The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-04-20

true to Him. 0, men, that means you
and that means me! God calls few
men to carry on great reforms. He
calls all men to carry on reform with
in their own lives. And it is the man
who will do this in Gods way, and
in the spirit of Jesus Christ, that be-
comes the thousandfold man. He IS
the determining factor in this worlds
progress toward universal righteous
ness. he holds the balance Of power
which will usher in the millennlai
dawn. Gone forever the man fearing
spirit. Gone forever that stolid indif.
ference. Gone forever that fast shut
pocketbook. He lives for God. He
talks for God. he gives for God.
Consider. also, one Of the two reasons
for the multiplied power Of the thou
sandfold man: For the Lord your
God. He it is that fghteth for you"
ANY man is braver for the battle II
he knows that God is his champion.
He may nave been ready to show the
white flag, leave the field in defeat,
steal away in disgrace. Then let him
lay vital hold Of the truth that God is
fighting for him. Instantly every in
gredient Of cowardice will vanish from
his nature. Something akin to omn1-
potence begins to play along the nerve
of his arm. The souls battlesongs or
victory began to swell the rising har-
monies In his heart. Championed by
God. he knows that, though the worlds
may fall, he shall not meet with de-
feat. Camping along the path OF his
destiny is the Sleepless General, who
holds the stars in his hand, and the
interests Of His child in His heart.
What magnificent music for the soul
to hear, as we 60 out to life's battle:
"For the Lord your God, He it Is that
fghteth for you"
Let us give the truth its proper set
ting in our lives. We hear SO much
O fmen fighting Gods battles. And we
rejoice that this Is so. But let not the
lesser truth obscure the greater-that
God is fighting our battles. And DO
we not sometimes get so busy fighting
Gods battles that we forget that God
is fighting our battles, which is or
much more Importance. 1t may be
that God could get along without our
reinforcements, after all. But II Gods
troops fail to come up, spiritual Wa
terloo awaits US for certain. Let US
make room for this neglected truth In
our creed. It will make US better SOL
diers of the cross. It is one Of the
silent forces which builds the thou
sandfold man.
But some man says, "How does God
fight for me? I want to know" God
is not in the habit Of doing things as
man does them. Therefore, 1t Is safe
to conclude that God does not fight Tor
US after the manner Of men. His
methods are not mans methods, and
His weapons are not carnal weapons.
Briefly, here are a few battlefelds
where God has fought for you: On
the Judean plains shepherds are
watching their focks by night. Sud
denly the heavens are musical with
choirs Of singing angels. Then one
great golden star, as If driven out OF
its course by the finger OF God to
signal the shepherds, trembles above
the manger. Coming to the spot, they
find the babe wrapped in swadling
clothes. That was the beginning OF
Gods greatest battle for you-and the
battlefield was a manger! But that
Babe increased in stature and Wis
dom. He reached the highest type OF
manhood known to man or God. Great
as teacher, he was greater as a man.
Great as q man, He was greater as a
God. for in Him the fullness OF Cod
head made its home. For the first
time, man was taught by Life how
to live his own life. God fought for
you in the incarnation Of His Son.
God fought for you in the mysterious
agony of Gethsemane. God fought for
YOU in the blood-red suffering Of Cal.
vary. God fought for you in the dark
ness of the tomb. God fought for You
on Mount Olivet, when Christ was
taken up, the glory Of His ascending
body throwing shining splendor over
the track yours will 60. In countless
ways, the Lord your God, He It Is that
fghteth for you! He fights for you
in the blessings He rains upon you
day by day. In your home, in your
business, in your society, in every
privilege you enjoy, God fights for
you. Gods battlefelds are smokeless,
but they are victorious!
We discover the second reason for
the multiplied power Of the thousand
fold man in the last clause Of my text:
"As He spake unto you" It is JOSH
ua's way of telling US that God always
keeps His engagements. "O," says
some one, 'he is talking about Gods
promises now-and they are old"
Yes, let US admit the promises are
old. But in growing old they have
kept their youth. What sturdy young
sters they are! We can't afford to
rule them out on account Of age. Most
Of the best things in this world are
old. The sun is old, the stars are old,
the ocean is old, the mountain Is old,
love is old, music is old, father is old,
mother is old, our dearest friends are
old. But we are not ashamed Of them
on that account. So Gods promises
are old. But they have grown old so
gracefully that we ought to be proud
to walk life's pathway, keeping step to
their mighty music. What would we
do without them? Certainly this world
would be a very lonely place, It the
old promises didn't now and then