Winnipeg,
6th March 1972.
Dear Friends,
We are now into another month of the year. The end of the year seemed far away when we set out at it’s beginning, but, moment by moment, it draws nearer. Life passes that way. When we were young we longed for a certain time to come — perhaps for the day for leaving school or the day when we would be twenty-one years of age. Now as we look back these “longed-for” days have faded into the past. Probably we are all now longing for some day in the future, because to us it is to mark something special in our lives. In this sense most of us live in the future — hoping for something — but we dare not forget the past. “God requireth that which is past” (Ecclesiastes Ch.3, v.15). For the future we need grace to live to God; for the past we need grace to praise Him for the way He has led us, and mercy to cover our sins. It is good for us to consider what we have done, or failed to do, in what is now past of life. Too often our lives are spent floating about, away from realities— the reality of God, of man’s soul, of sin, and of Christ the Saviour. In examining our lives we will either by grace be encouraged, as our spirits will witness with the Spirit in the Truth, that we are God’s children, or we will find ourselves condemned because of our waywardness. Here in Winnipeg we have continued to meet around the Word of God on the Lord’s Days and at the weekly prayer meeting. The Lord has graciously attached a promise to the “assembly to worship Him”. But we must all, here and elsewhere, look to see what fruit is there following God’s Word. We may very often hear the Word of God, read or preached, and yet either not come to have the root of the matter in us or not to have the increase. Our duty is to hear the Word—but our duty goes further. It extends to receiving the Truth in love, and by grace to practice it in our daily living. The weather here resembles the spiritual condition of sinners throughout the world. It has continued very cold, and indeed the temperature is considerably lower than the normal for this time of year. In this vast continent, where the ice of winter takes a firm hold, there have been, over the years, many deaths due to the grip of the frost and the cold blast of penetrating winds. Such incidents are sad to recall, but how solemn for anyone to be in the “death-grip” of sin, and to have only coldness of heart toward Jesus. In my heart and in yours, unless the Lord has made it otherwise by His grace, there is a coldness toward God’s Word. Although there are so many activities by way of entertainment and sport, connected with the winter season, there appears to be a longing for the “new life” of Spring and the warmth of summer. Alas, it is with very few that this appears to be so in the matters of their soul’s salvation. The Bible shows us a “new life” and the way to it; it shows us the warmth of covenant love in Jesus: but who thirsts after a ‘new life’ in Jesus and after fresh experiences of divine love? See how sin has captivated and destroyed us. The Lord says — ‘In me is thy help’.
I hope, the Lord willing, to go West to Vancouver in a few days time, I look forward to being with Dr. and Mrs. MacDonald, and to meeting new friends. I hope likewise, later in the month, to return by way of Calgary where I am to hold services, and where I hope to avail myself of the kind invitation given me by the Misses Beaton who live there.
In this large continent, as elsewhere, materialism is a force among men, and the spirit of worldliness in many of the churches cannot combat the enemy of man’s soul. The answer is in the Gospel of Jesus Christ—a crucified, risen, and loving Saviour—applied by the Spirit of God to man’s sin-smitten soul. I would ask you all to pray for the people of Canada that the Lord would bless them in the things of the Gospel. The Lord can raise a nation in a day.
With kindest regards,
Yours sincerely,
Malcolm MacInnes.