Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1913-01-16


day experiences prompts him to ask
Is IL trustworthy. dependable.' II :
man buys a fountain pen. he asks
VIII IL write ali the timer As the
aeronaut looks at his oipIane OF
monoplane. and thinks OF beint
1000 feet above the earth. he
asks; Is II dependable? II 6
man has a bit n money and wishe.
TO lay it aside for a rainy day. he asks
Of the bank in which he thinks OF de-
posting IL: rs It safef" President
elect Wilson recently said: However
the variation may come. no matter
what the ephemeral feature may be.
no matter what the external form may
be. men are looking for a foothold:
they are looking for some firm ground
OF faith upon which to walk
Is Il possible that man can ask WITH
reference TO God. is be depend
aole? The gods OF the Egyptians,
Greeks or Romans were supermurr
dane beings: and man was constantly
asking the question: VIII the god
changer We have n proverb that has
come down the centuries. As hckls
as the gods The ancient religious
devotee would think of his gods as
mercurial. changeabie beings. moved
BY any wind that blew-hs could
never trust them
II We take the gods OF today. and
they are not the less gods than in
the days OF old-monsy. place. appe-
tite-men are bowling down to these
and worshiping them. and they may
well ask. Are they dependable," So
the subject OF a dependable God Is
immensely practical. and those who
-Forship the God OF the Bible claim
hat he is dependable. He is the same
yesterday. today and forever. whether
nanifesting himself as Father, Son or
Holy Spirit.
The Bible IS full Of claims Of the
aithfulness OF God, and God may be
laced in sharp contrast to the gods
hat are IN opposition or rivalry The
rue God never breaks a promise. as
The text so clearly claims. There may
be some support TO the idea CT the
dependability OF God. as there Is n
demand for this in God. Just as we
claim that there Is God because
here Is a demand for God And again
the regularity and uniformity of move
ment OF the various parts Of Gods
creation Is proof OF the regularity and
uniformity In the Creator himself We
know that the rising OF the sun can be
depended on: seasons OF the year
never fail 70 alternate: the systems
that swtag in illinitahle space are so
exact in their movements that those
movements can be calculated for u1iIen-
NUNS in advance 70 minutes and sec.
onds-and God created all Of these.
and he IS as dependable as they
God has given Us many great and
precious promises"-ot blessings ma
terial blessings 10 the body polite
blessings to the intellectual and es-
thetic nature. and TO the spiritual in
man. both with respect to the expert
ences o. this life. and the eternity
that stretches beyond.
The challenge OF God as 10 his faith
fulness invites the closest examina-
ton Of his character for veracity. con
sequently for dependability. His
promises have been most specific; in
many cases given to individuals:
dates. locations and circumstances be
ing definitely proclaimed hundreds Of
years before the things promised were
realized Joshua was justified in his
strong assertion as he reviewed Gods
personal relationship TO himself. for
at the beginning OF his career Josh.
l-sl God had given specific promises.
and they had been fulfilled literally.
We are not surprised that the writer
Of the epistle TO the Hebrews should
say. Let Is hold fast the profession
OF our faith without wavering. for he
IA faithful that promised The abso-
luteness % the promises OF God, and
the implicitly OF faith in those prom
ises on the part of a great ,2umber
Of persons. make rsn stagg~r; but
the accomplishments Of such men as
Hudson Taylor. George Muller and
others OF less fame fully establish the
fact.
This dependa bility of God is compre-
hsnsive. Il means something beyond
AA9 FAol44Ases OF pteSsiuESs anu applies
as well 10 the warnings and threat
enings OF his word In the history OF
Israel the threatenings because OF
disohedisnce were as numerous, is not
more so. than the promises of bless
ings because OF obedience. God be-
ing Just as dependable as to the car
rytng out Of the one as OF the other.
II God is proclaimed as faithful God
tDeu.- I-Sl with respect to keeping
covenant and showing mercy TO a
thousand genefations. 1t is shown in
the next verse that II is the same God
that "repays those who hate him face
to face"
God will not change-the restless Year,
may bring
sunlight and shade-sIorfes Of the spring.
II silent gloon and sunless winter hours
Joy mixed with grief-sharp thorns with
frgraut flowers.
Earth-ughts may shine awhile. and then
grow dirn.
But God Is true; there Is no change In
him"
Defining Party Spirit
Party spirit is the MADNESS OF
many for the gain OF a few.-Alexan-