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<10 January 2002>


Contents:
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1) <Devotional> "In my flesh I shall see God" - C.H.Spuregeon
2) <Bible-Study> "Ruth the Moabitess" (Pt-8/10)-Charles Wigg
3) <Prophecy> "The Redeemer's Return" (Pt-120/123)- A.W.Pink
4) <Poem> - "Behold, I come"- Annie Johnson Flint


1) <DEVOTIONAL>
"IN MY FLESH SHALL I SEE GOD - JOB 19:26"
C.H. Spurgeon

Mark the subject of Job's devout anticipation "I shall see God." He does
not say, "I shall see the saints"--though doubtless that will be untold
felicity--but, "I shall see God." It is not--"I shall see the pearly
gates, I shall behold the walls of jasper, I shall gaze upon the crowns of
gold," but "I shall see God." This is the sum and substance of heaven,
this is the joyful hope of all believers. It is their delight to see Him
now in the ordinances by faith. They love to behold Him in communion and
in prayer; but there in heaven they shall have an open and unclouded
vision, and thus seeing "Him as He is," shall be made completely like Him.
Likeness to God--what can we wish for more? And a sight of God--what can
we desire better? Some read the passage, "Yet, I shall see God in my
flesh," and find here an allusion to Christ, as the "Word made flesh," and
that glorious beholding of Him which shall be the splendour of the latter
days. Whether so or not it is certain that Christ shall be the object of
our eternal vision; nor shall we ever want any joy beyond that of seeing
Him. Think not that this will be a narrow sphere for the mind to dwell in.
It is but one source of delight, but that source is infinite. All His
attributes shall be subjects for contemplation, and as He is infinite
under each aspect, there is no fear of exhaustion. His works, His gifts,
His love to us, and His glory in all His purposes, and in all His actions,
these shall make a theme which will be ever new. The patriarch looked
forward to this sight of God as a personal enjoyment. "Whom mine eye shall
behold, and not another." Take realizing views of heaven's bliss; think
what it will be to you. "Thine eyes shall see the King in His beauty." All
earthly brightness fades and darkens as we gaze upon it, but here is a
brightness which can never dim, a glory which can never fade--"I shall see
God."
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2)  <BIBLE-STUDY>
"RUTH THE MOABITESS - SOMETHING TO GIVE" (PART-8/10)
Charles E. Wigg
....
When Ruth returned to her home, she had something to give to her mother in
law. Not only did she have a good quantity of barley, but she also brought
out what she had reserved of her lunch, and gave it to Naomi. It is so
wonderful when we are able to share with others what we have enjoyed
ourselves. It must have brought much joy to Ruth to see Naomi enjoying
what she had reserved for her.

Paul when speaking to the elders from Ephesus, quoted the words of the
Lord Jesus, "It is more blessed to give than to receive". Acts. 20:35. So
often we live on the wrong side of the ledger, we want others to give to
us. Like the Horseleach's two daughters, we cry "Give, Give". Prov. 30:15.
Let us learn from Ruth and her actions.

If we are diligent in searching the scriptures, and refuse to be
discouraged however little we seem to gather, then we too will surely have
something to share with others, and also something to offer to God.

Naomi was quick to ask in whose field Ruth had toiled, and sought to call
down the blessing of God on the person that had shown compassion to this
foreigner. When Ruth told her that the man's name that owned the field
where she had toiled was Boaz, Naomi was full of joy. And she blessed
Jehovah, for she could see His hand in all this. He had not left off His
kindness to both the living and the dead. Ruth had been guided to the
field belonging to the Redeemer, yet she had no knowledge of all these
things. Jehovah had not dealt with them after their sins, or rewarded them
according to their iniquities. Psalm 103:10 What a gracious and loving God
He is!

Ruth then revealed what Boaz had said to her, that she should keep near
his young men, until his harvest was ended. These were young men that
could be trusted; she would be safe in their company. Others might take
advantage of her, and use her to gratify their own lust, but not the young
men of Boaz. Naomi confirmed the wisdom of this advice; Ruth should take
up the kind offer, that none should meet her in any other field. So it was
that day after day, she continued this tiring work, which promised such
little reward. Her diligence and industry was to be seen each day, and no
doubt with similar results and reward. Thus she proved her faithfulness,
and God marked her out for future blessing. She also dwelt all this while
with her mother in law. Though they were never hungry again, and no doubt
their poverty was ended, yet she was content to remain with the one to
whom she owed so much. Naomi had learned much through her failures, and
had gained great spiritual wealth through her experiences.

Let me here exhort our younger brothers and sisters. We live in a day
when, (in Western Assemblies), the elder brethren are often despised.
Younger men that have been to Bible School or seminary and are able to
show off fascinate people. They may have diplomas, degrees or even a
doctorate, but the 'good degrees' are only gained in the school of God.
1Tim. 3:13. Yet often those that are their spiritual fathers are despised,
and even rejected, as their Master was. Isaiah 53:3.

My dear younger brothers and sisters, there are many things in life that
can only be learned by experience. Seek the fellowship of those that have
gone on with God during their life, and have proved their worth. You will
profit from fellowship with them, more than you will ever gain from those
of your own age. [To be concluded]
---
[Reproduced by permission]
_______________________________________________________________________

3) <PROPHECY>
"THE REDEEMER'S RETURN" (PART-120 OF 123)
CONCLUSION (PART 2 OF 3)
Arthur W. Pink
....
Brethren, the end of the Age is upon us. All over the world, reflecting
minds are discerning the fact that we are on the very eve of another of
those far-reaching crises which make the history of our race. Their sense
of justice tells them that the unbridled lust, the increasing oppression,
the unparalleled bloodshed, have defied Heaven long enough and that the
Judge of all the earth must soon rise in His wrath to make "a short work"
(Rom. 9:28) of it all. Those who look out on present conditions are forced
to conclude that the consummation of this dispensation is at hand. But it
is only they who give diligent heed to the study of the prophetic Word
that have "understanding of the times" (1 Chron. 12:32). Let the believer
ask, Watchman what of the night: and the infallible answer is, "The night
cometh"! And it never appeared so nigh. Everywhere the shadows are
gathering, gathering deeper and broader, lengthening out and falling with
ominous gloom all over the earth. The world's night is at hand. The sands
in the hour glass of this Day of Salvation have almost run out. The Signs
of the Times demonstrate it. "But," it may be asked, "Have not other ages,
as well as the present, been crowded with signs of distress?" Undoubtedly.
We read, "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that
which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under
the sun. Is there anything whereof it may be said, See, this is new? It
hath been already of old time" (Ecc. 1:9, 10)! Many of the Signs which now
appear in the sky have been visible to former generations, yet, today,
they shine out more clearly and more prominently than ever before. "But,"
it may be objected, "Have there not always been pessimists who interpreted
gloomily the events of their day? Have not others, again and again,
written in similar strain, only to be shamed and discredited?" Be it so.
But were they not wise men who took the earliest alarm, even though their
fears were not immediately realized! They read evil in the Signs of their
Times and gave utterance to their convictions so that their fellow-men
might be aroused; and surely that was not folly. They unduly magnified the
evil, and erred in their calculations, yet it cannot be denied that their
warning was beneficial in its results even though it was premature. But
today, the Signs are so plain they cannot be mis-read, though the foolish
may close their eyes and refuse to examine them. What these Signs are we
have shown at length in chapter six and if the evidence there furnished
has not convinced the reader that the Lord is at hand, then there is
little hope that any further arguments drawn from Scripture will do so.
Notwithstanding, we digress for a moment in order to call attention to one
other Sign entirely different from those previously mentioned. In Nahum
2:3, 4 we read, "The chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of
His preparation, and the fir trees shall be terribly shaken. The chariots
shall rage in the streets, they shall jostle one against another in the
broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the
lightnings." What an accurate description of the conditions which now
prevail in every city and along every public high-way throughout the land!
The enormous increase in the number of automobiles, so that such a
congestion of street traffic is produced it may literally be said "They
jostle one against another in the broad ways;" their flaming torches;" and
their high rate of speed so that they "run like the lightnings," are here
accurately depicted. What is to be particularly noted is that this
phenomenon is peculiar to this present generation, and that we are
expressly told it is to be a characteristic of "The Day of His
Preparation."

"But," it may be asked again, "Why is it that so few of our religious
leaders and teachers are heralding the approach of Christ?" The answer is,
Because many of them are blind themselves--"blind leaders of the blind."
As the Word declares, they are "ever learning and never able to come to
the knowledge of the truth" (2 Tim. 3:7). It is greatly to be feared that
the majority of our preachers are following the traditions of the elders
rather than studying the Scriptures for themselves. Their prophetical
views were formed under Seminary interpretations of eschatology and the
Seminaries, in turn, are committed to some system of theology, a system
formulated in most cases by men who lived centuries ago. While the Church
is deeply indebted, under God, to such men as Luther and Calvin, Wesley
and Whitefield, yet, it must be borne in mind that they lived in an age
when Prophecy was almost entirely neglected. It was not until last century
that the Holy Spirit stirred up the people of God to the deep importance
of studying prophetic and dispensational truth: Previous to the nineteenth
century all teaching which had reference to the Second Coming of Christ
was, with very rare exceptions, merely traditional, that is to say, it was
nothing more than what had been handed down from one generation to
another, it was merely the reciting of the dreams of others who had gone
before. We say "the dreams," for after the Hope of the Redeemer's Return
was lost--while the Bridegroom tarried--all the virgins slumbered and
slept, and while they slept they dreamed, and wild and weird were their
dreams. They dreamt that the Church was to conquer the Devil and that the
Gospel would win the world to Christ. This dream captivated the minds of
theologians of every shade of religious belief.

Each succeeding generation recounted this dream in still more glowing
language, until the climax was reached some four years ago. How much we
heard of religious progress, of the march of civilization, and of the
"good time" that was coming! The horrible arts of war were to be nothing
more than humbling memories of the past. The labors of our politicians and
the activities of the Church would soon produce an era wherein the
universal rights of mankind were freely recognized, when tyranny and
injustice would be overthrown, and when culture and virtue would reign
supreme. Christian and secular philanthropists congratulated each other in
view of the Golden Age which their joint efforts were hastening on. But
the happenings of the last three years have rudely dissipated this dream.
The dreadful War has shown that much which went under the name of
civilization was nothing but veneered barbarism. The battle fields of
Europe bear witness to the fact that the optimistic and jubilant spirit
which possessed our church leaders a few years ago was nothing more than
Laodicean self-complacency, saying "I am rich, and increased with goods,
and have need of nothing," when in reality Christendom was "wretched, and
miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked" (Rev. 3:17). The blood-soaked
earth of today exposes the utter vanity of the delusive hope cherished by
the post-millenarians and gives fulfilment to God's Word which declares
"For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh
upon them" (1 Thess. 5:3). [To be concluded]

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4) <POEM>
"BEHOLD, I COME"
Annie Johnson Flint

"Behold, I come"—the darkness lightens
Above all sorrow and all fear;
Beyond the clouds the Daystar brightens,
And our deliverance is near;
The groaning earth awaits the hour
When all the wrongs of time are past,
And clothed with glory and with power,
The King of kings shall reign at last.

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