Comment By Torchlight

Man's Chief Problem

The developments in Central Europe during August and the occupation of Czechoslovakia by the Warsaw Pact Powers on August 21, greatly increased tension in an already troubled world. The political aspect of these events is not our concern here, nor do we venture an assessment of their place in the framework of God's purposes. Our desire is to provoke among God's people an awareness of the fearful power of sin in man which overshadows all his achievements. This point is well made in the following quotation:

"Man's chief problem is with himself. The conquest of Everest, Antarctica, cancer, and inter-planetary travel are but small compared to the conquest of pride, greed, selfishness, hate.... Any man who gives evidence of knowing how these can be conquered ... might prove a greater benefactor to the human race than the men who split the atom" (Sangster).

True indeed! And man's chief problem defies solution by human effort. There is no hope for mankind in man, and recent events but underline his impotence. Some years ago a well-known politician, disillusioned and frustrated, said, "Human politics are bankrupt". Let the sobering facts have their impact upon us. There must be divine intervention in human affairs before man's problem is solved. The present world distress cries out for the coming of God's King. But the time is not yet ripe. It will not be until "the falling away come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, he that opposeth and exalteth himself against all that is called God or that is worshipped" (2 Thessalonians 2.3,4).

The manifestation of man's spiritual bankruptcy occurring in various parts of the world should awaken each of us to our personal responsibility to commend the gospel of Christ by godly living. The disciple is required to be separate from the world but he must not be a recluse. He is responsible to let his light shine before men; his manner of life is to be worthy of the gospel. He is to display Christian virtues in his earthly calling and in his domestic life, to do good unto all men, and be ready to give answer to those who ask a reason for the hope that is in him, yet with meekness and fear. Such conduct may bring opposition and reproach, but like the apostles we should count it a privilege "to suffer dishonour for the Name" (Acts 5.41).

Those of us who live in Western lands enjoy liberties which are denied to many of God's children in other parts of the world. Do we value these liberties and use them to the full? We have no guarantee that they will be preserved indefinitely. Therefore:

"Let us not sleep ... but let us watch and be sober ... putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation" (1 Thessalonians 5.6-8).

The Pope's Encyclical

It is not our intention to join in the controversy which has raged in the Press since August last over the Pope's Encyclical letter. One feature of this episode docs, however, call for comment, that is, the reaffirmation of the doctrine of Papal infallibility which it has brought. A Pastoral Letter from the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Liverpool, read in all churches in the Archdiocese, contained this passage:

"After mature reflection and prayer, the Pope has made his statement in virtue (as he puts it) of the mandate entrusted to him by Christ. He speaks, therefore, in the name of Christ... Conscious of his grave responsibility, the Pope, with courage and sincerity, has discharged his duty as pastor and shepherd of the whole flock of Christ."

This, no doubt, will be a shock to many who have been assured that Rome is prepared to adjust her doctrines in the ecumenical cause. Anyone who accepts Scripture as infallible must reject out of hand this terrible doctrine of Papal Infallibility.

The Burning Bush

"The bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will turn aside now, and see this great sight" (Exodus 3.2,3). No doubt he had seen bushes burning in the wilderness before, but he had never seen one that did not quickly collapse as the flames consumed it. This bush burned and remained, erect and living. What was Moses to learn as he observed this great sight? The truth was that this bush was aglow with the divine presence-God had chosen an ordinary wilderness bush to be His servant. There were other bushes about, looking very much like this one, but Cod had set this one alight. He used it to attract the attention of His servant while He spoke to him there.

You and I are like bushes in the wilderness. We look very much alike. But sometimes we come across a Christian who has the glow of the divine presence-one who burns and is not consumed. Yes, here is someone different and we turn aside to see: it is a rare sight. What do we see? Not merely the enthusiasm of a striking personality, not something assumed, just an ordinary Christian with the unmistakable warmth of God's presence, a bush set alight by God in the wilderness.

Out in the wilderness John preached and the people flocked to hear him. "He was the lamp that burneth and shineth", said our Lord of the Baptist's ministry (John 5.35). The comforts and refinements of life passed him by. Not for him bustle of the cities. But the glow of the divine presence compelled the people to notice him as he burned and shined out there in the wilderness. God spoke to men out there as they turned aside to see this great sight.

I want to burn for God in the wilderness. 0 Lord, set me alight! I am an ordinary bush, I cannot light myself; I will not glow unless the fire of God ignites me.

unknown | Oct 1968
Comment By Torchlight