The citizen., 1918-05-09

idea who you were" A little later he
wrote me. "You left me poem entitled
What Does II Meanr which has been
read 10 me time and again until have
absorbed the spirit OF IL. II not all the
words. and to one who has been so
extremely active as myself. and finally
has had The hindering wall placed be-
fore his meet the sentiment expressed
In the poem has been most helpful, and
want to thank you for leaving 1t with
me-"
In recent letter he says, "For more
than a year l have been totally blind.
am not praying so much for restora-
tlon Of sight, which can never come be-
cause OF the whitening OF the optic
nerve. but / am always praying with
Paul for grace and strength, which l
am thankful 90 say has been given me,
and for that sight which Elisha want
ed his servant TO have, that he might
see the hosts the Lord had arrayed
on his side for his defense and saliva
ton"
Here is strong. active business
man, so blind that he has 20 be led
about the streets, but whose spiritual
eyes have been so opened that he sees
far more in this world than he ever
saw before.
And what has caused this changef
Trouble. Nothing else. probably, could
have arrested his attention so effectu-
ally and forced him TO fix II on things
spiritual so long and earnestly that
now Jesus has become the sun and cen
| ter Of the universe. the solace and suf-
hclency Of his own soul. Truly his
Eight aniiction. which is but for a mo-
m-nt. Is working out for him a far
more exceeding and eternal weight of
/ glory"
/ These Incidents show what n large
and blessed ministry trouble has in
opening our eyes 20 the deeper things
/ OF life. We see also why IL Is that
/ God who causcth all things 10 work to-
/ gether for good 10 those who love him,
mlngles the bitter so plentifully with
the sweet.
lie knows that the natural heart is
not inclined toward God, but away
from him. We are so busy digging in
the dirt for dollars that we will not
look up at the sun Of Righteousness
until he puts us on our back, where
we can only look In one direction, and
that upward.
And just as the stars are invisible
by day, but shine out in all their
beauty when night comes on. so God
fills the Bible with special promises
bargaln-day attractions Co those In
trouble-"For in the time OF trouble he
shall hide me in his pavilion. (Liter.
ally, In leafy bower. fragrant, shell
tered and cozy) In the secret of his
tent shall he hide me; he shall set m,
upon a rock" (Ps. 81 :5). So. too. in
Ps. 46:1 he says. "God is our refuge
and strength, very present help (that
is an immediate, right-away help) In
trouble"
Psalm 107 tells the sad story OF -four
different classes OF people who wan
dered about by themselves until they
were hopeless. '"rhen they cried unto
the Lord In their trouble, and he de
I
No wonder he exclaims again and
again. "Oh, that men would praise the
Lord for his goodness, and for his won
derful works TO the children Of men,
In these sad, sad times when trouble
is more plentiful than ever before
what a comfort TO realize that God II
able TO use every bit Of IL as fingel
board to point living and dying men L
the cross OF Christ. Let us keep thu
promises OF God In sight In our homes
schools and places Of business, and lie
us all our correspondence and conver
sation with the words Of Jesus. wisi
some Christian printer would get vi
window card containing In fine dis
play Gods challenge to people II
trouble: "Call upon me In the da!
OF trouble; I will deliver thee. an'
thou shalt glorify me" (Ps. 80 :16).