In politics, today, men are thinking in terms of international affairs. In business, all the continents are being combed for markets; and even in daily life, every newspaper reader is becoming world-conscious. And yet, we, the people of God, have not fully realized that we are to be a testimony to the world….Heathen populations are growing in number daily, but we are not reaching them, much less matching their increasing numbers with increased efforts to bring them the Gospel. Not only are heathen populations growing; with the frontiers of civilization moving ahead and education advancing, idolatry and superstition are breaking down. Now is the time to reach men whose minds are swept of old beliefs, before Communistic Atheism, coming in like a flood, raises other barriers far harder to overcome, and before this generation passes into Christless graves.
Our own civilization also challenges us as Christian workers. This country, once so strong in its Christian testimony, is becoming increasingly godless. Our education systems are sweeping us away from faith. Old standards of morality are fast going, and those great and holy truths, once so sacred, are becoming the butt of jokes to furnish humor for our periodicals.
Shall we beat a retreat, and turn back from our high calling in Christ Jesus; or dare we advance at God’s command, in face of the impossible? …Let us remind ourselves that the Great Commission was never qualified by clauses calling for advance only if funds were plentiful and no hardship or self-denial involved. On the contrary, we are told to expect tribulation and even persecution , but with it victory in Christ.
Friends, the task with all its attendant difficulties is enough to fill our hearts with dismay, if we look only to ourselves and our weakness. But the authority in our Master’s command to go forward should fill us with joy and the expectation of victory. He knows our weakness and our lack of supplies. He knows the roughness of the way. And His command carries with it the assurance of all we need. Of course we want to be assured of our support! Who cares to go forward in any enterprise, secular or religious, unless he can be reasonably sure that it will not be dropped for lack of funds? Incomes are falling, men are losing employment and bank accounts are being wiped out. Do we, as Christian workers, want to be sure of support? Then let us not put our trust in men, or in any God-dishonoring methods of raising funds for the work. These are not certain enough. We have it on the highest authority that the promise is of faith, that it might be sure. The faithfulness of God is the only certain thing in the world today. We need not fear the result of trusting Him….
Our way is plain. We must not retrench in any work which we are sure is in His will and for His glory. We dare not turn back because the way looks dark….We must go forward in the face of the impossible, even if we only know the next step…We may find ourselves at the place where we shall have to drink the bitter waters of Marah, but our Captain’s presence can sweeten the most bitter waters. We may come to the very last of our supplies, but He is still able to give us each day our daily bread. And what if we should, like Allen Gardiner, be permitted even to die of starvation? Like him, we shall find our moments of suffering aglow with the sunshine of Christ’s presence, and shall have nothing but praise for the grace and mercy bestowed upon us.
This bewildered age needs to know that only “the foundation of God standeth sure.” Many a man is being torn loose, these days, from the things to which his heart has clung. It is ours to show the incorruptible riches which bank failures and economic conditions cannot touch. It is ours to show, in the salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in personal communion with Him, a joy unspeakable and full of glory that cannot be affected by outside circumstances….
Does it not thrill our hearts to realize that we do not go forward in our own strength. Think of it, God Himself is with us for our Captain! The Lord of Hosts is present in person on every field of conflict, to encourage us and fight with us. With such a Leader, who never lost a battle, or deserted a soldier in distress, or failed to get through the needed supplies, who would not accept the challenge to go forward, “bearing precious seed”?
--From John Stam’s Class Address at Moody Bible Institute. His class motto was “Bearing Precious Seed.” On December 8, 1934, soldiers of the the 19th Division murdered missionaries John and Betty Stam, who were serving in Anhui Province. Mr. StamCopied from The Triumph of John and Betty Stam, reprinted by Lifeline Philippines.
Our own civilization also challenges us as Christian workers. This country, once so strong in its Christian testimony, is becoming increasingly godless. Our education systems are sweeping us away from faith. Old standards of morality are fast going, and those great and holy truths, once so sacred, are becoming the butt of jokes to furnish humor for our periodicals.
Shall we beat a retreat, and turn back from our high calling in Christ Jesus; or dare we advance at God’s command, in face of the impossible? …Let us remind ourselves that the Great Commission was never qualified by clauses calling for advance only if funds were plentiful and no hardship or self-denial involved. On the contrary, we are told to expect tribulation and even persecution , but with it victory in Christ.
Friends, the task with all its attendant difficulties is enough to fill our hearts with dismay, if we look only to ourselves and our weakness. But the authority in our Master’s command to go forward should fill us with joy and the expectation of victory. He knows our weakness and our lack of supplies. He knows the roughness of the way. And His command carries with it the assurance of all we need. Of course we want to be assured of our support! Who cares to go forward in any enterprise, secular or religious, unless he can be reasonably sure that it will not be dropped for lack of funds? Incomes are falling, men are losing employment and bank accounts are being wiped out. Do we, as Christian workers, want to be sure of support? Then let us not put our trust in men, or in any God-dishonoring methods of raising funds for the work. These are not certain enough. We have it on the highest authority that the promise is of faith, that it might be sure. The faithfulness of God is the only certain thing in the world today. We need not fear the result of trusting Him….
Our way is plain. We must not retrench in any work which we are sure is in His will and for His glory. We dare not turn back because the way looks dark….We must go forward in the face of the impossible, even if we only know the next step…We may find ourselves at the place where we shall have to drink the bitter waters of Marah, but our Captain’s presence can sweeten the most bitter waters. We may come to the very last of our supplies, but He is still able to give us each day our daily bread. And what if we should, like Allen Gardiner, be permitted even to die of starvation? Like him, we shall find our moments of suffering aglow with the sunshine of Christ’s presence, and shall have nothing but praise for the grace and mercy bestowed upon us.
This bewildered age needs to know that only “the foundation of God standeth sure.” Many a man is being torn loose, these days, from the things to which his heart has clung. It is ours to show the incorruptible riches which bank failures and economic conditions cannot touch. It is ours to show, in the salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in personal communion with Him, a joy unspeakable and full of glory that cannot be affected by outside circumstances….
Does it not thrill our hearts to realize that we do not go forward in our own strength. Think of it, God Himself is with us for our Captain! The Lord of Hosts is present in person on every field of conflict, to encourage us and fight with us. With such a Leader, who never lost a battle, or deserted a soldier in distress, or failed to get through the needed supplies, who would not accept the challenge to go forward, “bearing precious seed”?
--From John Stam’s Class Address at Moody Bible Institute. His class motto was “Bearing Precious Seed.” On December 8, 1934, soldiers of the the 19th Division murdered missionaries John and Betty Stam, who were serving in Anhui Province. Mr. StamCopied from The Triumph of John and Betty Stam, reprinted by Lifeline Philippines.