THE VISION OF THE GREAT SHEET

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25660, 7 October 1944, Page 3

THE VISION OF THE GREAT SHEET

Written for the Otago Daily Times By the Rev. Gardner Miller

When God wants something done He often has a great deal of bother with His agents. All God s gracious and wonderful deeds for men and women are done through men and women. Human personality is the medium through which His plans and purposes are realised. And when these plans and purposes break down—though ultimately they will be realisised —it is because those to whom He entrusted them and through whom He hoped to reach others broke dqwn, and He has to begin all over again. This is a truth that we should recall when we are puzzled and angry at what seems to us God's slowness in putting things right in the world. God cannot work faster than men will allow Him, for He depends on their co-operation for the carrying out of His plans. If. these plans were forced upon the. world, if men and women were coerced to carry them out, then no doubt we would have a perfect world to live in, but at what a price!—-the price of men having cease(j to be men and having become marionettes. It most interesting to follow God s methods in His attempts to get men to cooperate with Him. One of the best oxamnles is to be seen in the tenth chapter of the Acts. The time was ripe for the Christian Chuich to ad vance. But something hindered. That hindrance God could have swept aside quite easily, but it would have meant that progress would be automatic instead of by co-operation. The new advance depended on The Meeting of Two Men.

These men were Cornelius, an Italian soldier who was within the kingdom and did not know it, and the Apostle Peter, .vho also was with n the kingdom, but considered it an exclusive place for privileged peoph.. It was Peter’s Jewish prejudices that first had to break down—and break down with Peter’s consent before He could arrange for the two men to meet Upon that meeting depended so much that if it had not taken place it is difficult to say just what Chnstianity would be to-day, if it existed at a l\_probably a tiny sect looked upon with laughing tolerance. God goes to no end of trouble to secure the consent of men s mmds. Peter was the key-man to the whole position and God went direct to the roots of Peter’s life, the region of his religious prejudices. And so God gave him the vision of the great sheet. You can read it for yourself in the tenth chapter of the Acts. It has little meaning—as far as the description of beasts and creatures' and fowls, wild and tame, is concerned —for us, for we have none of the prejudices which, at that time, held such religious significance. But to Peter the challenge was soul-shaking. It meant tearing up by the roots the belief in which he had been born and bred. It was a frontal attack on God’s part—no “by your leave” or “beg pardon” about »t—----and Peter staggered under it. But the meeting took place between the two men and the Christian Church stepped out from its shell, as it were, and faced a new world and went out to conquer it. The vision of the sheet which God gave in order to engineer the meeting of two kev men still has a significance which we dare not ignore. It is a reminder that Christianity is meant to Remove Barriers. Think of the barriers of race and war! They have been with us for centuries. At times it seemed as if they would be removed for ever, but the greed and fear of nations erected them again. Much has been done, but much more remains to be done. The story of missions is perhaps the most thrilling story of modern days. And It is the missions that are gradually and surely breaking down the barriers of race prejudice. The man who sneers at missions only betrays his ignorance. The one thing that has persisted throughout the centuries has been the Christian Church. Sometimes it was nearly submerged; often it spoke softly when it should have had a bugle at its lips; but it has persisted and it will persist when the passions of men have burnt out, and will seek again to establish

A Brotherhood

Dr Hubert Simpson, in his book, “.The Testament of Love,” tells of a scene of the first Great War. “It was a wayside crucifix in France. At the foot of the Cross was piled the equipment of war—a British bayonet, a French rifle and a German steel helmet. Upon these instruments of death and destruction, the sad eyes of the Crucified were looking down." And the writer said to himself: “Yes, that is the only place in all the world where we may hope the Christian nations will finally lay down their arms and cast away for ever thenaccoutrements of war.” The Vision of the Great Sheet was a vision of brotherhood. It was only partially realised then; it is still not accomplished. Will it ever be accomplished? [ believe it will be. "Thy will be done on earth,” said Jesus, and I cannot think that He chased shadows. But I am also sure that brotherhood cannot come unless through persons. That may seem childish. But it is an astonishing thing to find how many people are still of the opinion that God will bring it about without our aid. The ideal lags because we are still clinging to our prejudices. Oh, if we only knew how many others, less fortunate than ourselves, are waiting for us to make the first move. In one of Dr J. D. Jones's books a story is told that strikingly and simply illustrates what I am trying to say: A lecturer in the States, calling for his letters in a southern post office, noticed a long file of negroes waiting their turn to ask for letters. They went one by one through the office, but never a letter was doled out to them, lhe next day at mail time the same process was repeated. The lecturer, noticing it, asked the postmaster if they ever received any letters. Oh, no, he answered, laughing, 1 but they feel they must use the rights and privileges of the white man, and so they call for their mail just as he does for his. The lecturer saw the pathetic' side of the picture, and got the postmaster to give him the names and addresses of some of the negroes who called for their letters every day and never got any. On his return home, he began to write to one another of them, cheering them up, and telling them about the Master. And the negroes wrote back to him, and among the replies he got was this pathetic little note: Dear Friend,—l got your letter yesterday. I tell you I’se mighty glad to get it. I’ve waited 30 years for your letter. I’se awful glad to git it. ~^ u^ T w^y didn’t you send it before. I am sure you can see the lesson and the challenge.