Comment By Torchlight

New Government

The new Government in Great Britain was elected by a narrow margin. All Christians should now pray for those on whom the heavy burden of rule has fallen. There are many pressing problems and stable government will be difficult with such a slender majority. The wisdom with which the situation is handled will have far-reaching results to millions of our fellow-men.

One notable feature of the General Election campaign was the absence of any reference, in the various policies placed before the public, to God and to His claims. The materialistic outlook of the age found a new emphasis. Nobody who lived through the terrible years of mass unemployment in the thirties would wish for a return to those conditions. But material prosperity in itself will not bring true happiness to men and women. This is abundantly demonstrated in the restlessness and discontent of modern society. In the human heart there is a hunger which God only can satisfy. Here is a priority which is missing from political programmes, but if the materialistic attitude which is so apparent in Great Britain is not arrested, the moral condition of the nation will continue to decline.

New Space Probe

The striking exhibition of Soviet technological progress in the launching of the three-man spaceship, and the safe return of cosmonauts after 24 hours in orbit, has impressed the world. This almost coincided with the atmospherical nuclear explosion in Communist China, an event which gives further anxiety to many competent observers. What lies ahead? We are thankful to know that God still controls the universe which He created, and that He has other plans for the future of mankind than those of the rulers of this world.

Jesus shall reign where'er the sun

Doth his successive journeys run;

His kingdom stretch from shore to shore,

Till moons shall wax and wane no more.

Then come, 0 Lord, to earth again,

Come, take Thy mighty power and reign;

Bid tumults, wars and conflicts cease,

Rule far and wide, Thou Prince of peace.

The Most High Ruleth

As we write, the removal of Mr. Kruschev from the centre of Soviet power dominates the headlines in the daily Press. For ten years he has been a prominent figure in world politics. His sudden eclipse was, apparently, quite unexpected and there is much speculation as to its significance. We have no opinion to offer. Whatever secondary causes there may be, we believe that, "The Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will" (Daniel 4.25).

We are, however, prompted to comment on another aspect of this affair. Among the many utterances of Mr. Kruschev, which have been widely reported, were some which savoured of open defiance of God. Frail, mortal man cannot challenge God in this way and escape the consequences. Soon Mr. Kruschev must stand before the Judge of all the earth. Arrogance and self-assertion have no weight there. We should pray earnestly that, in the solitude of retirement from high office, as he ponders over many things, he will discover the truth and be brought in repentance to the feet of the Saviour without whom no man has hope hereafter.

1964 Recedes

The year 1964 passes into history and we turn from world events to consider the use we make of the passing opportunities of our brief lives. As we reflect on the past year, which represents for each one of us an allowance of that precious commodity "time", what does it represent in the fabric of our lives? Is there in our spiritual make-up any abiding result from God's dealings with us in 1964? Have we progressed or have we slipped back? These are solemn questions and we shall be wise to face them honestly.

There will be few of our readers who, with the present writer, will not deplore failure to grasp their opportunities to the full. Sins of commission as well as sins of omission have blotted our record in 1964. We cannot turn back the clock and relive our lives but we can face the present and the future with fresh Spirit-given resolves of heart. We can learn from our failures and press on in faith. The deficiency is in ourselves, not in our resources. There is a great lack of effective Christian witness in "the daily round, the common task". Here lies the true test of our profession. If we honestly define to ourselves the real objective of our lives, how many of us can say with Paul: "To me to live is Christ" (Philippians 1. 21)? The nearer we move to this objective the more effective and useful our present lives will be.

unknown | Dec 1964
Comment By Torchlight