Covenanter Witness Vol. 86 - Rparchives.org

Moderator's Sermon. from page 7This is the thing that is taking place in the midst ofall the gloom and discouragement that we behold in theworld today. In spite of all the opposition and all the doubtand apostasy, the Kingdom of God is going forth untovictory. While there are indications that many are turningfrom the truth, there are at the same time reports ofprogress which^the gospel is making in parts of the worldwhich have been considered backward and uncivilized. Itis significant that a secular news magazine, U. S. News andWorld Report (December 28, 1970) reports that largenumbers of people in Africa are becoming Christians. Thisis confirmed by an article in Eternity (November, 1970). Inthe report of an interview with Dr. Arthur F. Glasser,Dean of Fuller Seminary, he states, "It was estimatedrecently that if Christianity continues to grow at itspresent rate in Africa, 45 percent of its population will beChristian by the year 2000. . . .Or consider Brazil. There,Protestantism has been growing 11.3 percent per year forseveral years. In Latin America as a whole, the Protestantchurch has grown from two million to 20 million sinceWorld War II And in Korea, in the seven years afterthe Korean conflict ended, the Church grew more thanithad in the previous 60 years. In South India, in Taiwan,and of course, in Indonesia, the same fantastic growth hasbeen taking place." It may be that the civilization whichwe know in North America today will pass into oblivionbecause of wickedness, but when we consider the spreadof the gospel in other parts of the world, we have reason tohope. It is not unreasonable to think that a generationfrom now, Christian missionaries may be coming to NorthAmerica from Africa. The promise of our text isreassuring, forit declares that the islands will await thecoming of His Word. Even the most remote places in theworld will not be forgotten.V. HIS MISSION IS DESTINED TO SUCCEED"He shall not fail nor be discouraged."The project of bringing the world to Christ is so vastthat men despair ofit ever being accomplished. It is interestingto note that the root of the Hebrew wordtranslated "smoking" or "dimly burning" in verse 3 is alsoused in verse 4 whereit is translated "fail." It might beparaphrased to read, "He shall not burn dimly, untiljustice is established in the earth." Also, the word translated"discouraged" is translated "suppressed" in theBerkeley version. This is the equivalent of saying thatthere is nothing that can stay His progress in the establishmentof His kingdom. We cannot know all the details ofthe coming success of the gospel, whether vast numbers ofpeople will be converted, and righteousness shall encompassthe earth, or whether Christ will come injudgment, bringing all things in subjection to Him. Butthere can be no doubt as to the final outcome of thestruggle, and the ultimate success of the Kingdom of Godin the world.It is related that John Knox once wrote a letter tothe queen's secretary that told of the misfortunes whichhad befallen the Reformation in Scotland. He summed upthe matter by saying, "Disaster stares us in the face." Butin the same letter he concluded by saying, "The cause ofGod never looked better, for we are now completely atHis mercy." This must be the spirit in which the Christianfaces the world today. Can we as a church say with JohnKnox that we "are completely at His mercy"? We need tobe aware that often in the history of the church thegreatest advances of the cause of Christ have followeddays of darkest gloom.About 25 years ago when I was pastor of the LakeReno congregation, I was invited to assist with communionat Bloomington, Indiana. At that time, Dr. HarryJellema, a member of the Christian Reformed Church, washead of the Philosophy Department at Indiana University,and faithfully attended the services at our church. OnMonday following communion, I went over to theUniversity and sat in one of his classes. At the end of theclass, I paused to visit with Dr. Jellema. He asked aboutmy work, and I must have related some of the difficultieswe were facing and expressed some discouragement, for Istill remember his reply. "When you are discouraged,remember that it is because there are problems atGlenwood, Minnesota and God has placed you there forthe purpose of solving them." I have never forgotten thosewords, and often in the years which have followed, I haveremembered them and received new courage for the task.It is in that spirit that I speak to you tonight. If the waybefore us seems difficult, let us remember that God hasplaced us where we are that we may find answers to theproblems.Every year when we come to Synod, we becomeaware of problems and are dismayed by the magnitude ofour task. I must confess that some years I have gone homefrom Synod discouraged becauseit appeared that we weremaking so little progress. But let us remember thatit is notfor us to measure the progress of the Kingdom. It may bethat our particular task is to be the "smoking flax" thatshall not be quenched. God can take our witness, as feebleasit may be, and useit for His glory. Our Lord neverpromised His disciples that the way would be easy, for Hesaid, "Behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves."But He also instructed John to write to the church atPergamos and say, "To him that overcometh will I give thehidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in thestone a new name written" (Revelation 2:17).When we read of the discouragements and persecutionswhich the Apostle Paul faced,it would seemthat if anyone ever had reason to be discouraged,it washe. But in spite of all that he had passed through, and ofthe ominous future which lay before him, he wasstill ableto write to the Church at Corinth, (II Corinthians 4:8-10)"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we areperplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken;cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearingabout in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the lifealso of Jesus might be made manifest in our body." Withthat spirit of confidence, let us face the tasks before us,remembering the promise that "smoking flax He shall notquench." ..,10 COVENANTER WITNESS