "it is the power of God." Says the psalmist also, "God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this;
Lao y
that power belongeth unto God." Psalm 62:11. As in the natural world all power comes from the sun, so in the spiritual world all power comes from Heaven. "When we walk abroad on a beautiful day, and survey a landscape lit up by the beams of summer sun, our eye catches a variety of colours lying on the surface of this landscape, perhaps the yellow of golden grain, the green of the pasture land, the silver gleam of a stream, the faint blue of distant hills, . . . but none of these colours reside in the landscape, they are not the properties of the material objects on which they rest. All colours are wrapped up in the sunlight, and apart from the sunlight no object has any colour. . . . As soon as light is withdrawn from the landscape, the colours fade from the robe of nature. . . . Now Christ is the sun of righteousness, in whom dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. . . . When Christ is shining upon the heart, then His virtues are manifes- ted there."—E. M. Goulburn. SIGNS OF THE TIMES January 1, 1970 Life,' abiding in Christ,' are literal, actual blessed could rise above inherent weakness and outward trial. facts, and not figures of speech. I had always known Christ explained to His disciples how He would come that Christ was my Saviour; but I had looked upon again to them through the person of the third member Him as an external Saviour, one who did a saving work of the Godhead and thus dwell within them for ever. for me from the outside, helping me in all that I needed, Notice His words on that occasion: "If ye love Me, keep giving me power and strength and salvation. My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and "But now I knew something better than that. At He shall give you another Comforter, that He may last I realized that Jesus Christ was actually and abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; . . . literally within me; that He had constituted Himself He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not my whole life (save only my resistance to Him), my leave you comfortless: I will come to you. . . . He that body, mind, soul, and spirit, my very self. Was this hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is not better than having Him as a Helper; to have Him, that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved Jesus Christ, God the Son, as my own very life? of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest "It meant that I need never ask Him to help me, as Myself to him. . . . If a man love Me, he will keep My if He were one and I another; but rather, simply, words: and My Father will love him, and We will He was to do His work, His will, in me and with me come unto him, and make Our abode with him." John and through me. My body was His, my mind His, my 14:15-23. will His, my spirit His, literally a part of Him; all He The age in which we live is the dispensation of the asked me to say was, 'I have been crucified with Christ, Holy Spirit. As surely as Christ was on earth between and it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me.' Bethlehem and Calvary, so now the Holy Spirit is pre- And that is how I know for myself that there is a life sent here as His successor with each of us. Because of that wins; that it is the life of Jesus Christ, and that His humanity Jesus could not be in every place per- it may be our life for the asking, if we let Him—in sonally, but after His ascension the Holy Spirit was absolute unconditional surrender of ourselves to Him, poured forth upon all His disciples, becoming to them our wills to His will, making Him the Master of our as the personal presence of Christ in the soul. As the lives, as well as our Saviour—enter in, occupy us, atmosphere surrounding the earth transmutes the rays overwhelm us with Himself, yes, fill us with Himself of the sun into heat, colour, and light, thus directly `unto all the fullness of God.' "—Cited by Andrew bringing the sun into contact with life here, so the Murray, in "The Secret of the Faith Life," pages Holy Spirit is the medium whereby life and truth are 70, 71. communicated to us from the Christ seated on the Let us note well that Christ does not want to be our right hand of God. Apart from the Spirit it would helper but our life. Not heaven someday, but Christ be possible to know only about Christ; but through right now is the Christian message. It has been well the work of the Comforter He becomes a reality dwell- said that the principle of Christianity is the principle of ing in the heart, empowering us to do all His will. an exchanged life. Our great need is not a striving The essence of the good news of Christianity is that for more faith but a continued looking toward Christ, those who believe in Christ have a God who is near at the faithful One who is now our life. hand for all emergencies—a Christ available for every- There is the legend of a man whose garden produced thing. Note two parallel texts in the New Testament: nothing but weeds. At last he met with a strange (1) "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts flower of singular strength. He sowed a handful of unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly this seed in his overgrown garden and left it to work. Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?" The results exceeded all expectations: the flowers not Luke 11:13. (2) "If ye then, being evil, know how to only germinated and sprang up in profusion, but they give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall exterminated every weed. As he looked over his gar- your Father which is in heaven give good things to them den, nothing could be seen but the flowers of that rare that ask Him?" Matthew 7:11. plant. It is apparent from these texts that to receive the The story illustrates well the nature of victorious Holy Spirit is the same as receiving all good things. Christian living. Christ in us expels sin. The best way The Holy Spirit in us is the pledge of receiving all to get rid of the darkness is to let in the light. Thus things necessary for life and godliness. This is the the Apostle John affirms, "Whosoever is born of God great significance of Pentecost when the third member doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: of the Godhead had His Bethlehem, taking up His and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." 1 John abode in humanity, even the humanity of all believers 3 : 9. In other words, whoever has received into his life in Christ. God has not left us alone. We are not to the eternal Seed, Christ Jesus, thereby hates sin and fight in our own puny strength. Christ is with us can no longer make that his habit. through His Spirit, ever with us, for all things. The Christian is not only in Christ, but Christ is in OUR PRESENT theme was the subject of Christ's him through the Spirit. Remember that the Greek last sermon. On the eve of His death He told His word for comforter literally means "one alongside to sorrowing disciples the secret of a holy life, a life that help." Centuries ago the sleepy little town of New-
Page Twenty January 1, 1970 SIGNS OF THE TIMES market in England became the temporary residence of even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them." King Charles I. Overnight the town was transformed; "Thus did Moses: according to all that the Lord com- life and activity sprang up. The king had come. Thus manded him, so did he." Then it is that we read, "So it is in the Christian life. When the King comes in, Moses finished the work. Then a cloud covered the everything is different. "Christ received is holiness be- tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled gun, Christ cherished is holiness advancing, Christ the tabernacle." (See Exodus 39 and 40.) Every be- counted upon as never absent is holiness complete." liever in Christ is intended by God to be a temple of In essence then, the believer's problem is how to ever the Holy Ghost, and when we plan our characters, have Christ within by the Holy Spirit. Scripture gives building in every detail as the Lord has commanded, us the answer in Colossians 2:6, where it declares, "As then His glory will fill us. ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so We need to remember that all God's commands are walk ye in Him." Our Christian life began when we promises, and that the power to fulfil the commandment received Christ by surrender and faith. The Christian lies in the command as surely as the oak is in the acorn. life until its close is a maintenance of this initial atti- When Abraham had manifested his willingness to tude of surrendering all to Christ and receiving all from surrender even Isaac, then he was blessed most richly. Christ. An old hymn by J. H. Sammis sets forth the And it is our Isaac that God wants. When we have secret simply: renounced our idols, such as love of money or praise, "Trust and obey, for there's no other way the life of indolence free from responsibility, or amuse- To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey." ments that wean the heart from God, then He will pour out such a blessing "that there shall not be room enough to receive it." Malachi 3:10. The person who knowingly indulges in some practice PtEel 4 By JAMES D. BEYERS The FIRST of a Two-part Series TO CERTAIN PEOPLE of my acquaintance— ture, whose pages are written all about us, if we are people whose earnestness and sincerity I, for one, would observant enough. not question—it is virtual blasphemy even to suggest What then has the Bible to say about the relation- that any degree of equality exists between God the Fa- ship between Christ and His Father? Unless other- ther and His Son, Jesus Christ. "How can two or wise stated, all texts used here will come from the three Persons be one Person?" they ask; or, "How "New World Translation," chosen mainly because its could Jehovah die on Calvary, and lie dead in the publishers are declared Unitarians. tomb, yet continue to sustain the universe?" In ancient Babylon, among the array of false gods Should we be perplexed if there are certain attributes worshipped, there was a three-headed idol. "There is of the Omnipotent God which are not seen at our the origin of your Trinity," says the Unitarian, and is humble level? It would be rather presumptuous for us completely convinced that this is so. Yet in all fairness to think that we can understand Divinity. We are he should admit at least one alternative. The real finite; God is infinite. There are no limits to His ruler of Babylon, as of all apostate kingdoms, was power. He knows all things, for He created all things; Satan, and since that vile spirit once dwelt in Paradise, and so that we might know Him better, He has given it would be quite in keeping with his black scheming us His Holy Word, the Bible, and also the book of na- to invent this monstrosity as a studied insult to the Page Twenty-two January 1. 1970 SIGNS OF THE TIMES Godhead he had known so well. Because of this, 1 ground could not be altered, since it was an accom- prefer to avoid the term "Trinity," which does not plished fact. Though completely human, He was still appear in the Bible, using instead the Scriptural word the Son of God, hence His name, "Immanuel . . . with "Godhead," which is derived from the Greek Theotais, us is God." Matthew 1:23. and means literally "the state of being God," or "div- inity." Speaking of the Saviour, the Bible says, "It is WHAT JESUS SAYS OF HIMSELF in Him that all the fullness of the divine quality dwells Let us see then, what Jesus Himself had to say re- bodily." Colossians 2:9. Could He be otherwise than garding His position. "I am the Alpha and the Omega," divine, if He possesses the maximum of divinity in says Jehovah God, "the One who is and who was, and Himself? who is coming, the Almighty." Revelation 1:8. Now lest There is no quarrel between Father and Son regard- anyone protest that this refers to the Father, and not ing their equality or inequality. "Although He was exis- the Son, we must look at the preceding verse. "Look! ting in God's form, [Jesus] . . . gave no consideration to He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, a seizure, namely that He should be equal to God." and those who pierced Him." The One who is com- Philippians 2:6. The same verse from the Revised ing is the One who was pierced. Again in verses 17 Standard Version reads, "Though He was in the form and 18, "Do not be fearful. I am the First and the of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be Last, and the Living One; and I became dead, but look! grasped"; and from "Today's English Version," "He al- I am living for ever and ever." This is certainly Jesus ways had the very nature of God, but He did not think speaking, for He was dead and rose again. He calls that by force He should try to become equal with God." Himself the First and the Last; and since Alpha is the In the original Greek, the passage reads, "Let this be first Greek letter, or A, while Omega is the last as is thought in yourselves, which was also in Christ Jesus, our Z, it is most clear that verses 7, 8, 17 and 18 of the who, beginning in the form of God, thought not of seiz- first chapter of Revelation all refer to one and the same ing [or grasping] to continue in equality with God, but person. emptied Himself, and having taken the form of a slave, Verse 7. "Look! He is coming with clouds." Who came to be in the resemblance of men." is coming? Possessing all the privileges of divinity, He gave Verse 7. "The One who was pierced." them up by His own free choice, that He might die Verse 8. "Jehovah . . . the Almighty." "The One who for our sins. He chose service rather than sovereignty; is and who was." He emptied Himself, and became a helpless babe. Verse 18. "The Living One" who "became dead." Nevertheless, even in this adopted condition, His back- In the last ten verses of the Bible, this same Jesus concludes His admonitions to mankind. "Look! I am coming quickly, and the reward I give is with Me." Re- velation 22:12. In a parallel passage, an Old Testa- ment prophet wrote, "Look! The Lord Jehovah will come. . . . Look! His reward is with Him." Isaiah 40:10. "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." Revelation 22:13. "I Jesus sent My angel." Verse 16. "Yes; I am coming quickly. " "Amen! Come, Lord Jesus." Verse 20. When these thoughts are noted carefully, they give new meaning to that other state- ment Jesus made, "I and the Father are One." John 10:30. This does not suggest that Jesus and His Father are one Person manifested in two ways. They are separate identities, but they are one in power, in pur- pose, in infinite love. They are one God. It is very rewarding to compare some of the many names applied to our Lord Jesus Christ. Consider first the nineteenth chapter of Revelation, where He rides forth as a mighty conqueror. 1. He is called Faithful and True. Revelation 19:11. 2. He has another mysterious name that He alone knows. Verse 12. 3. He is called the Word of God. Verse 13. SIGNS OF THE TIMES January 1, 1970 Page Twenty-three 4. He has a name written, "King of kings and Lord of lords." Verse 16. 5. Alpha and Omega. Revelation 1:8, and 22:13. 6. The Almighty. Revelation 1:8. 7. The Son of man. Matthew 24:44. 8. Son of God. John 11:4. 9. "I am the Fine Shepherd." John 10:14. 10. Jehovah. Revelation 1:8. Jehovah is My Shep- herd. Psalm 23:1. 11. Thomas called Him, "My Lord and my God." John 20:28. And Jesus accepted this act of worship. 12. Wonderful Counsellor. 13. Mighty God. 14. Everlasting Father. 15. Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6. When we consider all these titles (and this list is by no means complete), we can begin to understand why Paul wrote, "I decided not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him impaled." 1 Corinthians 2:2. In saying this, Paul would be plac- ing Christ before God, unless Christ is God and en- titled to the same reverence and worship as is the Father. Why is Jesus called the Word of God? Is not the Bible Only God, the Author of time, could attend to the simul- God's Word? God has two "Words"-His Written taneous prayers of millions of supplicants. Word and the Living Word. Christ is the Divine spokesman. Concerning the creation, David says, "Ile spake and it was done." Psalm 33:9, King James Ver- sion. "All things came into existence through Him." "I Myself Am." To support a preconceived belief, John 1:3. "All things have been created through Him the translators have altered the meaning, though they and for Him." Colossians 1:16. "By means of Him render the same phrase "I am" when it appears else- all other things were made to exist." Colossians 1:17. where. In Isaiah 44:24 a strange thought appears, however, Why should Jesus say such a strange thing as "Three for it states that Jehovah stretched out the heavens and thousand years ago, I AM"? Does it not give us just a laid out the earth by Himself. Again from the same hint of the very timelessness of eternity? Since God is writer, "Before Me there was no God formed, and after the author of time, He Himself is not subject to it. How Me there continued to be none. I am Jehovah, and else could He attend to the simultaneous prayers of mil- besides Me there is no Saviour." Isaiah 43:10, 11. If lions of supplicants? When our Lord used that word- there is no other Saviour than Jehovah, and no other ing, "I Am," He was but repeating what He had said God, then how is it possible for Christ to be our to Moses 1,500 years earlier, for when Moses asked Saviour, and also to be the Mighty God of Isaiah 9:6? Him His name, God told him "I am that 'I AM.' " Once again the Scriptures supply the answer, for Exodus• 3:14. The Hebrew form of the verb "to be" Jesus said, "He that has seen Me has seen the Father." used here is very closely related to that "Tetragramma- John 14:9. "I and My Father are one." John 10:30. ton" YHWH, which, in English is prounced "Jehovah," and the thought is identical-Jehovah, Author of all THE MOST REMARKABLE STATEMENT being, Eternal, Self-existent, the Creator of all. If the At this stage it will be profitable to consider one of change from "I am," to "I shall prove to be," in one the most remarkable statements Jesus ever made. Ile case, and "I have been" in the other, was not made had been talking to the Jews about Abraham and telling because of doctrinal bias, then it could be prompted them that Abraham rejoiced to see-by faith-the day only by a desire to deceive, for the Hebrew and the of the Messiah. When the Jews sneered back, "You are Greek make it clear that Jesus is the "I AM" of both not yet fifty years old, and still you have seen Abraham?" Exodus 3:14 and John 8:58. Jesus replied, "Before Abraham was, I AM." John 8:57, 58, K.J.V. There is absolutely no basis for WAS HE CREATED "I have been," as in the New World Translation. The Was Christ created? Is there a definite answer to Greek phrase, Ego Eimi, is in emphatic present tense- this question? Those who deny the eternal existence Page Twenty-four January 1, 1970 SIGNS OF THE TIMES of Christ place great emphasis on Revelation 3:14, which reads, "To the angel of the congregation in Lao- dicea write, These are the things which the Amen says, WHAT DID JESUS CHRIST the faithful and true Witness, the beginning of the BELIEVE . . . creation by God." Does not this prove that God created Christ first, and then gave Him power to create all other things? they reason. "Beginning" here comes from the Greek arche, which also has the sense of ABOUT HIMSELF? "origin" or "first cause," either of which makes a tre- mendous difference to the meaning. By David L. Stokes Christ was the beginning of the creation, for He be- He believed that He had existed before His birth. "The absolute truth is that I was in existence before gan the creation. He was with God the Father in the Abraham was even born." John 8:58, Taylor.. beginning. (John 1: 1.) If Christ had a beginning, and "What would happen if you were to see the Son of the Father created Him, then prior to that, His Father Man going up to the place where He was before?" existed entirely alone. Now the Scripture says that John 6:62, Phillips. "Father, glorify Me in Thine own presence with the "God is Love." 1 John 4:8. But love itself cannot glory which I had with Thee before the world be- exist unless there is someone or something to love. Fur- gan." "Glory, which Thou hast given Me because Thou didst love Me before the world began." John ther, God is unchanging (Malachi 3:6), and so His 17:5, 24, N.E.B. nature—love--has never altered. For the divine love He claimed equality with God. to be eternally perfect, at least two divine and eternal "Philip said unto Him, 'Lord, show us the Father, beings are necessary. (In actual fact there are three, as and we shall be satisfied.' Jesus said to Him, 'Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know we shall prove later.) Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the It is no accident that Jesus is called the only begot- Father.' " John 14:8, 9, R.S.V. ten Son of God. What God begets is God—just as "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath com- mitted all judgment unto the Son: that all men surely as what man begets is man, or what beast begets should honour the Son, even as they honour the is beast. What man makes is not man, and what God Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth makes or creates is not God. If Smith begets a son, not the Father which hath sent Him." John 5:22, 23. that son, too, is Smith, and when he is a man, those two He even said that He was God. Smiths are equals, though different in many ways. In "I and My Father are one." John 10:30. "They shall call His name Immanuel. (Immanuel' God's case the begetting itself is eternal and is thus means 'God with us.')" Matthew 1:23, Phillips. different from any earthly begetting. Yet there are John obviously reflected Christ's teaching when he wrote, "Before anything else existed, there was many parallels. Smith's son may rise to far greater Christ, with God. He has always been alive and fame than his sire ever knew, yet, as a true son, he will is Himself God." John 1:1, Taylor. ever respect and honour his senior, and may still even His listeners clearly understood what he meant. obey him. In like manner, and for the purpose of The Jew'sh leaders had picked up stones to hurl them at Christ, who understandably asked for a rea- saving sinners, Jesus—He who created even the angels son for such action. They replied, "Not for any —emptied Himself of the glory which He had with good work, but for blasphemy; You, a mere man, His Father, and became obedient, even unto death. He have declared Yourself to be God." John 10:33, Taylor. took a slave's form and paid the ransom for us. As a "This made the Jews still more determined to kill "Mighty God," He could not die. As the Son of man Him, because He was not only breaking the Sab- He could—and He did. bath, but, by calling God His own Father, He claimed equality with God." John 5:18, N.E.B. "TIME INDEFINITE" OR "ETERNITY"? He was not merely a good man, for no good man would make such claims. Either He was all that lie "And you Bethlehem Ephratah, . . . from you there claimed to be. or He was a liar. But Peter said of Him: will come out to me the One who is to become Ruler in "He committed no sin, He was convicted of no false- Israel, whose origin is from early times, from the days hood." 1 Peter 2:22, N.E.B. of time indefinite." Micah 5:2. The Hebrew Holam Alternatively, He could have been deluded, mentally sick, suffering from delusions of grandeur. Luke, a translated here as "time indefinite," means eternity, and doctor of medicine, and a person prone to question is used of Jehovah in Psalm 90:2. Then, when this everything, never doubted Christ's sanity, but rather Eternal One did appear in Bethlehem, what was He said in his gospel narrative: "I have traced the course of these happenings care- called? "Immanuel—with us is God." "God gave us fully from the beginning, to set them down for you eternal life and this life is in His Son." 1 John 5:11. myself in their proper order, so that you may have "And we are in union with the True One, by means of reliable information about the matters in which you have already had instruction." Luke 1:3, 4, Phillips. His Son, Jesus Christ. This is the True God and life Either Christ was God as He claimed, or He never everlasting." 1 John 5:20. existed. But since His existence is undeniable then we Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the must conclude that He was "God with us." In the words of Dr. P. K. Jewett, "Because He has so come, we life." John 14:6. Blessed connection! Jesus is truth, can never be the same again."—"Revelation and the life, true God, and life everlasting. Asks the psalmist, Bible," page 57. (Concluded on page 29) SIGNS OF THE TIMES January 1. 1970 Page Twenty-five As he haltingly concluded his sad story, Tex cleared his throat. "Pete's wife has done a lot of church work in this town," he said huskily. "Molly is a fine woman. She doesn't deserve to be disgraced." Tex took the sheriff and the employer into another room. Twenty minutes later he came back to tell Pete that he was to be given another chance—with the understanding that he must return the money he had received from the stolen tools. "Normally," Tex told Pete, "I would run the story of your thefts in the paper. As a warning to you, I'm going to run the column anyway, but it will be blank. If you ever let Molly down again, I'll publish the story. People think I'm crazy because I run these blank columns, Pete; but for you this column will be a warning. And let it be a monument, too, to my faith that you are a good and honest man." When Pete was replaced on his job some months later, it was Tex who encouraged Molly and Pete to support them- selves by selling Molly's prize-winning jams. And when Molly died, she was a happy woman who had never known disgrace. Eight of the eleven blank columns Tex ran before he died still remain mysteries. No one knows what mistakes, what YOUTH sorrows, were hidden there. As for Tex, I hope that when the last edition is run from the heavenly press, under the headline reading, "Sins of Tex Wilson," there will be a blank column for him. DESMOND B. HILLS This story of "The Mystery of the Blank Columns" was Talks About Life That Is Worth Living recently printed in a Youth Leaders' Kit that comes to my office. The author of the story is R. R. Hegstad and he has in his files a copy of the newspaper with a blank column on the front page. It is certainly one of the strangest stories I have ever heard. Tex Wilson's blank columns remind us of the forgiveness of God. Although we "all have sinned, and come short of THE MYSTERY OF THE the glory of God" we can have a blank column in the record books of heaven. There is no reason for anyone to be BLANK COLUMNS weighed down by the thoughts of past mistakes. Yes, I know that this statement is hard to believe, but it is true. Chris- THE STORY STARTED with a man named Tex Wilson, tianity is based on the promise that we can be at peace with who owned a weekly newspaper. During the second year of God and man through the merits and grace of the Lord Tex's editorship, an edition appeared with a blank column Jesus Christ. Here is just one of the hundreds of promises on the second page. After that, perhaps twice a year, another of pardon in the Scriptures. blank coloumn would appear. Once there was one even on "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive the front page. us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." No one could find out why Tex ran blank columns in his 1 John 1:9. newspaper. When he was asked why, he would reply, "There It is wonderful to know that we can have a "blank column" is no law that says an editor has to fill every column, is in the record books of heaven. However, that is not all by there?" And, of course, there isn't. any means. God has not only made provision for us to be The mystery might never have been explained if someone delivered from the penalty of sin but also from the power hadn't started the rumour that Tex was paid to keep stories and ultimately the very presence of sin. We were delivered out of his paper that would reflect unfavourably on certain from the penalty of sin at Calvary and we can daily have people. One day at the grocery store, old Pete Moody heard victory over the power of sin, through prayer and Bible study. the rumour. As he had been at home for several weeks griev- We shall be delivered from the very presence of sin at the ing over the death of his wife, Molly, he was one of the last second advent of Jesus Christ. in town to hear the gossip. Everyone has the opportunity of starting each new day The store grew very quiet when old Pete jumped to his with a "blank column" in the presses of heaven. What a feet, and cried, "It isn't so! Tex never took a penny in his joy it is to know that the mistakes of yesteryear and yester- life to keep stories out of his paper. What he did was out of day are cancelled out. As we claim the provisions of Cal- the greatness of his heart. I know, because . . . because . . . vary, and the power of the Holy Spirit, we can be at peace I . . . was one of those columns." with God and man. With "blank columns" at the beginning of each day we will live victoriously 365 days this year and It took courage for Pete to tell the story, but he didn't every year. hesitate. Four years before, he had reached the age of seventy, and he knew that he would be replaced on the job by a young man. Pete didn't know how Molly and he would live after his retirement. They had no savings. For years Pete had been helping a poor daughter, and there was no one to take them YOUTH'S PRAYER FOR THE NEW YEAR in. LORD, I have many wants but somehow it is Pete worked in the supply room of a large tool company. slowly dawning on me that there are some basic One day, worrying about how he would care for Molly, he needs that are more important to me. :: I sense did the first dishonest thing he had done in his life. He as never before the need to have a clear record in took an expensive tool and sold it in the next town. the books of heaven. I long for power to be a loving Then he took another. And another. He had been stealing and lovable Christian. :: Yes, Lord, at the com- for several weeks when his employer, who had become suspi- mencement of this new year I am clearing the cious, caught him. path to my heart. Grant, I pray, new aspirations and Tex was in the sheriff's office nosing around for news when lofty ideals. :: Somehow, Lord, change this life the employer phoned in. He went with the sheriff to the of mine so that I never forget my heritage and tool company and stood making notes for a story while Pete, never forfeit my heavenly home. AMEN. in shamed whispers, explained the fear that had led him into stealing. ASP 41111. Page Twenty-six January 1, 1970 SIGNS OF' THE TIMES DIFFICULT OR WONDERFUL? In a reply titled "Weak Ones," you said that "Christianity has not been tried and found wanting, it has been tried and found difficult." Wouldn't it have been better to say "tried and found wonder- ful"? Many young people do not like anything difficult and may be discour- aged at the thought of Christianity be- ing difficult. • A good point well taken. However, like many things, Christianity is both wonderful and difficult. No one who has tried to play a musical instrument would deny that it is a difficult assign- ment, but if the instrument is mastered, the end result is wonderful. Victory in any sphere is wonderful, but the very word "victory" assumes a battle or struggle. The Bible puts both points of view: "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life"—there is the difficult part; and then: "These things Young People's Questions have I spoken unto you that . . . your joy may be full"—here is the wonderful Answered part. There are many similar passages by GORDON BOX to point up the contrasts. Let's face it: to most people Christian TIME TO MARRY. What age would be behaviour is not only difficult, it is well considered as the right time to marry? nigh impossible most of the time. Chris- • Since some people are x years old tianity involves more than just living and others are x years young, this a moral life; it means living a selfless WHY ARE THEY LEAVING? If Chris- matter is far more than chronology or life. Even to the true Christian this is tianity is so wonderful, why are so arithmetic. difficult, because of his human nature; many leaving the Christian churches? A person is not ready for marriage but when it is realized through the unless he (or she) is mature enough— power of Christ which is bestowed as • You may also enquire, "If soap is (a) To accept the responsibility of a gift, such victory is truly wonderful. good for cleaning skin, why are there running a home and bringing up To be delivered from the tyranny of self so many dirty little boys in the world?" children. is wonderful indeed. Many people treat Christianity as little (b) To refrain from acting like a boys treat soap; they're just not inter- child when things don't go as he ested in using it or even finding out (or she) would like. how or whether it works. To quote J. B. (c) To exercise self-control when the THE PROBLEM OF SELF. I would be Phillips, "I have found for myself, in occasion demands. pleased if you could help me with this various parts of this country [England], (d) To do, when necessary, those question. Christ emptied Himself of the most appalling ignorance of what things which he or she doesn't self. How can this be done? Christianity is basically concerned with. like doing. Very few people outside the churches (e) To recognize that success in mar- • In the case of Christ He "emptied appear to have any knowledge of the Himself of self" firstly by becoming a riage depends not so much in aims and achievements of any live, con- finding the right person as being man, since He existed equal to God the temporary church even in our own land. Father prior to becoming a man. This the right person. And as for the magnificent, heroic work Very few achieve this sort of stability act has been compared to your being of the Christian church throughout the willing to become an ant or a slug. until their early twenties—some never world, most ordinary people have no do. Many feel that girls mature a little So far as His earthly existence was knowledge of it whatsoever."—"God, sooner than boys, particularly so far concerned, the journey to Calvary and Our Contemporary," page 8. the humiliating experience associated as being ready for domesticity. My simple appeal is that you take an Of course, those who are not fussy with His death were against His natural honest look at the teachings of Christ, inclinations, yet not against His will, as whether their marriage will turn out and the influence of genuine Christian- to be "heaven on earth" or "hell un- He put it, "For this cause came I into ity since its inception. Forget the "red the world." So in His case, since His limited," may (and probably will) dis- herrings" and the phonies. Remember regard stability and maturity altogether. will and the will of the Father were that much of what has been and is identical, when Christ is said to have called Christian is not related to apos- "emptied Himself of self," it simply tolic Christianity at all, and much of must mean He did that which was what has been done in the name of GOING STEADY. Approximately what against His human impulses; He was Christ is diametrically opposed to the age is the best for "going steady?" unselfish to the point of giving His own principles He taught. life, the maximum gift. Christianity will work all right, just • No more than two years before Now where we are concerned, to have as soap will, but, like soap, it must be you're old enough and mature enough this experience demands that we are taken from the wrapper and applied to marry. I'm speaking of "going controlled by the same power that con- regularly to the dirty little characters steady" as preparation for engagement trolled Jesus Christ, i.e., the Holy Spirit. we so jealously protect from a real purg- which is preparation for marriage, and By nature, man (unlike Christ) will ing. to prolong this period of serious friend- choose a course of action opposed to ship is to court, in addition to a person the will of God. Man's way is almost of the opposite sex, frustration and entirely selfish; God's nature is entirely trouble. unselfish. The practical outworking of Plenty of young folk begin lots sooner this "emptying of self" experience is • GORDON BOX will answer your than this, but what does that prove? seen when men and women give their questions in his frank and open style. Perhaps it proves that plenty of young lives in unselfish service to others, an Send him your questions, addressing people choose to do what they feel like inspiring example to fellow Christians them to Gordon Box, Signs Publish- doing irrespective of the wisdom or and an unanswerable argument for cri- ing Company, Warburton, Victoria, stupidity of the choice. WHAT THINK tics. 3799, Australia. YOU? SIGNS OF THE TIMES January 1. 1970 Page Twenty-seven AMONG THE TRANSLATIONS-15 In March, 1969, we interrupted the series "Among the Transla- tions," by W. AUSTIN TOWNEND, with the promise that it would be recommenced in 1970. This series will run through the current year. Modern Translator Handles a 'Spiritual Missile' THE BIBLE is branded a "spiritual missile" by Wil- "You are saved by a gift of love you get by faith. liam F. Beck, in his "The New Testament in the Lan- You didn't do it. It is God's gift. It isn't because of guage of Today," first published in July, 1963, by Con- anything you have done, or you might boast. He has cordia Publishing House of St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A. made us what we are, creating us in Christ Jesus to Dr. Beck declares that "as we find in the atom a do good works, which God long ago planned for us to kind of pure power of God, so we get in this unencum- live in." bered Word a pure power that cleanses and creates Just as clearly stated are the "good works" which are life." the product of conversion: These ideas—the cleansing and creating dynamics of "If you love Me you will do what I order." John the Bible—come up to our eyes in clear outline as we 14:15. This word "order" which Beck uses is in our look at two samples of Beck's translating. King James Version "commandments," as is the case 1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, we can depend where Beck has "orders" in Revelation 14:12. on Him to do what is right—He will forgive our sins Did you notice Dr. Beck's use of the term "unen- and wash away every wrong." And, 1 Peter 1:23: cumbered"? He spoke of God's unencumbered Word. "You were born again, not by a seed that perishes but Here, I figure, is a key to this particular translation. one that cannot perish, God's ever-living Word." Let me explain. Now, having taken in just two texts, you begin to Two hundred and fifty million people use English understand the enthusiasm of one editor who wrote of as their primary language, and 600 million people Beck's work, "Meanings come through in perfectly understand it. This carries what Dr. Beck sees as a marvellous fashion." Further evidence, still along the world responsibility. And in a world ever getting smal- line of the cleansing and creating power of God, shines ler, he believes the closer the world lives the more it out in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11: "Or don't you know will talk our language. We are then jolted by this wicked people will have no share in God's kingdom? from the translator: "God wants to use our language Don't be mistaken about this: Nobody who lives in to talk to the world—before the end!" sexual sin or worships idols, no adulterers or men who The language of the Bible must, therefore, be un- sin sexually with other men, who steal, are greedy, get encumbered. Easily we can see Beck at work while drunk, slander, rob will have a share in God's kingdom. fleeting time lasts doing his best to give his readers a Some of you used to do these things. But you have "spiritual missile" in as potent a form as is possible— washed, you've been made holy and righteous by the the language of today, unencumbered by even a few name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our unknowns of, say, the English of 1611. God." We face the reality of this scholar's approach when The outworking of this atom-like power by which we see his question, "If Jesus came into our home God can change a man, give him a new life, make him today, how would He talk?" Good question. Beck's righteous, is put in easy-to-follow language by Beck answer: "Just as we talk to one another." And do notice when he translates Ephesians 2:8-10: what he says next: "Jesus would take the words out of Page Twenty-eight January 1, 1970 SIGNS OF THE TIMES our lives and put Heaven's meaning into them." True. "It was the day of preparation, and the day of rest And this is what Saint Paul tried to do, for, as Beck was just starting. . . . But on Saturday they rested ac- reminds us, Paul said: cording to the commandment. . . . Very early on Sun- "I would rather say five words that can be under- day morning the women came to the grave bringing the stood, in order to teach others, than ten thousand spices they had prepared." Luke 23:54-24:1. words in a language nobody understands." 1 Corin- Some, 1,005 Old Testament quotations in the New thians 14:19. Testament are identified by being printed in italics To find out how our translator succeeded in presen- and a number in very small type is given at the end of the quotation. At the close of each chapter there ting Christ's words in today's English, we shall look at a section of Luke 6 that Beck has captioned, "Hear is a list of O.T. references corresponding with these numbers. Significant dates are given at the foot of and Do!" many pages. So much for what might be called the "Why do you call Me Lord, Lord, but don't do what mechanics of the work. I tell you? Far surpassing these, is its purpose and power. We "I will show you what kind of man anyone is who quote Dr. Beck's own convictions: comes to Me and hears and does what I say. He's "In His Word the Spirit of the living God is talking like a man who built a house. He dug deep and laid to us and His book is the book of life. His vital touch the foundation on a rock. When there was a flood, is on every page, in every word. And when we let the torrent dashed against that house. But it couldn't God speak the living language of today, a reader can move it, because it was built right. Anyone who hears instantly get into the spirit of the words to the point what I say but doesn't do it is like a man who built a where the printed book seems to vanish and he hears house on the ground without a foundation. When the truth fresh from the lips of his God. He reads on the torrent dashed against it, that house immediately and on, delighted with the meaning that shines to light collapsed and went down with a big crash." Luke up his way." 6:46-49. Today we need a spiritual missile. This is it— In today's speech, here is a question the disciples put the sword of the Word in its unveiled power. to Jesus: .* "How can we tell when You're coming back and the 'TS world will come to an end?" Matthew 24:3. To give you some idea of the kind of translation Beck How Many Gods in the Godhead? has made of Christ's answers to the question, note some (Concluded from page 25) excerpts from Verses 4-42: "Who is a God besides Jehovah? And who is a Rock "Nation will fight against nation, and kingdom except our God?" Psalm 18:31. To this the apostles against kingdom, and there will be famines and earth- respond: "The Word was with God and the Word was quakes in different places. . . . And because there will [a] God." John 1:1. "They used to drink from the be more and more wickedness the love of most people spiritual rock-mass [Rock] that followed them, and that will turn cold. . . . This good news of the Kingdom rock-mass [Rock], meant the Christ." 1 Corinthians must be preached all over the world so that all nations 10:4. "Does there exist a God besides Me? No, there hear the truth, and then the end will come. . . . The Son is no Rock." Isaiah 44:8. of Man will come like the lightning that flashes from All of the above Scripture readings would be mean- the east to the west. . . . When the Son of Man comes, ingless unless we admit that there is a mysterious unity it will be like the time of Noah. . . . They learned noth- in the Godhead that transcends any human relation- ing till the flood came and swept them all away. That's ship. At our earthly level, perhaps the closest we can how it will be when the Son of Man comes. . . • Watch, come to any comprehension of this unity, is in the mar- then, because you don't know which day your Lord is riage tie. Man and wife, though "one flesh" are yet coming." two separate individuals. The Father and the Son are Unencumbered language? Yes. not one being, nor one divine person, but they, with the Evidently Beck tried to convey the "unencumbered" Holy Spirit, are one God. style right onto the actual printed pages of his transla- Because there is so much evidence in the Scriptures tion for he gives us the New Testament set out in para- that Christ and His Father share the divine quality, graphs, not verses. However, verses can easily be titles, power, and attributes, we are led to wonder how picked up from small numbers on the outside margins anyone professing to be a Bible student could believe of every page. otherwise. The solution must be that "God lets an Crisp subheadings add to the interest of this transla- operation of error go to them, that they may get to be- tion. Page 160, for instance is made simple to follow lieving the lie." 2 Thessalonians 2:11. by "Jesus Dies," "Jesus Buried," "Jesus Rises." Inci- (In the second of these articles, we shall consider the status and dentally Beck makes it easy to pick up the significant operation of the Holy Spirit, the Third Divine Being, and also some of the chief objections raised by those who take the opposing point days of Christ's death and resurrection. Note: of view.) SIGNS OF THE TIMES January 1, 1970 Page Tweaty-aiae any time; the only begotten Son, which of astronomy but to look to books is in the bosom of the Father, He hath devoted to science for specific infor- "It Is Finished" declared Him." John 1:18. Since the mation on that topic. He was not im- Would you please explain the mean- incursion of sin, Christ has been the plying that Genesis chapter one dis- ing of John 19:30: "It is finished"? Word of God, manifesting God's agreed with the most up-to-date astron- W.J.D. thoughts to men in both Old and New omy, but rather that it was written with Some hours earlier than this exclama- Testament times. The Old Testament a purpose other than to inform man in tion, Christ had made a similar asser- appearances of God, known as Theopha- that area. tion in His High Priestly prayer of flies, were the appearances of Christ, Let it never be forgotten that our John 17. There we read, "I have glori- God the Son. main need is not information but fied Thee on the earth: I have finished transformation. The Bible was not so the work which Thou gayest Me to do." written to puff up its readers with Verse 4. Our Lord's death followed intellectual pride at their advanced shortly after the utterance recorded in information, but to humble them with John 19:30, and thus it is apparent that the revelation of their deep need of He was referring to His fulfilment of divine help because of existing deprav- the plan of salvation by becoming man's ity. The beloved apostle clearly states Substitute. His sufferings were finished, the chief purpose of Scripture: "But the typical sacrificial system was fin- these are written, that ye might believe ished, Satan's apparently undisputed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of rule was finished, all that was required God; and that believing ye might have for our salvation had been accomplished. life through His name." John 20:31. Through His death, Christ reduced to And Paul on the same topic says: nothingness all the claims of Satan, "The Holy Scriptures . . . are able to and delivered them "who through fear make thee wise unto salvation through of death were all their lifetime subject faith which is in Christ Jesus. All to bondage." Hebrews 2:14, 15. Similarly Scripture is given by inspiration of we read that on the last Tuesday of His God, and is profitable for doctrine; life our Lord exclaimed: "Now is the for reproof, for correction, for instruc- judgment of this world: now shall the tion in righteousness: that the man of prince of this world [Satan] be cast God may be perfect, throughly fur- out. And I, if I be lifted up from the nished unto all good works." 2 Timothy earth, will draw all men unto Me." John 3:15-17. 12:31, 32. Had the Scriptures been written in Thus we need not fear sin, the law, ultimate scientific terminology nobody or Satan. None can condemn us at on earth would yet be able to under- the last day if we abide in Christ. We stand them. The Holy Book was written may rest, not on any accomplishments for all ages and for all cultures. It of our own, but in His great achieve- describes most things in the natural ment. We have a Saviour who has world from the perfectly legitimate done all, paid all, accomplished all that standpoint of phenomenal appearance. is necessary for our eternal well-being. No human science has yet caught up While contemplation of our own works with the divine science revealed in the brings shame because of their imper- Bible—the science of salvation. And fections, a glance at His finished work even in science's rightful sphere, empiri- brings peace. If we trust and obey we cal research, even there the devout are "complete in Him." Colossians 2:10. scientist must confess that God's cre- ated works are just as incomprehensible as God Himself as regards their ulti- mate nature and origin. Was It Possible? How could it have been possible for Christ to have walked with Adam and Words in Italics Eve as you have asserted? He was not Readers' Questions answered by Is it true that the words in italics even born then. A.H.W. in the King James Version are not part The Saviour was one Person with two Desmond Ford, M A Ph D. of the original wording? Some words, natures. He possessed an eternal di- not in italics, seem in the identical vine nature from all eternity, and an grammatical position as those italicized. adopted human nature from the time How can this be? of His incarnation. Note how the Old Also, I have seen the book, "Problems Testament foretold the divine nature in Bible Translation," quoted. Who prin- of Him who became Jesus of Nazareth. Science and the Bible ted this and is it available? G.B. "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thou- Are Scriptural references to matters Words in italics in the King James sands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He of natural history intended to be scien- Version are words supplied by the trans- come forth unto Me that is to be ruler tifically taken? Does the Scripture an- lators, but such words are usually im- in Israel; whose goings forth have been ticipate scientific discoveries? A.W. plied by the original text. For example, from of old, from everlasting [from the The Scriptures are in complete har- prefixes and suffixes attached to the days of eternity—margin]." Micah 5:2. mony with modern science when all the key words often have reference to words "For unto us a child is born, unto us a factors shaping their literary form are not expressed yet implied by the con- son is given: and the government shall taken into account. Certainly Holy text. Sometimes words so implied are be upon His shoulder: and His name Writ had a much loftier purpose than also used in the original by way of shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, trying to anticipate such discoveries emphasis—hence the situation to which The Mighty God, The Everlasting Fa- as the atomic bomb, etc. It is intended you refer. ther, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6. to tell us chiefly about how to go to The book named by you is printed by Christ Himself, while on earth, de- heaven, not how the heavens go. Cen- the Review and Herald Publishing Asso- clared, "Before Abraham was, I am" turies ago, Calvin in his commentary ciation of Washington D.C., U.S.A. It (John 8:58), and the beloved disciple as- on Genesis, told his readers not to look is obtainable from the publishers of this serted that "no man hath seen God at to Genesis, chapter one, for the facts magazine. Page Thirty January 1, 1970 SIGNS OF THE TIMES to a wilful pattern of sinning, not an ourselves, and the truth is not in us.' involuntary mistake. It is in the pre- 'If we say that we have not sinned, we Can the Law be Kept? sent continuous tense in the original make Him a liar, and His word is not One of your replies states that none Greek.) All our inadequacies are made in us.' If we confess our sins, He is of us can keep the law perfectly in this up for by the righteousness of Christ, faithful and just to forgive us our sins, life. Is not that a copying of Satan's "who of God is made unto us . . . and to cleanse us from all unrighteous- accusation that God's law is unjust and righteousness and sanctification." 1 ness.' "—E. G. White, "Acts of the cannot be kept? R.H.P. Corinthians 1:30. Apostles," pages 561, 562. Satan's accusation had nothing to do One writer has beautifully expressed with the issue of whether fallen beings the truth on this matter as follows: can keep the law. His claim was that "None of the apostles and prophets The Undying Worm perfect beings, before sin had spread to ever claimed to be without sin. Men What is it that "dieth not" in Mark the angels, were unable to keep God's who have lived the nearest to God, men 9:44-48? Is not this the worm of de- precepts. Christ affirms Satan to be who would sacrifice life itself rather sire, purpose, determination to continue the father of lies, and this claim is one than knowingly commit a wrong act, in opposition to God? E.F.B. example. See John 8:44. men whom God has honoured with di- Mark 9:44-48, abridged, reads as fol- To keep the law perfectly would re- vine light and power, have confessed quire that without deviation for one the sinfulness of their nature. They second we would love God with all our have put no confidence in the flesh, low"Ws: here their worm dieth not, and the heart, mind, and strength, and our have claimed no righteousness of their fire is not quenched. And if thy foot neighbours as ourselves. See Matthew own, but have trusted wholly in the offend thee, cut it off: it is better for 22:36-40. No one has ever done it, nor righteousness of Christ. thee to enter halt into life, than having can do it in this life. We have bodies two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire "So will it be with all who behold that never shall be quenched: where and minds marred by sin, and hence Christ. The nearer we come to Jesus, their perfect action is impossible. "In their worm dieth not, and the fire is and the more clearly we discern the not quenched." many things" "we all often stumble purity of His character, the more clearly and fall and offend." See James 3:2, Am- shall we see the exceeding sinfulness It is true that some have interpreted plified version. of sin, and the less shall we feel like the "worm" as you have suggested, but It is true that the New Testament, exalting ourselves. There will be a con- others take what seems to be a more particularly in 1 John, speaks of the tinual reaching out of the soul after Biblical position when they say that "the righteous as "keeping the command- God, a continual, earnest, heart-break- undying worm is not the symbol of a ments." Such a standing is imputed to ing confession of sin and humbling of soul which cannot die, but is the sym- all believers, provided obedience to God the heart before Him. bol of corruption which cannot be in all things is the prevailing motive of purged." See page 123 of "The Mission their lives. A close examination of the "At every advance step in our Chris- and Message of Jesus" by Major, Man- First Epistle of John will show that the tian experience, our repentance will son and Wright. The contextual ex- inspired writer only recognizes two deepen. We shall know that our suffi- pression "the fire is not quenched" is classes, those who belong to Christ ciency is in Christ alone, and shall make in apposition to "their worm dieth not," whom he describes as "keeping the com- the apostle's confession our own. 'I and means the same. The word used mandments," and those who belong to know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) for "hell" is Gehenna—a loose translit- the devil. He does not have any in- dwelleth no good thing.' God forbid eration of the Hebrew Ge-Hinnom "the between group who are converted but that I should glory, save in the cross of Valley of Hinnom," a gorge outside Je- who sometimes sin. That is, he does not our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the rusalem which in former times had been speak of any such third group, but ra- world is crucified unto me, and I unto the scene of human sacrifices but which ther accommodates such among those the world.' later became the rubbish-heap of the regarded by God as obeying His com- "Let the recording angels write the capital. Christ thus foretells the hour mandments. Consider the following history of the holy struggles and con- when the surface of this earth will be verses from this source which should flicts of the people of God; let them cleansed by fires that will destroy the clarify the matter: record their prayers and tears; but let marks of sin and sinners also. "And hereby we do know that we know not God be dishonoured by the declara- This passage in Mark is based on Him, if we keep His commandments. He tion from human lips, 'I am sinless; I Isaiah 66:24, which pictures the destroy- that saith, I know Him, and keepeth am holy.' Sanctified lips will never ing power of maggots and fire upon dead not His commandments, is a liar, and give utterance to such presumptuous bodies. There is no hint in either Mark the truth is not in him." 1 John 2:3, 4. words. or Isaiah of continuing consciousness in "If we say that we have no sin, we "The Apostle Paul had been caught the wicked after death overtakes them. deceive ourselves, and the truth is not up to the third heaven, and had seen Note particularly the use of the word in us. If we confess our sins, He is and heard things that could not be "carcases" in Isaiah 66:24. It is upon faithful and just to forgive us our sins, uttered, and yet his unassuming state- such that the maggots are represented and to cleanse us from all unrighteous- ment is: 'Not as though I had already as feeding uninterruptedly till their ness. .. My little children, these things attained, either were already perfect: work is done. write I unto you, that ye sin not. And but I follow after.' Let the angels of if any man sin, we have an advocate heaven write of Paul's victories in fight- with the Father, Jesus Christ the right- ing the good fight of faith. Let heaven Where Are They? eous." 1 John 1:8, 9; 2:1. rejoice in his steadfast tread heaven- "Little children, let no man deceive ward, and that, keeping the prize in Has any trace ever been found of you: he that doeth righteousness is view, he counts every other considera- the tables of stone on which were once righteous, even as He is righteous. He tion dross. Angels rejoice to tell his written the Ten Commandments? that committeth sin is of the devil; for triumphs, but Paul makes no boast of E.C. the devil sinneth from the beginning. his attainments. The attitude of Paul The last reference to the tables of . . . Whosoever is born of God doth not is the attitude that every follower of stone known to history is that found in commit sin; for . . . he is born of God. Christ should take as he urges his way the Book of 2 Maccabees. There we In this the children of God are mani- onward in the strife for the immortal read that . . . fest, and the children of the devil: crown. " . a divine oracle came to Jeremias, whosoever doeth not righteousness is "Let those who feel inclined to make and he must needs go out, with taber- not of God, neither he that loveth not a high profession of holiness look into nacle and ark to bear him company, to his brother." 1 John 3:7-10. the mirror of God's law. As they see the very mountain Moses climbed long These quotations make it obvious that its far-reaching claims, and understand ago, when he had sight of God's domain. the governing pattern of the life deter- its work as a discerner of the thoughts A cave Jeremiah found there, in which mines whether a man is reckoned as and intents of the heart, they will not he set down tabernacle and ark and in- "keeping the commandments." Such a boast sinlessness. 'If we,' says John, cense-altar, and stopped up the entrance person will not willingly practise sin. not separating himself from his breth- to mark the spot, but find it they could (The word "commit" in 1 John 3:9 refers ren, 'say that we have no sin, we deceive not." 2:4-7 (Knox Translation). SIGNS OF THE TIMES January 1, 1970 Page Thirty-one A Story for the worth a large amount were found in shoe boxes. Under her Children by skirt in a bag tied to a cord around her waist, the old woman MYRTLE O'HARA carried, for almost twenty-five years, $500,000. Locked boxes and trunks were crammed with beautiful clothes and rare silks, yet she was dressed in an old towel pinned around her body, and a skirt that was all rags. Two other locked rooms which she rented in another building were full of treasures. "When she was young, the woman had been a beautiful society lady who had mixed with kings, presidents and princes. She had a lovely home filled with works of art, but she sold everything and invested the money in stocks and bonds. She loved money so much that she couldn't even bear to spend it for food. Although she was a millionaire, she ate so little that when found she weighed only five stone. At last she died in an old iron bed at the age of ninety-four years and she didn't have a friend in the world. ONE WISH Much of her hoarded wealth found its way into the pockets of lawyers, who spent seven years trying to decide which of THE DAY WAS HOT and Wayne and his mates came in the 1,103 persons who claimed to be her relations really had a noisy group to sit on the shady veranda. Mother brought a legal right to her money. them cool drinks and then went on with her work. "What will we do?" someone asked. "I know," George said, "let's have wishes. If I had only one wish I would be a great athlete and break records and everywhere I went people would make a fuss of me." "I wish I could be a wonderful musician and travel around the world and play to big audiences who would make a fuss of me," Esther said. "I would like to be a scientist and invent wonderful things and then everyone would make a fuss of ME," said Fred. "I wish I could be a nurse like Florence Nightingale. Then all the sick people would love me," Jean said softly. "I want to be a millionaire. If you have money you can get everything you want. I would have a wonderful time, and when I died I'd leave some of my money to people who needed it," Wayne said grandly. The children let their imaginations work overtime as they enlarged on what they would do if their wishes came true, and they had a very happy time living in the land of make- believe. It amused Mother to hear their boasting and bragging; then when they fell silent, she came out of the house and sat in the spare chair. "I heard what you children were saying," she said, "and was interested in your wishes, but it seems to me that with FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE cares for the wounded soldiers. the exception of Jean you all have wrong ideas. You want fame and glory and all the good things of life for yourselves, but true and lasting happiness comes from giving, not from "So you see, Wayne, that money doesn't always bring getting. If your wishes came true, you would find that better happiness. The Apostle Paul, writing to the young man and cleverer athletes, musicians and scientists would come Timothy, said: 'The love of money is the root of all evil.' " along, and your popularity would soon be a thing of the past. "She could have used it to build hospitals," Jean said "And as for money, Wayne, there are three things it cannot dreamily. buy—health, goodness and happiness. Many wealthy people "Yes," Mother agreed. "She could have used it for a are extremely unhappy. They have found that money wrongly hundred good purposes, and then she would never have ended used becomes a curse instead of a blessing. I'll tell you a up as she did. God gives us ability and talents and wealth story to show you what I mean." The children drew their for the blessing of others, not to be used selfishly or to bring chairs close to Mother and forgot the heat as they prepared glory and fame to ourselves. The happiest and truly great to listen. people are those who live for others, not for themselves." "Is it a true story?" Jean asked. "I read a Bible story the other day," Jean said, "about "Yes, Jean_ For seven years the newspapers of the world a rich man who had so much wealth that he said he would printed the story as lawyers searched for relatives of the have to build bigger barns and rooms in which to store it. woman concerned. Then he said to himself : 'What a lucky man I am. I have "In the year 1907," Mother began, "a certain banker told enough money to last me for the rest of my life. Now I one of his customers that he felt worried about the financial will be able to take things easy and eat and drink and enjoy situation in America. So she immediately withdrew all her myself.' But God said to him: 'You fool. This very night money from the bank, walked out with nearly a million dol- you will die; then who will get those things you have kept for lars in a string bag, and was not heard of again for nearly yourself !' He didn't enjoy his wealth, he didn't do any good a quarter of a century. Then she was discovered living in with it, and probably those who got it after he died wasted abject poverty in two old hotel rooms that were piled in the it. If I had a lot of money I would help sick people." utmost confusion from the floor almost to the ceiling with all manner of rubbish. All those years no one had ever "Well," Mother laughed, "I certainly hope you do get a seen inside the rooms. Now and then the door was opened lot of money, Jean. Even if you don't, I guess there is noth- a crack to receive food which one of the hotel employees ing to stop you from becoming a nurse. But I must get on bought for her every few days. with my work," she said as she stood up. "How would you children like to wish again and see if you can make a better "When the rooms were searched, a fortune was found choice this time?" hidden amongst the litter. Jewellery worth hundreds of thousands of dollars was found in the most unlikely places, If you had only one wish that could come true, boys and even in a box of mouldy biscuit crumbs. Stocks and bonds girls, what would it be? Page Thirty-two January 1. 1970 SIGNS OF THE TIMES At the Eibie Set You Ttee/ Listen in to THESE TIMES every Sunday on your nearest radio station. 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