[Biblemat] A) "IN THE TIME OF THEIR TROUBLE" - SEEING THE PROMISES

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  A very good Tuesday
morning to each and everyone.  May God bless you and yours.
Here are a couple of short articles from my ancient files:

"IN THE TIME OF THEIR TROUBLE" 

     "As the thief is ashamed when he is found out, so is the
house of Israel ashamed:  They and their kings and their prin-
ces, and their priests and their prophets, saying to a tree, 'You are my 
father,' and to a stone, 'You gave birth to me.'  For they have turned their back 
to Me, and not their face.  But in the time of their trouble they will say, 
'Arise and save
us.'  But where are your gods that you have made for your-
selves?  Let them arise, if they can save you in time of your
trouble; for according to the number of your cities are your
gods, O Judah." (Jer. 2:26-28).

     Like Judah, people live godless lives, turning their back on
God, but in time of trouble they plead for His salvation.  An
elderly gentleman prided himself on being an atheist, and at
times stated his belief that there is no God.  However, on day
when he was crossing a street and thought that he would be
run over by an oncoming automobile, in his distress he cried,
"God save me!"

     "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in
trouble." (Psa. 46:1).  A marginal reading says: "an abundant-
ly available help."  But not to those who call on HIm only "in
the time of their trouble."
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SEEING THE PROMISES

     "These all died in faith, not having received the promise,
but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embrac-
ed them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims
on the earth." (Heb. 11:13).

     The great saints of old -- for example, Abel, Enoch, Noah,
Abraham -- those previously mentioned in this chapter, lived
in faith and died in faith.

     Yet they never received the promises which God had made to His people.  
In their faith they saw them, though afar
off.  In their faith they were assured of them and embraced
them.  In their faith they confessed that they were strangers
and pilgrims on the earth.  In their faith they declared plainly
that they were seeking for a true homeland.  They desired "a
better, that is, a heavenly country" (Heb. 11:13-16).

     These faithful saints of old set a worthy example for us.
The ultimate promise of God is eternal life in the blissful heav-
enly home.  We have not yet received this promise, though we see it afar off, 
are assured of it, cherish it, and confess
that we are strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

     God was not ashamed to be called their God, nor will He 
be of us if we show the same obedient faith. (Heb. 11:16).
--------- Billy Norris, in Gospel Guide, Vol. 28, No. 1, Jan. 1996.


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