The Moorgate Disaster

The Nation was shocked on the morning of February 28 as the news of the London tube crash, with all its harrowing details, filtered through the media. As the scale of the disaster was grasped it became a national talking-point. The London tube trains, so familiar to scores of thousands of daily commuters, have a good safety record. This disaster emphasized afresh that complicated systems of modern travel, for all their speed and convenience, so often taken for granted, have a narrow margin of risk.

In this disaster the death roll was high and the number injured, many seriously, was considerable. Looking at the photographs in the Press one wonders that the casualties were not much greater. Worthy of the highest praise were the rescue teams, the firemen, the doctors and the nurses who toiled ceaselessly in very dangerous conditions to recover the bodies and release those who were trapped. Our sympathy and prayers go out to the bereaved and injured, that in deep sorrow they may find comfort and strength in Him who, as ever,

"Healeth the broken in heart,

And bindeth up their wounds" (Psa. 147:3).

"Whatsoever ye do..." As Christians the temptation to departmentalize our lives is ever present. We tend to complicate our discipleship by limiting it to certain areas of activity, and this brings unnecessary problems. Paul's exhortation, "Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31), is a comprehensive formula, simple and clear, for true Christian living. Were I to conform to it in greater degree there would be more order and harmony in my life. The friction arising from self-esteem, self-interest and self-pity would be eliminated. A thousand questions would be resolved: Is this right? Can I go here or there? What is my duty in such and such circumstances? In my home, in my contacts with neighbours and acquaintances, in my daily employment, in my assembly activities, in the use of my time and talents this is the simple uncomplicated answer to every problem:

"Do all to the glory of God".

"Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him for ever": here lies the secret of fulfilment in our earthly pilgrimage all else is dross. But how? With self daily battling for mastery where is the disciple to find the stimulus to pursue a God-glorifying pathway? "It is the way the Master went. In the days of His flesh, "Father, glorify Thy name" was His constant aim, so that He could say at their completion, "I glorified Thee on the earth, having accomplished the work which Thou hast given Me to do" (John 17:4). The Spirit of God alone, as H~ glorifies Christ to us, can impart enabling grace to follow the path He trod.' Whatever there is of spiritual attainment by the disciple comes from the power of the indwelling Christ. As Paul puts it, "I live; and yet no longer I, but Christ liveth in me" (Gal. 2:20): again, "I laboured:... yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me" (1 Cor. 15:10).

The new man

In a Lancashire town, some years ago, there was a man who had the reputation of having the foulest tongue on the railway sidings. He was a carter, and every Saturday night he came home roaring drunk-the whole terrace locking its doors in fear, except his wife and children who tremblingly awaited his return. One night he attended a gospel meeting and was converted. The effect was dramatic-his family, and all his mates, immediately saw the difference. Afterwards he often used to say that on the Monday morning when he went to the railway siding, picked up his horse's reins and said, "Gee up, lass", even the horse looked round to see what had happened to his master!

"If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new" (2 Cor. 5:17).

unknown | Apr 1975
Comment By Torchlight