By W. C. Moore (1890 – 1980)
“Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Matt. 24:12). The fact that now iniquity does abound and that the love of many does wax cold does not mean that we must be among that “many” whose love has grown cold toward our blessed Lord! Rather, it is a direct challenge and a warning to us to stir up ourselves to take hold of God and press toward the mark as never before and to continue to have faith in God regardless of how dark things look.
The perilous times spoken of in God’s Word (2 Tim. 3:1-17) are a call not to retreat or to retrench, but rather to advance. Days of terror and peril and danger such as we face today are days of opportunity for us. The Lord calls us to be witnesses unto Him right out among the people (Acts 1:8). Jesus says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16).
Oh, to let the light of God’s love, and the assurance of the great salvation wherewith He has saved us and the light of unswerving devotion to the Lord we love and trust – so shine before a frightened and frustrated people that they too may turn unto God!
Full Reliance on God’s Faithfulness
In this darkening hour, face all problems in full reliance upon God’s faithfulness. No situation, no condition, no difficult, involved, unknown, untried, dark and dangerous circumstance or combination of circumstances is too hard for God. He knows all things. And He cares for us (1 Pet. 5:7; 1 John 3:20). Nothing is too hard for God (Jer. 32:17). With God all things are possible (Matt. 19:26).
Instead of facing difficult situations, intricate obstacles, obstinate hindrances, sorrowful testings, large demands, heavy responsibilities in fear and dread and trembling – rather, rejoice! God is bigger than it all put together, and He loves us and desires that we trust and obey Him always. God is greater than any crisis which might be frightening you.
Never face difficult and involved tasks and circumstances in a fearful attitude of mind or heart, as though God had gone off and left us, as though He had lost His power and His wisdom and His almightiness, as though He were not our faithful Creator, who in His love, has already shown and manifested His compassion for us by giving His only begotten Son (1 Pet. 4:12-19; Rom. 8:26-39). Let us eagerly face hard things because it gives God a chance to manifest yet further His faithfulness and His supernatural might. Hallelujah!
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Phil. 4:6).
Live Right
To the end that we may always have God’s help, let us be sure that our lives are lined up in His will, according to His Word – that we are not living in sin, that we are not grieving God by unbelief in His Word, by criticism of other Christians, by carelessness, by self-indulgence, by deceitfulness, by hatred of other people, by neglect of known duties, or by any other sin of neglect or of positive disobedience.
“Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (1 John 3:21-22).
Feed on the Word of God. “…Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4). Realize that our soul needs nourishment as well as our body. Take time, make time, use time for reading and also for meditating on God’s Word, that you may know His will, and that you may be strong to do His will!
Trust God in the Dark
Abraham waited for years in faith for Isaac to be born. So we may need to learn to keep on believing though answers to prayer may be delayed. We may need to learn to trust God in the dark.
“Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of His servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God” (Isa. 50:10).
Was David always on the mountain top? Was Paul always out of the land of trouble and distress? (Read the Psalms, Second Corinthians 11:23-33; 12:1-10; Philippians 4:13.) How are we ourselves ever to know the true depth of our own love to God, and of His love to us, unless He suffers us to be tempted and tried? Let us remember the “all things” of Romans 8:28 – “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”
Oh, to have in our very heart of hearts, that simple childlike trust in God that delights His heart! Years ago I was thinking, “It is so hard to have faith. It is so hard to believe.” Immediately the Lord spoke to my heart: “It is not hard to believe. Even a child can trust. You do not have to think to trust.” And through the years, that has been an encouragement and a comfort to me.
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding” (Prov. 3:5). As we obey this Word and trust in the Lord with all our heart, we have no heart left with which to worry, or fear or fret. We are not even to “lean” unto our own understanding. Give no place to doubt or fear! Resist the devil. Give no place to him (Jas. 4:7-8; Eph. 4:27).
See the Rainbow on the Storm Clouds!
God is the God of the miraculous. His ways are not our ways (Isa. 55:8-13). God’s promise to Abraham was indeed to be fulfilled that he should have a son and heir, but Isaac was born when Abraham was “as good as dead” (Heb. 11:8-12).
When the Lord, the miracle-working Son of God, was crucified between two thieves, and the disciples were scattered, was not that an hour of midnight gloom, and unutterable defeat – to all appearances – for the followers of Jesus? Yet in about fifty days thereafter, the great revival burst forth on the day of Pentecost!
Although we today live in one of the earth’s darkest hours since Calvary, let us believe God to send yet another mighty Pentecost and save multitudes from among the Gentiles before He grafts Israel back into His favor (Rom. 11:1-32). Let us set our faces (Dan. 9:3), and stir up ourselves to take hold of God (Isa. 64:7), and pray through till God comes and rains righteousness upon us (Hos. 10:12).
