Crittenden record-press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1909-191?, 1916-09-21

<z2 text II things
went always as
we desired or II we always understood
why they go as they do. But the text
gives US hint what the Christian has
before him
A Certain Prospect
The prospect Is that certain expert.
ences which will be hard to bear will
be met with on life's journey. There
will be many things which will cut and
hurt and which seem altogether I'm.
necessary and as though II were i'm
possible for them to work for good.
Think Of John Me Baptist locked up
In prison. He was a man accustomed
from his youth to the great outdoors,
the mountains and the plains-the
rivers and brooks-the broad MONDAY
sky and sparkling starry heavens were
natural to him. He had given his life
to God and thousands hung on his
words. Suddenly he Is thrown into
prison for his falthfulness to the
Lord. But the Lord was at hand. The
Lord with power to speak a word and
blind eyes saw and deaf ears heard.
And even the bars and doors OF the
grave were broken and opened. Sure
ly such one with such power could
open mere prison doors and set the
prisoner free. But though he knew
John was In prison because Of faith.
fulness TO himself, he gave no sign.
nor went 10 the relief OF the impris.
oned one. John could not understand,
but he could know that this awful
experience would work together with
al his other experiences for good.
Think Of Danlel-falthful, true. sin.
cere, n man OF prayer and godliness,
yet because Of the very fact that he
vas what he was, he must needs 20
to the Hons den. lie. too, could not
understand but he could know that
all things work together for good"
SO In the path OF the Christian there
Ne strange, mysterious experiences
that seem TO make the soul stagger
and the spirit grow faint. There come
ecs-,r-a.:ss- =G:s . .->s-1 :. - -:
seem TO he anything but good but seem
10 evil that they cannot be made to
work together for good. They call
the Christian TO implicit trust In
Gods purpose and absolute confidence
In his ways. In all his experiences
he Is 10 walk by falth-not under
standing perhaps but knowing that.
spite Of appearances, nll things work
together for good. But while the be-
lever has this prospect, he also has
A Certain Promise.
When Peter came 20 things he did
not understand In the dealings of the
Lord. he. naturally, wanted To under.
stand Instead Of explaining the Lord
simply said: "What do thou know.
est not now; but thou shalt under
stand hereafter" This promise each
Christian may take to himself. know
Ing that some blessed day all ques-
tons will be answered and he will
understand how MS well us know that
all things work together for good" We
cannot think Of John the Baptist or
Daniel or Stephen or any OF the heroes
OF faith. who have met trying and bit.
ter experiences which they could
not understand, even now finding fault
and saying 10 the Lord: Thou
shouldst have done II differently. o
Lord" The Christian may not under.
stand In the present time why the
Lord permits the hurt but he knows
that all things work together for good
and some day he will understand the
need for the hard things and how they
have worked together for good. And
while he faces this prospect aud rests
In this promise he has
A Certain Provision.
A provision the Lord has made Ia
meet every experience. Irrespective
Of how deep the hurt he permits or
= how bitter the cup he presents hi
makes provision that will keep the
heart in perfect peace. The command
TO the Christian reads; BE anxious
Cor worried) for nothing, but In ey
erythlng by prayer and supplicaticu
r with thanksgiving let your requests
, be made known unto God and the
peace OF God which passeth under
standing shall keep your hearts and
minds in Christ Jesus" lie cares fol
h. us and desires with longing that w
q should cast all our care upon him. III
will comfort, he will sustain, he vii
uphold. so that In the midst Of har'
aud bitter experiences which canno
be understood. the Christian looks for
/ ward to the day when he will under
stand. while he may enjoy In tn
meantime the peace that passc,h al
understanding.