Jan 1978 - Editorial

We are sorry that "Torchlight" is in hospital and will not be making his usual contribution this month. He hopes, God willing, to return to these pages next month. In the meantime we wish him a quick recovery and make our prayer to God on his behalf. In the circumstances it seems appropriate, as we stand at the gate of the year, to quote almost verbatim from Torchlight's first Comment in the January issue of Needed Truth for 1964. Only the year has been changed:

"1978: whither?

Time, like an ever-rolling stream, Bears all its sons away.

These words of Isaac Watts come to mind at the opening of another year. They express the fact of human frailty and they pose the question of human destiny. For all of us the passage of time has a solemn voice, and we do well to pause and ponder. Each year that passes into history brings nearer the consummation of divine purpose. Unlike ourselves, God does not waste time. He is moving forward majestically towards the goal - "new heavens and a new earth" (2 Pet. 3:13). Men plan, and struggle and die; creation groans. At God's right hand our victorious Saviour waits to intervene once more in human affairs and to set in motion the next phase in the divine plan.

Will 1978 bring our Lord's return to the air? Many instructed believers are convinced of the imminence of this momentous event. In the light of it we should live and work. In each age of history God has used human instrumentality in the furtherance of His plans. It should be our concern to be in the van of His purposes, so that in our day, as David in his, we may serve the counsel of God.

It is our purpose that, under God, Needed Truth may continue during 1978 to provide nourishing spiritual food for our readers. Like the godly scribe of Matt. 13:52 who brought forth out of his treasure things new and old, we shall be drawing upon the writings of a past day for "Links in the Chain of Testimony" and look to today's contributors to give us sound instruction for the series entitled "Profiles of the Prophets". By these, together with articles from other sources, we pray that readers will be edified to the glory of God.

unknown | Jan 1978
Editorial