The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1959-02-20

said as he looked 1T. FOREMAN
down the vista of time to the lend
of the age. CThat is more literal
translation Of the Greek expression
sometimes translated lend of the
world.") Many Christians. despair
ing Of getting any unanimous ex-
PLANTATION of these difficult sayings,
have just given up the whole bust
ness as a waste of time. Yet these
chapters are not a mere puzzle.
Faith Expects Trosbiss
Let us stick to one general heip-
full truth which meets us here,
namely the relation Of trouble and
faith. First Of all, as Jesus looks
down the years, he does not see the
light growing brighter and bright
er. At least. he does not see the
future with the eye Of the unadult-
Grated optinist. He uses some
frightening language wars. earth
quakes. famines, determination of
desolation,' tribulation, and dark
ness at noon as at midnight Jesus
gave no backing to the idea that
if you have faith enough all your
troubles will be bubbles" as the
song says. Some troubles are very
solid. they can smash a man and
his hopes. No matter what good
ness there may be in the world. no
matter how good God is, there are
going to be troubles ahead. People
who give up their faith in God be
cause they run into squall-line Of
trouble clouds, which thew can
neither fly over, under or around.
cannot have read these sayings Of
Jesus very carefully.
II Jesus had seen only the times
OF darkness he would have been a
pessimist II we follow his lead we
shall by faith see not only troubles
as a certainty Though what trou-
bles, and when, only God knows)
but also we shall see beyond all
troubles. Most important, we shall
STE God on his throne. There is a
famous story of Martin Luther,
whose wife once appeared at the
table in deep mourning. Martin
was astonished WHO'S dead ?" he
asked. God must be dead" she
answered AT any rate you have
been going around for the last
week looking and talking as if He
were dead" Martin Luther got the
point. God is not dead i. 4. yet how
many Christians we see today who,
looking ahead. see only the trou-
bles, and not the God of love and
wisdom without whom not a spar
row falls. Beyond the troubles tor
we see Christ coming again It is
not true to Christian faith TO think
of the future as stretching out esd
lessly. never-ceasing battle with
out victory, between God and evil
All that Christ lived and died for
will come to pass. Through many
trbulations we must enter the
Kingdom" Paul said (Acts 14:22).
Faith outIivss TrssbIs
Jesus did not play down, discount
or underestimate what the men and
women who follow him may be
called upon to undergo. There are
many troubles before the End time
troubles, as he pointed out He used
expressions like the beginning Of
the sufferings the end is not
yet ;" Even in an ordinary
Christians ordinary life, the life of
one who dies centuries before the
"erd of the age" there will come
troubles which will be absolutely
crushing apart from the help Of
God. But the point Of these appal-
ling chapters on the End is that
even though heavens (the universe)
and earth pass away, Gods people
the men and women Of faith
shall not pass away. Look around
you, wherever you are. Are you
afraid that these things you see
may be swept away? So they will,
so Gods word assures us. Whether
swiftly or by slow degrees as water
wears the solid granite. all things
visible are destined to decay and
destruction. But not all things in
visible. You, the real and invisible
You, will olItlive all distractions.
But how? In terror, calling for the
rocks to cover yuu, Or N fearless
faith?
tRased IN aataines eopyriehted b.
he Division II C1ris4iaa EduesAisn.
National Co1ncH Il H. Churches Of
Christ n H. D. g. A. Aaaeased u
Community 4Seos SaUv3ae-A