Gems from February 23-24, 2005
February 23
"And at midnight Paul and Silas PRAYED, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners HEARD... there was a great EARTHQUAKE... the foundations of the prison were SHAKEN... the doors were OPENED... every one's bands were LOOSED." (Acts 16:25,26)
Men have in all ages felt the necessity of prayer and found in it the greatest relief.
Years ago, a German emperor gave an address on prayer, in which he made use of the following striking illustration:
"Far away in the Taunus mountains some remarkable bells are hung on the summit of the peaks. No hand ever rings them. Silent, dumb, they hang there in the sunshine. But when the storm wind comes they begin to swing, and then to peal, and then their chimes are heard far below in the valley. God has hung in every heart a praying bell. Yet how often in the sunshine it is silent and dumb. But when the storm wind of trouble comes it begins to ring." (Christian Truth - Volume 13)
N.J. Hiebert # 2169
February 24
"Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14:1-3).
Here we may have something most definite. Indeed it is as definite as it is cheering and consolatory. "I will come again." He does not say, I will send for you. Still less does He say, "You will come to me when you die." He says nothing of the kind. To send an angel, or a legion of angels, would not be the same thing as coming Himself. No doubt it would be very gracious of Him, and very glorious for us, if a multitude of the heavenly host were sent, with horses of fire and chariots of fire, to convey us triumphantly to Heaven. But it would not be the fulfilment of His own sweet promise. And most surely He will do what He promised to do. He will not say one thing and do another. He cannot lie or alter His Word. And not only this, but it would not satisfy the love of His heart to send an angel or a host of angels to fetch us. He will come Himself. (C.H. Mackintosh - The Lord's Coming)
N.J. Hiebert # 2170
