Sept 1993 - Editorial

The Jews who arrived in Jerusalem after many years of captivity in Babylon were scorned by the nations around and became a laughing stock as they began to rebuild the Temple and later to fortify the walls. To the onlookers they appeared feeble and few in number. Nevertheless the Lord was with them and their lofty objectives were largely attained, much to the chagrin of their enemies. But that was only a beginning. There must be a consistent testimony by a holy nation, the very purpose of their existence (Deut. 7:6; Is. 43:2 1).

This part of their task was probably harder than the tears and toil and sweat which preceded it; it must be a deep work of the heart; it demanded discipline and a love for the Lord. In this phase of their task, as indeed in the former, the key to success was in the calibre of the leaders. Would they reach the high standard required of them? In this issue we see how they came through with flying colours. True, there were a few failures, there always will be, even among leaders, but that did not fundamentally affect the overall achievements of those days.

Paul's heart searching talk to the elders of Ephesus stresses the urgent problems facing overseers then and now:

Take heed zanto yourselves, and to all the flock ... grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock; and ftom among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them (Acts 20:28-30).

Paul's warnings were a sad necessity in his day, and times have not changed at all. Elders must never relax their vigilance.

unknown | Sept 1993
Editorial