Thoughts Occasioned By The War

by S.J.Hill | Category: Is There Not A Cause? | Sept 1936

The war, whether we wish it or not, is the all-absorbing subject, and language has been exhausted in the attempt to describe its immensity : the forces, whether of men or material employed; the lives sacrificed; the sufferings endured; the grief occasioned; the wealth squandered and the numberless details suggested by the colossal conflict.

How much thought has been devoted to it! How much has been written by many observers, and how varied the lessons they have sought to set forth! The student of history has sought for parallels and tried to obtain guidance for the present from the teachings of the past. The prophet has been busy, though his predictions are constantly falsified by the events as they pass. The moralist also has sought to let his voice be heard, and many indeed are the lessons of righteousness which may well be enforced. May we add a few words on these lines?

We do not forget that this country, in common with most of the other countries of Europe, has professed nationally the adoption of the Christian faith; that in times gone by men have willingly laid down their lives for the truth of the Gospel; that by the good providence of God the Bible has held a foremost place in its laws and regulations as well as in the lives of its

noblest and best; that the first day of the week, the memorial of the resurrection of Christ, and the witness to the fundamental fact of the Christian faith, has been honoured. We might continue the list of those things which, until recently, more or less characterised the nation. But alas! what must in truth be said concerning the trend of things during the last generation! It seems fitting to quote the words, "There arose another generation which knew not the Lord." The Bible has been discounted by leading men in the pulpits; and multitudes of silly sheep have followed their unfaithful pastors, forgetting that in setting aside such revelation from God they are left without any sure light concerning the most momentous subjects. The first day of the week has necessarily become secularised, and that which was designed to witness to the new creation yet to be established free from all the sins and sorrows of the present has been sacrificed to business, though more generally to pleasure, and so the first day has been more debased than the others which follow, and the weary round of life here below is unbroken by any reversion to better things.

This all points to one fact, which explains much beside, namely, that materialism has become in large measure the religion of this people. The present instead of the future; the temporal and not the eternal; the seen and not the unseen; the carnal and not the spiritual; the world and not heaven; the Devil and not God. Men's lives have become increasingly self-centred, whether among the rich or poor; the desire for money howsoever obtained, the preference for gambling instead of modest honest gain; the love of pleasure, finding expression not only in the higher and richer classes but permeating every stratum of Society-truly there has seldom been seen in a more pronounced manner the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.

Now the nation which puts God away is doomed; for the Scripture says, "The wicked shall be turned into Sheol," together with "the nations that forget God" (Psalm 9. 17). Is it too much to say that this nation has been heading in this direction for some time past? It is no excuse to say that the same is true of other nations; doubtless that is the case, and in certain cases possibly the evil is greater, though it should be borne in mind that the larger measure of light known here proves how much more quickly the darkness has set in and consequently how much more blameworthy we are!

When further one considers the alarming symptoms which were manifest in the public body just before the war, the insubordination to all government in all classes and amongst women equally with men, it seemed that the advent of the war itself (woeful beyond expression) at least relieved us, if but for a time, of an evil which was perhaps more dangerous to the nation's life than the war. If the war works a cure for such evils, then the price will not be too high. We say " if" because it is by no means certain that the war will have that effect. What are the signs? We find, when the moral question is raised, that people feel the only matter to be considered is the proximate cause of the war, and as to that they are convinced that Britain is in the right.

But does that end the matter? Are there not other great moral causes which necessitated a visitation of so far-reaching and severe a character? Was not the body politic suffering from the most deadly disease, namely, that of forgetting God and rejecting the light of the Gospel? Heathen nations have their gods, and such as their gods so are they, but it is possible for them to turn from the worse to the better; but if Britain turns away from the God of the Bible, the Saviour of sinners, the Bible itself as God's revelation, to what shall she turn? Can Britain adopt Buddha or Mohammed after having had the light of truth ? It is not possible ! The alternative is materialism, the soulless thing which reduces a man to an intelligent animal, and which makes him wish he were an animal, less intelligent, so that he might do as he pleased without the reproach of conscience.

So the war came, afflicting high and low, rich and poor, entering the palace and the hovel, taking toll of all. What did the rulers do? Did they say, "Why has the Lord smitten us?" Did they call for a solemn humiliation? Did they overthrow the dens of iniquity? Did they even in a minor degree imitate the king of Nineveh in view of impending judgement? "And the tidings reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and laid his robe from him and covered him with sackcloth .... Let them cry mightily unto God; yea, let them turn every one from his evil way" (Jonah 3.). The spiritual leaders, did they lead the nation in this way? Instead of saying "We have sinned," the enemy alone was ever in view-it was he that received all the condemnation. If victory is granted to the Allies, to whom will the praise be given? to a God whose aid has not been sought? or rather will not the language be "Mine own hand hath saved me."

We do not doubt that great spiritual blessing has come and will come to innumerable persons who have been in affliction caused by the war. Both in the mansion and the cottage the heavy hand of sorrow has been felt, and in not a few cases the response has been "It is the Lord," and in the recognition of His hand there has been humbling and self-judgement. This is a great blessing, for while the sorrow has been deep, yet perchance these days with many will be numbered amongst their best days. But again we ask, What of the rulers, what of the nation as such?

Our primary object in writing, however, is not to reach such, but perchance to help some who have been and are much exercised concerning the reason of this affliction; they think of what is expressed in those words, " Shall evil befall a city, and the Lord hath not done it? " and they feel sure that God's hand is in this matter.

How important then to distinguish between the good purpose of God and the evil designs of men! How blessed to know that He who is good can overrule evil to eventual blessing, and will do so where the heart is exercised concerning

it.

How, then, should it affect us? Is the reader one who heretofore has left God out of his reckoning; gone in for mere materialism; disregarded revelation as given in the Bible? Then we answer: Your evident duty is to seek God, remembering the word, "He that cometh to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that seek after Him" (Hebrews 11. 6). Seek Him in the Book which He has given-the Bible. Seek counsel of those who honour the Book. Believe that He is found not only in an elementary way in nature, but in a fuller and more perfect way in His Word. See the character of God's present testimony. He is speaking in His Son. The Son of God has come. Hear the word of the Gospel, "that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures .. He was buried .. He hath been raised on the third day according to the Scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15. 3, 4). And learn that faith in Him secures forgiveness of sins and the possession of eternal life as the free gift of God (John 3. 16, 36 ; 5.24; 20. 30, 31. Acts 10. 43; 13. 39. Romans 6. 23; 10.9, 10).

If such a course is not followed there is but one other way, and that is to shut up the Bible and depend on one s own perverted and ignorant ideas; to deny the incarnation of the Word and the atonement wrought by the death of Christ and His triumphant resurrection; but to do so will inevitably expose men to the judgement of God, for He has "appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men in that He hath raised Him from the dead "(Acts 17. 31).

Further, let it be observed that if God reveals Himself at different times in different degrees and by different means, it becomes not the creature to say which of those means he will choose, whether nature or revelation, but to submit to God's will and observe His testimony. His present testimony is, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear Him" (Matthew 17. 5; Luke 9. 35).

The reader may not, however, be numbered amongst those who trouble their minds about God and the Will of God, but he may be of those whose language is practically "Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die." It is undeniable that multitudes are but little superior to the lower animal creation in their outlook on things; they are "like the beasts that perish" (Psalm 49. 12, 20). Their thoughts are bounded by the present, " They eat, they drink, they buy, they sell, they marry and are given in marriage." Such is the round of their lives, and then they die, and God says, "After this the judgement" (Hebrews 9. 27). Judgment on a misspent life, on a God dishonouring existence, for truth slighted, for the Son of God rejected. Is this the condition of the reader? Arouse yourself, friend, forsake the empty vain round of existence; appreciate somewhat the purpose of your being, that you are a responsible, accountable creature of God, that you were intended for a truly noble Godlike career, not bounded by the end of this present life. Turn with heart-felt repentance to the God to whom you are accountable and accept of His mercy through the Saviour of men, the Lord Jesus Christ.

The followers of materialism are not confined to the classes we have mentioned-to the rejector of revelation or to the mere pleasure-seeker, but are found pursuing many different courses. There are those who devote their whole attention to buying and selling and getting gain. To get on in the world is the object of their lives, to amass the wherewithal which in their opinion will put happiness within their reach: but such as lay up treasure for themselves and are not rich toward God must leave all behind and go forward to a future of endless poverty.

And who shall number those who live only for self, who worship at their own shrine, who are the centre around which all things revolve, who have no place for God in their thought or ways. Such, if they continue in their unbelief, will find out in due time that the God in whose hands their breath is will withdraw His aid, too long disregarded, and leave them to their own utter emptiness.

The Scripture sums up all classes in the words, "All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way," and points out that the only way hack is He who said, "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life."

What, then, is necessary? True humility; an honest recognition of the actual condition of things, the taking of one's true place before God as ruined in sin, and a thankful acceptance of the salvation of God through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. This will give a new direction to the life, manifesting itself in works worthy of repentance, a confession of Christ as Lord and a life of obedience to the Word of God.

S.J.Hill | Sept 1936
Is There Not A Cause?