Thursday, January 28, 2016
Every creature has some rock
(James Smith, "The Incomparable Rock!" 1860)
"There is no Rock like our God!" 1 Samuel 2:2
As creatures, we all need . . .
an object of trust,
one on whom we can lean,
one in whom we can confide,
one to whom we may look for defense and safety.
Every creature has some rock — some object of dependence and trust; for without this, there would be recklessness or despair.
Some make a 'rock' of their wealth,
some of their talents,
some of their station,
some of their friends,
some of their good deeds,
some of their religious observances,
some of their name or fame.
But the Christian's rock is his God, that is — God in Christ. Yes, Jesus is . . .
the foundation of his hopes,
the source of his strength,
the anchor of his safety, and
the fountain that supplies him!
In Christ, his Rock — he finds honey; and this Rock pours out rivers of oil for him, "He nourished him with honey from the Rock, and with oil from the flinty crag." Deuteronomy 32:13. This Rock, Christ — is the Rock of his salvation. This Rock of ages — is the Rock of his strength. Of this Rock, he can sing, "The Lord is my Rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my Rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior!" 2 Samuel 22:2-3
Looking around upon all others, he can say, "But their 'rock' is not like our Rock; even our enemies concede." Deuteronomy 32:31.
There is no rock like our Rock:
none so great,
none so ancient,
none so durable,
none so suited to meet all a sinner's needs.
On this Rock we build for eternity! We have no doubt that our immortal interests are safe. To this Rock, we run for safety, and smile at the opposition of all our foes. In this Rock, we hide, and are safe from the sword of divine justice, as well as the rage of infernal Hell. In this Rock we take shelter, and are uninjured by the windy storm and tempest. From this Rock we look for all our supplies — and we are not, cannot be disappointed. Beneath its shade — we enjoy peace and comfort! In its cleft — we are safe for evermore!
How safe, how happy is the believer — having God for his ROCK; for . . .
he builds on a foundation that can never decay,
he trusts in a stronghold that can never be taken,
he hides in a refuge from which he can never be expelled!
"The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God, the Rock, my Savior!" 2 Samuel 22:47
The Shepherd searching for the sheep!
The Shepherd searching for the sheep!
(Alexander Smellie, "The Secret Place" 1907)
"This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for My sheep and look after them!" Ezekiel 34:11
The prophet looked into a distant future, and saw the day of Christ from afar.
1. Just so, I look back and see my sovereign Lord in the manger-cradle at Bethlehem. He has emptied Himself — He has laid all His glory down. He has come to my earth, not in the splendors of His divinity, but with an infant's palpable and pathetic claim for nursing and nurture. He has taken my nature in its feeblest and most helpless condition, and made it His own nature.
It is a long way for the Shepherd to travel in search of the sheep — no arithmetic can compute it, no history can describe the downward journey. But the Incarnation is not enough. Not at Bethlehem does the Lover of my soul find me who has departed from His fold.
2. Then I see my sovereign Lord on the hillsides and in the cornfields and on the lake-waters of Galilee.
Never a man speaks like this Man — His are the words of grace and truth, of fire and dew.
Never a man lives like this Man — He does not weary in healing, feeding, comforting, rebuking sin, and compassionating and blessing the sinner.
He is seeking me by the messages of His lips, and by the blamelessness and beneficence of His life. Patiently He is enticing me home. But the ministry of word and miracle is not enough. Not in Capernaum does the Flock-master find me, who am so persevering in my revolt.
3. Then I see my sovereign Lord beneath the olive trees in Gethsemane. He is praying with strong cryings and tears. He has come very near to the transgressors now, and more poignantly than ever He feels the awfulness of their burden. His sweat, falling down to the ground, is, as it were, great drops of blood. The Seeker is learning the sharpness of the crag, and the rush of the torrent. None has cared for me so much; none has borne a sorrow so deep on my behalf. But His intercession and His sympathy are not enough. Not in the agonies of the garden, does He succeed in finding me.
4. But, last, I see my sovereign Lord nailed to the Cross outside the gate on the Hill of Reproach. He dies for sin — but not His own; He is purer than the newborn lamb and the new-fallen snow. He lays my immeasurable guilt on Himself. He redeems me by the one perfect offering of His unblemished body and soul. The Good Shepherd is giving His life for His sheep! And this, at length, is enough — the atonement, the blood-shedding. It is enough for God — and it is enough for me.
On Calvary I behold the depth of my iniquity — and the wonder of His redemption!
On Calvary my God finds me, and conquers me, and saves me!
Never was there a sheep so silly, so fond of roaming, so bent on destroying itself!
Never was there a search so longsome, so untiring, and so fraught with suffering!
Never was there a Shepherd like my adorable Redeemer!
"I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep!" John 10:11
(Alexander Smellie, "The Secret Place" 1907)
"This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for My sheep and look after them!" Ezekiel 34:11
The prophet looked into a distant future, and saw the day of Christ from afar.
1. Just so, I look back and see my sovereign Lord in the manger-cradle at Bethlehem. He has emptied Himself — He has laid all His glory down. He has come to my earth, not in the splendors of His divinity, but with an infant's palpable and pathetic claim for nursing and nurture. He has taken my nature in its feeblest and most helpless condition, and made it His own nature.
It is a long way for the Shepherd to travel in search of the sheep — no arithmetic can compute it, no history can describe the downward journey. But the Incarnation is not enough. Not at Bethlehem does the Lover of my soul find me who has departed from His fold.
2. Then I see my sovereign Lord on the hillsides and in the cornfields and on the lake-waters of Galilee.
Never a man speaks like this Man — His are the words of grace and truth, of fire and dew.
Never a man lives like this Man — He does not weary in healing, feeding, comforting, rebuking sin, and compassionating and blessing the sinner.
He is seeking me by the messages of His lips, and by the blamelessness and beneficence of His life. Patiently He is enticing me home. But the ministry of word and miracle is not enough. Not in Capernaum does the Flock-master find me, who am so persevering in my revolt.
3. Then I see my sovereign Lord beneath the olive trees in Gethsemane. He is praying with strong cryings and tears. He has come very near to the transgressors now, and more poignantly than ever He feels the awfulness of their burden. His sweat, falling down to the ground, is, as it were, great drops of blood. The Seeker is learning the sharpness of the crag, and the rush of the torrent. None has cared for me so much; none has borne a sorrow so deep on my behalf. But His intercession and His sympathy are not enough. Not in the agonies of the garden, does He succeed in finding me.
4. But, last, I see my sovereign Lord nailed to the Cross outside the gate on the Hill of Reproach. He dies for sin — but not His own; He is purer than the newborn lamb and the new-fallen snow. He lays my immeasurable guilt on Himself. He redeems me by the one perfect offering of His unblemished body and soul. The Good Shepherd is giving His life for His sheep! And this, at length, is enough — the atonement, the blood-shedding. It is enough for God — and it is enough for me.
On Calvary I behold the depth of my iniquity — and the wonder of His redemption!
On Calvary my God finds me, and conquers me, and saves me!
Never was there a sheep so silly, so fond of roaming, so bent on destroying itself!
Never was there a search so longsome, so untiring, and so fraught with suffering!
Never was there a Shepherd like my adorable Redeemer!
"I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep!" John 10:11
The two trees!
(George Everard, "The Piercing of Jesus' Side!" 1868)
One tree has been the channel of all the evil that is to be found in the world.
Another tree has been the channel of all the good that is to be found in the world.
From the fruit of the tree of which Eve partook, has arisen . . .
all the sin,
all the care,
all the sorrow,
all the disease, and
all the death that are to be seen on every side.
all the sin,
all the care,
all the sorrow,
all the disease, and
all the death that are to be seen on every side.
From the fruit of another tree, that on which Jesus bore our sins, has arisen . . .
all the grace,
all the holiness,
all the hope,
all the consolation,
which the redeemed have received from above.
all the grace,
all the holiness,
all the hope,
all the consolation,
which the redeemed have received from above.
Oh, that we might gaze upon that cross, and in faith behold Him who hung there!
O blessed Redeemer, grant us the Spirit of grace and supplication . . .
that we may look upon You whom our sins have pierced, and mourn;
that we may look upon You whom our sins have pierced, and mourn;
that we may again look upon You, and rejoice in such a loving Savior, in such a blood-bought salvation!
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We have published George Everard's very uplifting 4 page article, "The Priceless Pearl!"
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The Last Message to the Church
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"These things saith the Amen" (Rev. 3:14).
The last message to the Church is from the One who selects for Himself from His many titles and designations the one that embodies everything that is affirmative, positive, and definite."Amen" is not only an ejaculation or form of assent, it is a Divine title, and in the title there is - as always - a character, a definition. In Isaiah 65:16, "the God of truth" is literally "the God of Amen". When Jesus so often said, "Verily, verily", He used this very word, "Amen, Amen", thus conveying the meaning that what He was and said was of the character of absolute certainty, perfect assurance, and unmistakable positiveness. Eventually He gathered all into the personal title - "the Amen". This, alongside of its definition, "the faithful and true witness", gives a forceful significance to the message of the context, and becomes the message itself. It stands in vivid contrast to the conditions existing. Although not universally, yet quite widely, the interpretation of the messages to the seven churches is thought to be historical and future: that is, that they not only relate to the first Christian century, but cover the whole Church dispensation and represent phases and stages of the spiritual life of the Church at certain given times. Thus, such an interpretation gives to "Laodicea" an end-time application and describes the condition which will obtain at that time. It is not necessary to accept that interpretation, for whether it be right or not so, the message holds a test and a challenge for all time. It is important to get the whole significance of this challenge, for undoubtedly it indicates an ever-present tendency.
1. The Lord's Reaction to a Reactionary Movement
To fully grasp the meaning of the message to "Laodicea", we have to go back some years. There are two factors to bring forward. (a) It is generally recognised and known that the two great letters of Paul called "to the Ephesians" and "to the Colossians" did not have such designations attached to them, but that they were circular letters for the Churches in Asia (see, e.g., Col. 4:16). If this was the case, as we believe it to have been, then these were the greatest documents ever penned; and the greatest revelation ever given by God, as contained in those two letters, was given to these seven churches in Asia. That, at least, signified spiritual capacity and aliveness on their part, for the Lord does not give His fullest and best where there is little capacity, life or spirituality. They must have been tuned to this great heavenly key. (b) The second thing is that terrible statement of Paul at the end of his life concerning these churches: "All that are in Asia turned away from me" (2 Tim. 1:15). This is generally held to mean a doctrinal turning away; an adverse reaction to Paul and his teaching; and it is surely borne out by the things said to at least five of the seven churches, and by Paul's letters to Timothy, who had responsibility in Ephesus. If this was true, then the messages, and the message to Laodicea in particular, represent the Lord's reaction to that reactionary movement. It is as though the Lord said (and here is the message for all time): 'I have given you a full revelation of My mind concerning Myself and the Church; you have that immense deposit, but you have turned from it. You may turn from the messenger, but you cannot get away either from the message or from the One who sent it. 'These things saith (not Paul - but) "the Amen, the faithful and true witness" - the unalterable, unchanging, invincible One.' The Church is responsible for what the Lord has given it, and will be judged accordingly. 2. The Inclusive Charge
"Neither hot nor cold"
How necessary it is for us rightly to appraise what this means. Surely the things of which Laodicea boasted did not come to them without some zeal or energetic activity on their part! These things do not just tumble into the lap without thought and concern. May there not have been many things there that today would be regarded as the marks of a vigorous, energetic, active and 'living' church? - indeed, a very prosperous church? It depends upon the viewpoint and the standard that governs - whether the world's or the heavenly Lord's! Here is a state which, from one standpoint, is defined as "rich, and in need of nothing". From the Lord's viewpoint it is judged to be spiritual mediocrity, and the very boast contains the constituents of that spiritual mediocrity. Spiritual contentment and complacency, the absence of a deep and strong sense of need and desire for what has never yet been attained, are such constituents, and the symptoms of spiritual invalidism. |
Can You See Where You Are Going? By Theodore Epp
Can You See Where You Are Going?
By Theodore Epp
1 John 1:5-10
For a person to walk in the light requires that he first receive Christ as personal Saviour. The light of God's Word must first have enlightened that person's heart and convicted him of his sin.
That same light reveals to us the holiness of God and brings us to a reverential fear of Him, something foreign to the natural man (see Rom. 3:18).
That same light reveals to us how Christ came to reconcile us to God. To us is offered "the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference" (Rom. 3:22).
Christians who walk in the light become increasingly conscious of the holiness of God and of the sinfulness of sin. They are not deluded into denying that they have a sinful nature.
They realize that they still have sinful tendencies that are expressed in fleshly impulses, nonspiritual inclinations and standards of living that are patterned after the world rather than after God.
These are all sinful in the sight of God, and to call them righteous rather than sinful is to walk in darkness. Should we even so much as waver in our trust in God, we sin, for the Word says, "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin" (Rom. 14:23).
"I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (John 8:12).
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
TO BE A PILGRIM
FOR BOYS AND GIRLS
TO BE A PILGRIM
[Harry Foster]
THE Pilgrims were tired. They were walking against time. And now they had lost their way. There were five of them and they were not really pilgrims but campers. There were five tents in the Boys' Holiday Camp which their Bible Class had organized for them. Each tent held five boys and each tent had a name. So there were Sowers, Heralds, Warriors, and Ambassadors as well as Pilgrims, and, of course, there was much rivalry between them.
In addition to the ordinary games and fun which made their camp such a happy place there were occasional special competitions between the different tents. At the moment the Heralds seemed to have the edge on the other four, but the Pilgrims were coming up from behind and making a tremendous effort to become the champions.
Today had been the day of the final Pathfinder contest. If the Pilgrims could win this they would finish as the champion tent. For the contest each leader had been handed a map and a route, with various landmarks and points of call. The five routes were all different, but the distances were equal and the first party home would be adjudged winners. They had been given packed lunches and set off after breakfast. Now it was late afternoon and the Pilgrims were on almost the last lap of their journey. They had left Westlake some way behind, and were pressing on towards Northfield, their last place of call before the final rush home to camp. Time was all important and they were tired.
They had reached a place where five paths intersected, and had expected to find there a signpost which would show which of these paths led to Northfield. But they had been disappointed. At first it seemed from a distance as if there were no signpost at all, but as they drew nearer they saw that it was there, but it lay flat on the ground. The post had rotted and either the wind had blown it down, or some mischievous person had given it a last push and made it useless. Whatever the cause, there it lay, and no one could tell which of the paths was the right one.
John, who was in charge of the party , asked for the opinions of the other four. First to speak -- as usual -- was Peter. "I feel sure that it is straight on," he said. "Hurry up! Let's get moving at once or the Heralds will beat us." "You may be wrong, Peter," said John, "you often are. We mustn't rush the matter." "Come on," urged Peter, "let's get moving. If we find that it is wrong we may find another sign, or we can come back and start again." John turned to Stephen who gave his opinion that the correct path was the first on the left, which was enough to ensure that James would declare his view that it was the one on the right. Just like James, John thought, he always has to be contrary. Of course, he may be right. In any case this left only Andrew and himself, so he turned to him and asked, "What about it? Is it first left, right or straight on?" Whether John would have accepted a two to one majority or not, we do not know, for Andrew also had his own ideas and thought that it was the second on the left. "Oh dear!" exclaimed John, "what shall we do? Every one of you wants to go a different way. There are four chaps and four paths. Which is the right one?" "No" interjected Peter, who liked his little joke, "there are five chaps and five ways! Which one will you choose, John, the one we have just come along?"
At first John was a bit nettled by this and told Peter not to be an ass, but then an idea struck him. "Right," he shouted, "that is one thing we do know. We know the path which comes from Westlake. Come on boys, lift up the signpost and swivel it round until the arm marked WESTLAKE points back along the path we have come by. No, move it round a bit more! Hold it!" They held it, and all looked up at the five arms of the post. There was NORTHFIELD on the arm pointing second to the left. "Come on," cried Andrew, letting go of the post again, "I win!" "This is the way," said John, "but we must hurry if any of us are going to win. No more talking, you chaps. Walk! And keep on walking!"
Great was the rejoicing that evening in the Pilgrims' tent. They had just made it. And of course the whole camp had to hear of John's detective act with the signpost. It had been done in the nick of time. If they had waited to argue or to investigate further they would have been too late. But the Pilgrims were champions. And they were very proud of it.
At least they were until the Camp-fire Service after supper. For in his message the Leader spoke on looking back and read the verse about the men who were "strangers and pilgrims" which said "And if indeed they had been mindful of that [53/54] country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better country ..." (Hebrews 11:15). The Leader said that on the whole looking back was a bad thing, at least if it included a desire to go back. "But there are times," he said, "when a remembrance of where we have come from may help to keep us on the right road. Abraham may have seen a signpost sometimes which pointed to UR. It was the way back. That was the place of the old life, the place of idols and an empty heart. He had left that behind. And then if he turned his back to Ur he would be facing the right direction to walk with God. Israel often saw signposts pointing to EGYPT where they had come from. It was the land of their slavery and their shame. When they turned their backs on Egypt, Isaiah and other prophets told them, then they would be able to walk in the ways of God."
"And how about the Pilgrims?" asked the Leader -- John and Peter and the other three. Had they learned their lesson? All true Christians have turned towards Christ, and that means turning their back on the world. He asked the boys what they would do after the camp when they got back to their ordinary life and saw the many signposts which pointed back to sin and self. Would they remember that this was the way of living which they had left behind? If they did, it would help them to keep moving in the right direction. Pilgrims, yes and Sowers and Heralds and Warriors and Ambassadors too, all of them should keep their old life at their backs and look straight forward to the way of life and blessing in Christ!
Did we say that the Pilgrims were no longer proud of their exploit with the signpost? Perhaps that would not be quite true. But more than proud, they were grateful. Grateful to be reminded never to look back, except to gain fresh help for moving forward. That is the way for pilgrims. And that is the way in which pilgrims become champions. H. F.
----------------
TO BE A PILGRIM
[Harry Foster]
THE Pilgrims were tired. They were walking against time. And now they had lost their way. There were five of them and they were not really pilgrims but campers. There were five tents in the Boys' Holiday Camp which their Bible Class had organized for them. Each tent held five boys and each tent had a name. So there were Sowers, Heralds, Warriors, and Ambassadors as well as Pilgrims, and, of course, there was much rivalry between them.
In addition to the ordinary games and fun which made their camp such a happy place there were occasional special competitions between the different tents. At the moment the Heralds seemed to have the edge on the other four, but the Pilgrims were coming up from behind and making a tremendous effort to become the champions.
Today had been the day of the final Pathfinder contest. If the Pilgrims could win this they would finish as the champion tent. For the contest each leader had been handed a map and a route, with various landmarks and points of call. The five routes were all different, but the distances were equal and the first party home would be adjudged winners. They had been given packed lunches and set off after breakfast. Now it was late afternoon and the Pilgrims were on almost the last lap of their journey. They had left Westlake some way behind, and were pressing on towards Northfield, their last place of call before the final rush home to camp. Time was all important and they were tired.
They had reached a place where five paths intersected, and had expected to find there a signpost which would show which of these paths led to Northfield. But they had been disappointed. At first it seemed from a distance as if there were no signpost at all, but as they drew nearer they saw that it was there, but it lay flat on the ground. The post had rotted and either the wind had blown it down, or some mischievous person had given it a last push and made it useless. Whatever the cause, there it lay, and no one could tell which of the paths was the right one.
John, who was in charge of the party , asked for the opinions of the other four. First to speak -- as usual -- was Peter. "I feel sure that it is straight on," he said. "Hurry up! Let's get moving at once or the Heralds will beat us." "You may be wrong, Peter," said John, "you often are. We mustn't rush the matter." "Come on," urged Peter, "let's get moving. If we find that it is wrong we may find another sign, or we can come back and start again." John turned to Stephen who gave his opinion that the correct path was the first on the left, which was enough to ensure that James would declare his view that it was the one on the right. Just like James, John thought, he always has to be contrary. Of course, he may be right. In any case this left only Andrew and himself, so he turned to him and asked, "What about it? Is it first left, right or straight on?" Whether John would have accepted a two to one majority or not, we do not know, for Andrew also had his own ideas and thought that it was the second on the left. "Oh dear!" exclaimed John, "what shall we do? Every one of you wants to go a different way. There are four chaps and four paths. Which is the right one?" "No" interjected Peter, who liked his little joke, "there are five chaps and five ways! Which one will you choose, John, the one we have just come along?"
At first John was a bit nettled by this and told Peter not to be an ass, but then an idea struck him. "Right," he shouted, "that is one thing we do know. We know the path which comes from Westlake. Come on boys, lift up the signpost and swivel it round until the arm marked WESTLAKE points back along the path we have come by. No, move it round a bit more! Hold it!" They held it, and all looked up at the five arms of the post. There was NORTHFIELD on the arm pointing second to the left. "Come on," cried Andrew, letting go of the post again, "I win!" "This is the way," said John, "but we must hurry if any of us are going to win. No more talking, you chaps. Walk! And keep on walking!"
Great was the rejoicing that evening in the Pilgrims' tent. They had just made it. And of course the whole camp had to hear of John's detective act with the signpost. It had been done in the nick of time. If they had waited to argue or to investigate further they would have been too late. But the Pilgrims were champions. And they were very proud of it.
At least they were until the Camp-fire Service after supper. For in his message the Leader spoke on looking back and read the verse about the men who were "strangers and pilgrims" which said "And if indeed they had been mindful of that [53/54] country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better country ..." (Hebrews 11:15). The Leader said that on the whole looking back was a bad thing, at least if it included a desire to go back. "But there are times," he said, "when a remembrance of where we have come from may help to keep us on the right road. Abraham may have seen a signpost sometimes which pointed to UR. It was the way back. That was the place of the old life, the place of idols and an empty heart. He had left that behind. And then if he turned his back to Ur he would be facing the right direction to walk with God. Israel often saw signposts pointing to EGYPT where they had come from. It was the land of their slavery and their shame. When they turned their backs on Egypt, Isaiah and other prophets told them, then they would be able to walk in the ways of God."
"And how about the Pilgrims?" asked the Leader -- John and Peter and the other three. Had they learned their lesson? All true Christians have turned towards Christ, and that means turning their back on the world. He asked the boys what they would do after the camp when they got back to their ordinary life and saw the many signposts which pointed back to sin and self. Would they remember that this was the way of living which they had left behind? If they did, it would help them to keep moving in the right direction. Pilgrims, yes and Sowers and Heralds and Warriors and Ambassadors too, all of them should keep their old life at their backs and look straight forward to the way of life and blessing in Christ!
Did we say that the Pilgrims were no longer proud of their exploit with the signpost? Perhaps that would not be quite true. But more than proud, they were grateful. Grateful to be reminded never to look back, except to gain fresh help for moving forward. That is the way for pilgrims. And that is the way in which pilgrims become champions. H. F.
----------------
GOD'S WATCHFUL CARE
GOD'S WATCHFUL CARE
[Harry Foster]
PHILLIP was very fond of his grandmother, but there was just one thing he did not like about her room. This was a framed Sampler which hung on the wall over her bed. Of course, it was very old-fashioned; but what Phillip did not like were the embroidered words: "Thou God seest me."
"Why do you have that on your wall?" he asked his grandmother one day. She replied: "Because it comforts me." "Well, it doesn't comfort me," said Phillip, "it does just the opposite. I don't think it is fair that God should always be spying on me." "Fair or not," said his grandmother quietly, "it is true."
As Christmas came near the matter of shopping arose, and when one day Phillip's school had a shopping holiday, his father also took a day off and they drove into the nearby town. As he drove along, Phillip's father remarked: "I hear that the police have TV cameras covering the town centre, so that they can keep an eye on thieves and pickpockets." He added: "Of course, some people don't like the idea of being spied on. In fact, my newspaper this morning says that it is not right." Phillip's mother said that she thought that it was a good idea, but Phillip broke in with his old complaint about it not being fair. "I don't like it," he told his parents. "No," said his father, "and nor do the criminals. Those who are doing no wrong have no need to fear being watched." "Well, I don't like it," repeated Phillip. "I don't think that it is fair. Why, it is almost as bad as Grandma's text!"
By this time they had arrived at the car park, and were soon so involved in their shopping that all else was forgotten. There seemed so much to buy and Phillip found it very exciting. The great moment for him was when he chose his tape-recorder. This was something he had longed to have, but because of the price he hardly dare hope that he would ever get one. However, his parents and his grandmother had joined together to give him the money. He found just the thing, at just the right price, and was thrilled when they went back to the car park and he was carefully carrying the parcel with the recording machine. Of course, he was carrying other parcels as well, and so were his parents. In fact, they were all three so loaded up that nobody had a free hand to open the car.
Father's arms were full of small parcels, so he asked Phillip to get the car key out of his outside pocket. Phillip first placed his precious parcel in a safe place and then fished around in his father's pocket till after a struggle and some delay he managed to find it. At first he could not get the car door open, which made Mother and Father rather impatient, as they were so laden with their parcels, but at last he succeeded. Father poured out his armful of parcels on to the back seat, helped Mother with hers, and then they all got into the car and drove off.
They were less than half a mile from the car park when they were stopped by a police car. Father wondered for a moment if he had hurt somebody without knowing it, and even more so when the policeman's first question was: "Have you just come from the main car park?" "Yes," he replied. "I hope that there is no trouble." "Not really, sir," said the policeman, "but I think that you left a parcel there." Both Father and Mother were about to deny this when Phillip broke in. As soon as the policeman mentioned a parcel he had a cold feeling inside him as he remembered that he had forgotten to pick up his recording machine. So in a rather scared voice he said: "It's mine! I left it down behind our car." "That's all right, sir," said the policeman cheerfully. "Not to worry." So they turned round to drive back to the car park. [27/28]
Meanwhile poor Phillip hardly dared to breathe in case the tape recorder might be stolen while they were driving back, but really he had no cause for worry, since there at the car park entrance was a smiling police officer with the precious parcel in his hand. Phillip was so grateful that he could hardly speak, but his father thanked the policeman and then he asked him how they knew about it and whose it was. The man explained that at the Police Station there was an officer watching the television screens. He had seen it all happen, had taken their number, and had then put out calls to him and also to the police car. "It was the ever-watchful eye that did it," he concluded laughingly.
Phillip was very quiet as they drove home. His father could not resist asking him if he had changed his mind about being spied on, and he had to admit that but for the TV cameras he would never have been warned about his mistake and would have lost his valuable Christmas present.
That evening he went into his grandmother's room and told her all about it, and how the watchful eye of the man at the Police Station had saved him from losing his parcel. In a very gentle voice she said to him: "Now you know, Phillip, why I find it such a comfort to remember that God always sees me. He is looking not to spite me but to take care of me. He will do the same for you if you trust Him to be your Saviour."
She then showed him another verse about the eye of God. It was that wonderful reminder that "the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him" (2 Chronicles 16:9). This was the lesson which Phillip had learned. Have you learned it yet? H.F.
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[Harry Foster]
PHILLIP was very fond of his grandmother, but there was just one thing he did not like about her room. This was a framed Sampler which hung on the wall over her bed. Of course, it was very old-fashioned; but what Phillip did not like were the embroidered words: "Thou God seest me."
"Why do you have that on your wall?" he asked his grandmother one day. She replied: "Because it comforts me." "Well, it doesn't comfort me," said Phillip, "it does just the opposite. I don't think it is fair that God should always be spying on me." "Fair or not," said his grandmother quietly, "it is true."
As Christmas came near the matter of shopping arose, and when one day Phillip's school had a shopping holiday, his father also took a day off and they drove into the nearby town. As he drove along, Phillip's father remarked: "I hear that the police have TV cameras covering the town centre, so that they can keep an eye on thieves and pickpockets." He added: "Of course, some people don't like the idea of being spied on. In fact, my newspaper this morning says that it is not right." Phillip's mother said that she thought that it was a good idea, but Phillip broke in with his old complaint about it not being fair. "I don't like it," he told his parents. "No," said his father, "and nor do the criminals. Those who are doing no wrong have no need to fear being watched." "Well, I don't like it," repeated Phillip. "I don't think that it is fair. Why, it is almost as bad as Grandma's text!"
By this time they had arrived at the car park, and were soon so involved in their shopping that all else was forgotten. There seemed so much to buy and Phillip found it very exciting. The great moment for him was when he chose his tape-recorder. This was something he had longed to have, but because of the price he hardly dare hope that he would ever get one. However, his parents and his grandmother had joined together to give him the money. He found just the thing, at just the right price, and was thrilled when they went back to the car park and he was carefully carrying the parcel with the recording machine. Of course, he was carrying other parcels as well, and so were his parents. In fact, they were all three so loaded up that nobody had a free hand to open the car.
Father's arms were full of small parcels, so he asked Phillip to get the car key out of his outside pocket. Phillip first placed his precious parcel in a safe place and then fished around in his father's pocket till after a struggle and some delay he managed to find it. At first he could not get the car door open, which made Mother and Father rather impatient, as they were so laden with their parcels, but at last he succeeded. Father poured out his armful of parcels on to the back seat, helped Mother with hers, and then they all got into the car and drove off.
They were less than half a mile from the car park when they were stopped by a police car. Father wondered for a moment if he had hurt somebody without knowing it, and even more so when the policeman's first question was: "Have you just come from the main car park?" "Yes," he replied. "I hope that there is no trouble." "Not really, sir," said the policeman, "but I think that you left a parcel there." Both Father and Mother were about to deny this when Phillip broke in. As soon as the policeman mentioned a parcel he had a cold feeling inside him as he remembered that he had forgotten to pick up his recording machine. So in a rather scared voice he said: "It's mine! I left it down behind our car." "That's all right, sir," said the policeman cheerfully. "Not to worry." So they turned round to drive back to the car park. [27/28]
Meanwhile poor Phillip hardly dared to breathe in case the tape recorder might be stolen while they were driving back, but really he had no cause for worry, since there at the car park entrance was a smiling police officer with the precious parcel in his hand. Phillip was so grateful that he could hardly speak, but his father thanked the policeman and then he asked him how they knew about it and whose it was. The man explained that at the Police Station there was an officer watching the television screens. He had seen it all happen, had taken their number, and had then put out calls to him and also to the police car. "It was the ever-watchful eye that did it," he concluded laughingly.
Phillip was very quiet as they drove home. His father could not resist asking him if he had changed his mind about being spied on, and he had to admit that but for the TV cameras he would never have been warned about his mistake and would have lost his valuable Christmas present.
That evening he went into his grandmother's room and told her all about it, and how the watchful eye of the man at the Police Station had saved him from losing his parcel. In a very gentle voice she said to him: "Now you know, Phillip, why I find it such a comfort to remember that God always sees me. He is looking not to spite me but to take care of me. He will do the same for you if you trust Him to be your Saviour."
She then showed him another verse about the eye of God. It was that wonderful reminder that "the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him" (2 Chronicles 16:9). This was the lesson which Phillip had learned. Have you learned it yet? H.F.
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