Is It Well With Thee?

by W. Bunting, Ayr | Category: General | Oct 1968

It is a good thing to take stock periodically and review the spiritual condition of assemblies. In such a review we are aware of the warning in Ecclesiastes 7.10: "Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this." On the other hand, we recall that amongst those who came to David to Hebron were men of the children of Issacher, "men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do" (1 Chronicles 12.32).

In the first place we must express deep thankfulness that our God has graciously kept us together in collective testimony despite our many failings. The great truth of the house of God is probably not as clearly appreciated today as it was at the beginning of the present movement. Nevertheless, we rejoice as we see the churches of God in the aggregate expressing that truth. We are well aware of our great, and increasing, weakness, but our God is able to sustain, and our continual cry is that He may strengthen that which remains.

We ask the question, How do we stand today, what is our spiritual state? Only the Lord Himself, who is seen in the midst of the golden lampstands, knows that fully. "I am He which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto each one of you according to your works" (Revelation 2.23). It might be useful in the light of the letters to the seven churches in Asia to examine our present spiritual condition. These letters afford us a better yardstick than any standard which we may conceive. Someone will say, but in this technological and space age can you apply the standards which operated in the first century? Our answer is, Yes.

Our First Love

The church in Ephesus seemed a thriving, busy, prosperous company. They had not grown weary, and were prepared to defend the name of their Lord and Master. But the One who knows the hearts of all, brings this accusation against that church: "I have this against thee, that thou didst leave thy first love" (Revelation 2.4). The LORD never forgot the warmth of the love of Israel in a barren wilderness: "Thus saith the LORD, I remember for thee the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals; how thou wentest after Me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown (Jeremiah 2.2).

In this connexion what shall we say of the churches today? Each saint, in each church, is in the best position to examine his or her own heart. Is there need for repentance as we recall from whence we are fallen? In the case of Ephesus the warning was most solemn, "Else I come to thee, and will move thy lampstand out of its place, except thou repent" (Revelation 25).

Poverty and Riches

Smyrna, the one church of the seven, against which there is no word of censure, had known poverty and tribulation, and yet the words are added, "but thou art rich". Tribulation still awaited them, and they were exhorted to be faithful unto death and the crown of life was promised.

When the Lord brought Israel safely into the plentiful land, and they enjoyed its bounty, they turned away from Him. "My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water" (Jeremiah 2.13). Mark the contrast, "the fountain of living waters" and "cisterns, broken cisterns".

The present period has become known as the affluent age. There is little poverty, at least in Western countries, and tribulation is well-nigh unknown. The Lord intended Israel to eat the fruit of the land and enjoy its goodness, but alas, even the priests disowned the LORD! Is there not a warning in this for us today? Surely the letter to the church in Laodicea bears this out: "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art the wretched one and miserable and poor and blind and naked" (Revelation 3.17). In this period of plenty for most, let those within churches of God take heed of the warning in the song of Moses: "But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art become sleek. Then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation" (Deuteronomy 32.15).

"Thou has kept My Word"

What is the standard throughout the churches today of the ministry of the word of God? We were once described as "the people of the Book" because of our love for the Scriptures. We should be not only a preaching people but also a teaching people. Even in the sad days of Malachi we have the word, "The priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts" (Malachi 2.7). We have inherited a remarkable treasure of divine truth from men who have gone before us, but the question is worth considering, Have we added to that inheritance? The householder brings out of his treasure things new and old, and it is feared that today much of what we hear is in the second category.

The apostle Paul's terse word to Timothy was, "Till I come, give heed to reading, to exhortation, to teaching" (1 Timothy 4.13). This refers to the public reading of the Scriptures, and we should make no apology for reading them in the ears of the people, but let us take heed how we read. Exhortation is vital to us, but this should not be at the expense of teaching.

In our presentation of the gospel message it is well to remember that the speaker is the mouthpiece of the church, and that it is "the gospel of the glory of the blessed God" (1 Timothy 1.11). In endeavouring to reach men with the gospel there is no real substitute for simple, straightforward preaching, but let us keep close to the Scriptures. "Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men" (2 Corinthians 5.11), is how the apostle Paul sums up his attitude towards this important matter. Sincerity and earnestness should characterize those who act as ambassadors on behalf of Christ. Our task is to preach the word. We must leave the results with the Lord.

Deportment

What do we mean by deportment? It has to do with bearing, demeanor, manners. The child of God should bear himself with humility, and yet dignity. Our manners should be impeccable. Reverence should characterize all our gatherings. There is no room for levity in the things of God. On the Lord's Day morning in particular, when we are gathered for the Remembrance of the Lord Jesus Christ, a spirit of reverence should be manifest. Our very attitude should convey to others that we are deeply exercised.

Punctuality has been described as the courtesy of kings, but we have the example of the King of kings. "And when the hour was come, He sat down, and the apostles with Him" (Luke 22.14). Preparations for the passover were completed, and the disciples were all present. The Lord was then able to take His seat, and

His first words were, "With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer" (Luke 22.15). It was at that memorable passover that He instituted what is later described as the Breaking of the bread, and said, "This do in remembrance of Me".

Looking forward

The question will arise in many minds, If the Lord tarry, what will be our position, and what will be our spiritual condition, forty years hence? We do not propose to enter the field of speculation and therefore turn aside from such a question. Recent events in the Eastern Mediterranean have aroused the prophets, and pronouncements are being made as to the imminence of the Lord's return. It would be wise to exercise caution and to await developments which may not be far away, and which may alter the present situation. When the early disciples met the Lord immediately following His resurrection, their first question was, "Lord, dost Thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? And He said unto them, It is not for you to know times or seasons, which the Father hath set within His own authority" (Acts 1.6,7).

From the outset of the present movement the view has been held that no prophecy requires fulfilment prior to the Lord's return to the air for those who are His own. The Thessalonian saints "turned unto God from idols, to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven" (1 Thessalonians 1.9,10).

We conclude this brief review with a solemn word from the letter to the Hebrews, "Wherefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace, whereby we may offer service well-pleasing to God with reverence and awe: for our God is a consuming fire" (Hebrews 12.28,29).

W. Bunting, Ayr | Oct 1968
General