For Sunday

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 237, 6 October 1928, Page 22 (Supplement)

For Sunday

PEACE—WHAT DO WE LOOK FOR? (By A.C.G.. Wanganui). It is now some weeks since the Kellogg Pact was signed, and we are still having peace, although there are always rumours of war. Many were rejoicing at the news, and thanksgiving services were held in many places. AL Briand mentioned in his speech that it was the first time in thc history of the world that war was being renounced, and said that all hat could he done must be done, so that hope will not be disappointed. Ah! that, is just what can be do.ie, ami will that hope be disappointed.’ There were some, no doubt, who signed that document, with real honest desires for peace, but one fears that some will live to see that hope disappointed. . Last, week we were told ‘‘the outlook i. black,’’ and Mr Philip Snowden declared, in a speech dated London, September 16. that ‘‘tin* outlook had not been so black since the last shot was fired in thc war.” ami that while statesmen may have “peace on their lips they have war in their hearts.” Now Christians who read .leir Bibles know perfectly well that the peace of this world will never be established by human effort, and however good the desires may be on the part of man. all such, t nfederaces and pacts will come to nought. Some, no doubt, are. thinking that peace will be securefl ami thus the Millenium will be ushered in; but there can be no such time until .he’ world is cleansed of evil and man’s rule ami authority is put down, for not till God’s ‘‘judgments are in the earth will the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.” (Isah.. 26-9). For "thus sail h the Lord God: ‘I will overturn and overturn and it shall be no more until He come whose right .i is.’” (Ezekiel, 21-27). He came once, nigh two thousand years ago, and offered peace, the angels hcra.lded it (Luke, 2-13.14); but it did not come about because He who alone could establish it was refused his right, was rejected -.d cast out; yet all in the purposes of God, so that He .night do a greater work on the cross of Calvary, whereby He made “peace: with God through the blood of His cross.” ((.’oloss, J-2(1) for any who will accept it. But peace on earth is postponed; an interval has come in and God, “who in these last, days has spoken unto us by His son” (Hebs. 1-2) is silent: lhe King is in rejection. He has returned from whence He came; as it is written: “Whom the hi’avens must receive until the times of restitution of all things.” (Acts, ,‘5-2).

Meanwhile the world is under condemnation and must come under God’s judgments, “ because He has appoin . d a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained.” (Acts, 17-31). “But the .lay of the Lord will come as a thrief in the night (1 'l’hess. 5-2), and judgments will overtake the world, for the rejection of His son. and the despising of His grace. 'l’o-day He is now calling out a people to Hit self; Hr is calling men and women to come unto Him, and He will give rest and peace.” (Matt, J.I-2S). What then should Christians be looking for? He said: “If .1 go away. ] will come again, and receive you nto myself.” (John. 14-2). He went away, ami lhe Scripture again declares that, "unto them that look for Him shall He appear . second time, apart from sin unto salvation.’’( Heb., 9-2 S). 'This is Christ’s second coming. id to the true Christian Hr comes, not as a judge, but. as Lord and Saviour, to take them away out. of. this worlj before His judgments conimrm-r. This event will occur at any moment, and it will be very sudden. (I, Cor.. .15-57), There "is nu special sign to look for; but indeed a great, variety of signs are taking place which show that the day is fast drawing near, and He said: ‘“Watch therefore, for yr know neithri- the dav nor t,l '‘ hour.” (Matt., 25-15; Mark. Id, .52;.5/;. Then* are tens of thousands of Christians A>-day who are waiting and watching for this event to take place, ami they are typified as the five wise virgins in Matt." 25. Dear fellow Christ ians, (and I write to such), do not be among those who are slumbering and sleeping. The word of God is stiff licirnt for the true Chiistian; there is no nerd to quote any of the thousands of professors and great men of the world. II the learned men and rulers of Jerusalem marvelled at Peter and John, “perceiving that they were unlearned men.” a Christian “should be quite satisfied to take a place alongside of those two disciples. Christendom has got, very far awav from the original copy, which is only to be found in lhe word of God. ’Christians awake, “the coining of the Lord draw-

eth nigli.” (James, 5 8). Are we watching for Him, or are we occupied with ourso-lves and our surroundings? Would to God that Christians could b.e drawn together with purpose of heart. We arc told that “in the last days perilous times shall come,” (2 Tim.

3-1). also that, “the truth shall be turned into fables.” (2 Tim, 4-4). And because of such things we know it is the. last days for Christendom. We need not be surprised at anything which may happen now. Thc world is looking lor peace but- “when they say peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh.” (1 Theas., 5-3). The fact of signing a Peace Pact is another sign of the last. days. But the true Christian is looking lor the coming of the Lord, and can rest faith on the' word of God. If we arc alive, we shall be, chang'ed, if in our graves we shall be. raised. (1 Cor.. 15-51; .1. rhess,. 4-14:18). And we believe that God is quite, able to do even as He has said. Al ay we be watching and waiting! YEARNING TO BELIEVE Al any leaders uf thought to-dav who are not associated with organised Christianity betray a deep-seated desire for definite religious faith. A generation or two ago on both sides of the Atlantic there was mi aggressive anti-Ciiristian crusade. whose leaders seemed to glory in trying to disprove beliefs, that to large numbers of people uere their most rherished possession. That movement has entirely disappeared, at all events in Britain. And newspapers which used either to ignore religion or to treat, it cavalierly, now vie with one another in giving sympathetic attention to it. Literary people suck as Bernard Shaw, H. G. Wells, G. K. Chesterton, Hall Caine, and Mi dd let on Alurray, all have some •sort of religious faith, which for the most part they have wrought, out on the anvil of their own thinking and experience. Others who lack a definite creed deplore their inability to accept what many hold firmly. Robert Lynd, Literary Editor of* the Daily News and Westminster Gazette, and “Y.Y.” of the New Statesman, who has one of the finest minds that are to-day expressing themselves in the world of letters, makes (in T.P.’s Weekly) some significant comments on Bruce Barton’s “What Can a Man Bjelieve?” He says that a great many intelligent men and women to-day believe, in the religious sense of the word, but do not quite know what, they believe. One thing they find is that, in spite of all the concessions they have made to the scientific spirit, they believe as firmly as ever in thc Diving government of the universe. “There are numerous signs of an attempt to reconstruct a religious faith out of the ruins of the old. and the widespread interest, with which ordinary men follow every such attempt. It is quite conceivable that in another fifty years, religious literature will be the rival of fiction in popularity . . . For the, infection of faith is what, nine out of fen men desire today, as they have always desired it, and anv book that holds out the promise of this infection will have a multitude of readers.” Mr Lynd concludes a remarkable article with this preg nanf sentence: “If man cannot discover the evidence of the existence of God in a boojc he will still discover it in lhe deepest imaginations of his soul.”