River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-11-26

Watchful, standing fast in the faith.
Therefore, using the means the Lord
has provided they viii receive the spe-
cial reward, while others by neglect
ing their privileges mark themselves
as unworthy the great favor which
the Lord is now dispensing to the Lit
tie Flock We will not say that they
will not have opportunities in the Great
Company that will come up out of
great tribulation and stand before the
Throne instead Of being in the Throne
Revelation TO, IA, 15.
Mark our Lords declaration that the
trial of our day would be so critical
so crucial. that it would deceive If pos
sible ''the very Elect" (Matthew
24:24.j But this will not be possible;
for the Lord has promised them as
sistance. and they will be in the atti
tude of heart and mind to seek that
assistance and use it. Mark how the
Lord through the Prophet David fore
told the special trials of this time, pic
turing the various devices of Satan
Spiritism, Higher Criticism, Christian
Science. Evolution. etc.-as pestilences
and arrows. He tells us that a thou
sand shall fall at our side, yea. ten
thousand at our right hand-amongst
those whom we consider most favored
and, in some respects at least. as our
friends in the Lord.
Then the reason is given why the
very Elect will not fall under these
pestilences and arrows; namely. BE
cause thou hast made the Lord, even
the Most High, thy refuge and thy
habitation. no plague shall come nigh
thy dwelling" What to others will be
a stone of stumbling will to this class
be an assistance, in that they will
climb upon it to still higher personal
development and Observation-Disclosures to
the Lord. All things must work to
gether for good to these because they
love God truly. sincerely, above self or
any other creature, and because of
their faithfulness to their covenant Of
consecra ton to him.-Psalm o.
A Divinely Provided Armament.
Note again that our text applies to
it calls an evil day-a day of trials.
testings, etc., upon the Lords people
for the development of those who love
the Lord with all their heart, soul
mind and strength, and their neighbors
as themselves, and for the demonstrate
ing also of those who have been only
lukewarm in their love Of the Lord
and Of the brethren, those who have
been overcharged with the cares Of
this life or with the deceitfulness Of
riches. and so overtaken.
Much in harmony with Psalm 81.
our text indicates a need for the arn1Or
of God. difficulty in withstanding the
assaults of this evil day, and the few
ness of those who will eventually
stand The Apostles exhortation is
that we take the whole armor-nOt
merely the shield Of faith, not merely
the helmet of salvation, not merely the
breastplate Of righteousness, not mere
ly the Sword Of the Spirit. not merely
the sandals of preparation, not merely
the girdle of Truth; but all of these
We shall need all of these if we would
be able to withstand all the assaults
to be expected in this day
Alas. how few seem to realize the
Importance of this armor which God
has commended! Their difficulty is
the result of not knowing the time in
which they are living, not being suffi
GENTLY awake. not being sufficiently
Jealous to search the Scriptures and to
put on the armament therein provided
alone
Why God Will Permit 1t.
st. Paul. writing to the Thessalo
mans. foretold this evil day in which
we are living and in which so many
will fall because overcharged with the
cares of this life and the deceitfulness
trials of our day will come from the
great Adversary, not because God will
be unable to prevent Satan from bring
ing these receptions and tests, but be-
cause He wills to permit the Adver-
Sary thus to prove and Sift the pro
fessed Church of our day. In order
that all may be confused, deceived
SluulDI0u WIZ dIG lOL DIT uGdIL 10y al
to Him. After telling about the work
ings of Satan that are to be expected
with great power, signs and lying won
ders. and with all deceivableness of
unrighteousness, the Apostle explains
that this is permitted because they
received not the love of the Truth. :
He adds. For this cause God shall
send them strong decisions, that they
should believe lie, that they all
should be condemned who believed not
the Truth. but had pleasure in un
Righteousness" untruth.-2 Thessa
lonians 29-12.
Many tell US that it makes no differ
ence what we belieye-truth or false
hood-that it is by our works that the
Lord will determine our standing But
the Scriptures forbid this thought. and
assure US that no one of the fallen race
can have works that would be pleasing
TO God In his words last quoted, the