Everyman’s Hut

Camp News, Volume 3, Issue 137, 28 August 1942, Page 8

Everyman’s Hut

and the heavens .are the works of < thine hands; they shall perish; but THOU REMAINEST; and they shall all wax old as doth a garment; and as a vesture shalt Thou fold them s up, and they shall be changed; but,, • ■ X »• Thou art the same, and Thy. years shall not fail.” Hebrew. Chap. 1, verses 10-12. ’ r '

“When from my life the ''old-time joys have vanished Treasures, once mine, I ' may no longer claim, — This truth may feed my hungry heart . and famished Lord, THOU REMAINEST! THOU are still the same. . . 'X _ , When streams have died, those ' ' 1 streams of glad' refreshing Friendships, so blest, so pure,, so rich, so free; •• When sun-kissed skies, give place to clouds depressing,— Lord, THOU REMAINEST! Still my heart hath THEE. When strength hath failed, and feet, now worn and weary, On gladsome errands may no longer go,—- . , Why should I sigh, or let the days be dreary . > i Lord, THOU REMAINEST! Could’st . , Thou more bestow? ‘ Thus through life’s whoe’er or what may fail me, — » x Friends, friendships, joys,—in small or great degree,— . Songs may be mine, no sadness - need assail me, Since THOU REMAINEST, and my heart hath THEE.” z “And. Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth;

Is there anything in this world of which it ’ can ; be said that it is. Unchangeable, i eternal ?' ’ Life springsfrom death, and in turn gives place to death. - The ■ seemingly - everlasting granite. is, through the centuries, worn away by the action of the elements. The . ceaseless of"the waves gradually washes up the countless grains of sand which once were great rocks. Friends fail and disappoint for mortal man is not perfect.. As John Ploughman says, “The best of men are only men at the best.’* There are friendships which last until death snaps the ties, and love that is. stedfast, but death comes sooner or later.

“Change, and decay in all around I see,” sang the hymn-writer, and this, is true of the world and everything in it,.growing old; not fresh and green and beautiful as it came from the hand of the Maker, but patched and threadbare through the ravages of man, like a worn-out garment soon to be put off as past use, and replaced with one that will serve the purpose required ‘of it. “As a vesture shalt Thou fold them up, and they shall be changed.” And oh, what changes in our lives as individuals. The happy care-free faith of the child gives way before the .stern facts of existence and is replaced by the responsibilities of manhood. ■ Hope fails, ambitions fade, plans go wrong. Our lives are governed by circumstances outside our control. Think ; of the blighted hopes, the sundered lives, the empty chairs and the broken hearts resulting from the present conflict. “But THOU REMAINE ST” like the steady gleam of the lighthouse, above the reach of the highest wave that hurls itself in impotent anger against the beacon, piercing, unflinchingly through the rain and the cloudwrack, guiding the weary storm-toss-ed voyager to a peaceful haven. The hearts of envy and hatred that enacted , the tragedy of Calvary have long since turned •to dust, but the Cross remains, with the One Who died thereon, as that which changes not. Would you be anchored to something sure and stedfast? Come to Christ and lay hold on eternal life, and in the midst of change and decay you will be able to say, “0 Thou Who changest not, abide with me.”