THE beginning of a New Year is a time when it is customary for people to reflect upon the past, and to look forward to the future. Sad to say, however, the disposition of the majority is generally to set aside reflection of a serious kind, and to give themselves up to carnal merriment in the sanguine expectation of much worldly prosperity during the days that are to come. We venture to hope that this way of spending the New Year may be largely restrained on the present occasion, in view of the many sad results of the terrible War which still rages. There are bound to be many sorrowful firesides throughout the country at the present moment. What a number of brave and choice young men have fallen on land and sea during the past twelve months! The blanks in hundreds of family circles are extremely sore and painful. We desire, in a very special manner, therefore, to express our most sincere sympathy with all our friends and readers who have suffered bereavement, and to commend them to Him who alone can effectually heal the broken in heart, and bind up their wounds.
- First.—A word to God’s children who are suffering. We know that, although those who fear the Most High have a source of consolation that others have not, they are none the less sensitive to the common trials of life. In fact, we believe they are more sensitive. The grace of God refines and intensifies all the natural and lawful emotions of the mind and heart. There are none like them who can rejoice with those who rejoice or weep with those who weep. Further, there are thoughts and feelings that pass through their souls in the time of trouble, of which others are ignorant. For one thing, they recognise the dealing of God in affliction and feel the weight of His hand, and although they should possess the assurance that it is the hand of a Father, yet such a hand laid on in chastisement is not the less painful to a loving child. Again, they are usually led to feel the weight of their sins in connection with trouble. Not that they
always regard each particular affliction as sent for some particular sin, though at times they justly make such an association in their minds. But it would seem to be the natural tendency of the exercised and conscientious Christian to proceed from his afflictions to his sins, knowing that sin is the original cause of all human misery. His question to the Most High is, “Why contendest thou with me?—Is there iniquity found in me that calls for such chastisement?” Then, should God’s people be in distress about the death of some friend concerning whose state as to eternity they stand in doubt, this adds another bitter ingredient to the cup. The people of the world, and superficial professors of religion, pass very lightly over such concerns as these. It is easy for them to say, “Peace, peace,” when there is no peace, but it is not so easy for those who desire to have a well-grounded hope.
Now, we would recommend all in whom “the root of matter” is, and who may be sorely tried, to study well the teaching of God’s Word, and to apply themselves with diligence at a throne of grace, seeking to obtain that spirit of filial submission and patience under trial which the Lord is able and willing to give. We must certainly conclude that in the divine treasury there is a balm for every wound which He makes in His holy providence, and that there is some poisonous element that must be purged out, if the divinely-provided remedy does not soothe and heal. Gracious souls must sometimes be satisfied with that which brought resignation into the heart of Abraham when no other comfort was to be found. “And shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” God is infinitely wise and just and good, and therefore cannot err in any of His ways. “All things shall work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans viii. 28). “Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth” (Heb. xii. 6). “Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Cor. iv. 17). We know that it is quite easy to quote passages of Scripture, and that it is another thing to get these passages with power upon the heart, but at the same time, these and such like precious words of truth are the only sources of divine and abiding consolation, and we must wait upon the Lord to obtain the spiritual healing they are designed to give. In answer to earnest cries, He can and does comfort and strengthen the souls of His needy people. “Trust in Him at all times.”
- Now, a few words to those who are unconcerned about their eternal salvation. Many such are coming under God’s afflicting rod at the present moment. The scourge of War is cutting away their near and dear ones to eternity, and they continue spiritually asleep. That is certainly a deplorable state of matters, whether they realise it or not. It is right that they should get and receive any natural sympathy and encouragement that may be lawfully extended to them. But if no more benefit is derived in the
trouble than that, the grand design of such trial is entirely lost. The all-important message which the visitation of death brings is, “Prepare to meet thy God.” We are moving on to eternity, and sooner or later each one must stand in the immediate presence of our Maker and Judge, and if we have not the right preparation, our eternal condemnation will be for ever sealed. Such is the plainest teaching of God’s Word, and we reject it at our peril. Would it not be the highest wisdom, therefore, at the beginning of a New Year, that unprepared persons should not spend their whole time in fruitless pining over losses that cannot be altered, but that they should begin without further delay to seek the Lord while He may be found and to call upon Him while he is near? Such cannot serve God in this present world, or enjoy Him in the world to come, without spiritual preparation. That preparation is nothing else and nothing less than a new heart and union to Christ, and these great and precious blessings are bestowed, “without money and without price” upon feeble lost sinners who ask at God’s throne of grace. “Ask, and it shall be given you.”
We are not warranted to expect that these blessings will drop upon us, apart from asking, seeking or believing. True, sometimes the Lord does manifest Himself in an unlooked for and sovereign way, when the sinner is not seeking Him—examples of this we have in Bible and subsequent times—but it is not a rule to go by. It is souls intensely earnest, realising the eternal issues that are at stake, “the violent,” who “take the kingdom of heaven by force.” Our sincere prayer is that the Lord would call forth many such during the year upon which we are entering. Widespread spiritual callousness and deadness at such a time as the present, is more dreadful than any outward calamity whatsoever. It gives the impression that the Lord has said, “Ephraim is joined to his idols; let him alone;” and that He has determined in all justice to let them sleep on till they awake in irrecoverable woe.
In conclusion, let us earnestly appeal to the young. It is trying to observe the lightness, and carelessness as to eternal things, that characterise many of them in this time of awful war and bloodshed, when thousands of their fellow-creatures in general and some of their friends in particular, are being slain on the fields of conflict. The Lord gives many encouragements to the young to seek Him. “Those that seek me early shall find me.” “Suffer, little children, to come unto me.” And these encouragements lay them under a solemn responsibility. May the Lord apply His truth with power! “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light” (Ephes. v. 14).
AFFLICTIONS, like tempests, make us look to our tackling, patience; and to our anchor, hope; and to our helm, faith; and to our chart, the Word of God; and to our captain, Christ; whereas security, like a calm, makes us forget both our danger and our Deliverer.—Adams.