Prepare to Meet God

Prepare to Meet God

Prepared on May 25, 1934 at 10:30 p.m. by W.H. Wood

Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.  Amos 4:12

Amos was pleading with the children of Israel to prepare to meet God.  He had warned them of the many things God had done to arouse the spirit within them; but yet, they were not willing to return to the Lord.  “Preparedness brings confidence and peace and poise and joy.”

“You can’t get insurance on your house when it is in flames; neither can you get into the heavenly feast when the door is shut”.  Jesus taught in the parable of the ten virgins one of the world’s greatest lessons on preparedness. 

      Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.  And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.  They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold , the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.  And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.  But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.  Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.  But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.  Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. Matthew 25:1-13

There are 4 things found in this parable that we want to discuss at this time:

Character contrasted.  “And five of them were foolish, and five were wise.” In order that the contrast between the two groups of girls may be more fully realized.  Let us first note certain respects in which they were similar.  They all desired to honor the bridegroom and to attend the wedding feast.  They all had lamps.  They all slumbered and slept while the arrival of the bridegroom was delayed.  Not until his approach was announced did the difference between them appear.  Then it was disclosed that the five of them were foolish and five were wise; that five of them had no oil for their lamps and five of them did; that five of them were prepared and five unprepared for the bridegroom’s coming.  Externally, they were alike.  The difference was internal. 

Character revealed in crisis.  Let us remember that the main point Jesus was making was that Christians should be prepared at all times, since the particular time of crisis which is either their death, or His second coming, would thrust upon them was uncertain.  Sooner or later the crisis hour will come to all – that hour which will reveal character and fix destiny.  How we shall meet that hour and stand the test of its disclosures will depend upon previous preparations.  It will be too late then to remedy the neglect of past opportunities.  It should not be difficult to persuade us of this truth as it relates to the spiritual realm because we know that it is true in other realms. 

Who are they who meet the crisis of life successfully?  Well, do we know that it is those who have stored up a reserve supply of physical or mental or moral or spiritual strength upon which they may draw?  When the testing crisis comes, a study of our record in meeting the crisis hours of life will furnish a good index to our characters.

Character is nontransferable.  “Give us of your oil….not so”.  The failing lamp at midnight brought home to the foolish virgins their lack of the one essential to qualify them for the occasion at hand.  To their sorrow, they found that they could not borrow from the wise virgins.   It will be that same say in the kingdom of heaven.  The essential for welcoming the coming of heaven’s bridegroom and the entrance to the joys of His feast will be the brightly burning lamp of an abiding Christian experience.  Faith must be shining still.  Character must have undergone the transforming touch of the Holy Spirit in the new birth and the sustaining and sanctifying influence of His continued presence.  Character is an individual thing.  It is personal.  It cannot be transferred.  The lack of the foolish virgins cannot be supplied by the wise.  Each one shall have to meet the test for himself.  It will then be too late to draw upon the goodness of others.  Neither mother, nor father, nor brother, nor sister, nor pastor, nor loved one, nor saint, nor apostle, nor angel can help us then.  Their examples can and should influence now to see to it that the right sort of spiritual preparation is made that faith in Christ shall become the chief cornerstone in the foundation of our character.  Character is a man’s untransferable possession.  There are some things which can be neither loaned nor borrowed.  Character is one of them.  This is just another way of saying that we must meet the high moral and spiritual tests of life and of death alone. 

Lost opportunities cannot be recalled.  “And the door was shut”.  Agonizingly, the foolish virgins sought to gain entrance to the feast.  Their cries pierced the night.  But they were not admitted.  “Sad, sad, that bitter wail – almost – but lost!”  This truth applies to the opportunities of the here and now.  Once lost, they do not return.  Other opportunities may come, but they are not the same.  The gospel of Christ may be presented to a sinner and he be urged to repent of sin, and accept and confess Christ as his Savior and Lord.  He may reject the offer of salvation.  Perchance ten years may go by and that same sinner may have the same gospel proclaimed to him by the same preacher.  The terms of salvation are announced as just the same and such they are.  But even though, that sinner accepts Christ as his Savior on the latter occasion, he has lost ten years of Christian life and joy and service.  That first opportunity passed never to return in all its fullness.  But death shuts the door finally on all opportunity of becoming a new creature in Christ Jesus.

At the midnight hour, the foolish virgins tried to remedy their lack of preparedness, but it was too late.  He who deliberately or even carelessly postpones his preparation to meet Christ, foolishly hoping that somehow in the crisis hour he can make things right, will in all likelihood find the door shut and himself standing without in the blackness of the night, while the voice of the long neglected savior will say: “Verily, I say unto you, I know you not.”  But less any should have that terrible experience, that same blessed Savior said then, and He says now, “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh”.  Oh, that today all would hear His voice and harden not their hearts, as He says, “Watch and pray”, He also says, “except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish”; again He says, “Ye must be born again”; Once again He says, “except ye be converted and become as little children ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”  He says again, “Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  He says again, “I am the way, the truth and the life:  No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.”  And He says, “Be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye thing not the Son of Man cometh.”  Matthew 24:44

For those who are prepared, death is not an enemy, but a friend who swings wide the door to a higher life.  

The Greatness of Our God

The Greatness of Our God

Prepared on May 23, 1946 by W.H. Wood

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”  Psalm 46:1

God is first in this text.  He is first in all things.  He was first in creation, and should be given first place and the greatest honor in every life.  The psalmist in this text points us to the one source of every need of the soul.

God is our shelter.  “God is our refuge”

            When trouble overcomes us, and trials baffle us, and sorrows weigh us down, and burdens are too heavy to bear, and dangers are all about us, and doubt is in the soul, and difficulties seem to be too great to be overcome, the Lord is our refuge.  He extends His loving arms and in a gentle voice with pleading petition, He invites us to come to Him for shelter.  Take refuge in God from the fierce storms of life.  He will calm the soul and enrich the life. 

God is our strength.  “God is our strength”

            Man is weak and wayward.  He falters and fails and falls.  Man will doubt and push on into danger.  Man is often helpless and heartless.  There is no need for man to be like this.  The Lord has promised to be the strength of the life of His people.  God is our strength.  He has all the power we will need in our lives.  He promises to use this power for our good and His glory.  We need only to let the Lord be the strength of our life.  He longs for this privilege. 

God is our support.  “God is a very present help in trouble”

            So often, the soul of man comes to the place in life when the closest human being cannot help.  It seems that strength must come from a source higher than man and from a power greater than man.  When help of this kind is needed, the gracious God of the universe is willing and ready to help.  He is very anxious to help in every trial, every temptation, and every trouble.

May we lean on the Lord and let Him help us, and call upon Him and He will abundantly bless us.

Mothers

Mothers

By W.H. Wood prepared on May 8, 1936 for Mother’s day at Salem.

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.  The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.  She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.  She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.  She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.  She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.  She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.  She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.  She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.  She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.  She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.  She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.  She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.  Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.  She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.  Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.  She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.  She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.  Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.  Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.  Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.  Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates. Proverbs 31:10-31

Our nation will never be greater than our mothers.

What Christian mothers are doing:

“Working willingly with their hands.

 “She riseth while it is night”, to give aid to her household.

She works in farms.

She forces herself many times to produce strength in behalf of her love ones.

"She layeth her hands to the spindle.”

She always offers assistance to the poor and needy.

“She is not afraid of the snow”, she continues to labor for her household.

What Christian mothers say:

  She opens her mouth and gives wisdom.  

  In her tongue is the law of kindness.

  Her words are consoling, inspiring, informing, encouraging, and loving. 

  She is capable of giving advice.  She does not advise wrong. She giveth wisdom.

What Christian mothers see:

She sees the good things in her children.

Her candle goeth not out at night.

Her heart is broken if she is forced to see sin in our lives.

The rewards of Christian motherhood:

 Her children will rise up and call her blessed.

 Her husband will also praise her.

 Her community and nation will honor her.

 The excellence of motherhood is the greatest honor. 

Abraham Lincoln said, “All that I am, or expect to be, I owe to my angel mother.”

John Quincy Adams said, “All that I am my mother made me.”

Napoleon said, “Let France have good mothers and she will have good sons.”

M         Melodies that mother often sings.  I love her sweet voiced music, for a sense of peace it brings.

O         Ovation that we give to mother today.  Many sons and daughters respond to the tribute we pay to mother on this Mother’s day.

T          Token that today with pride we wear to show our deepest gratitude for mother’s love and care.

H         Hands that guide us when we stray, that toil for us unceasingly and sooth our trouble away.

E          Eyes whose tender lights express the constant and unchanging love that the heart cannot express.

R         Refuge whose strength we early learn.  A shelter when we are troubled to which we often turn.  

Proverbs 31:26

Proverbs 31:26

Prepared on May 10, 1935 by W.H. Wood

She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. Proverbs 31:26

In 1908, Miss Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia observed the first Mother’s day in memory of her mother.  We desire to pay honor to her who, after Jesus Christ is God’s best gift to man, Mother.

Jesus in admonishing the people said, “Consider the lily”, God will take care of you.  So let the white carnation be an emblem of Mother’s day as it brings to us the message of motherhood.

Its whiteness tells of her purity.  To bear children is not all of motherhood, indeed it is a small part of it. 

Its form tells of the beauty of motherhood.  This does not mean that every mother is beautiful of face, but all motherhood is beautiful. 

Its fragrance tells of the love of motherhood.  The family tree of the carnation is famous.  It is the “cloves” tree of the tropics.  It produces aromatic spices, it bears fruit to eat, and its oil is a medicine.

The broad field of growth of the carnation suggests the charity of motherhood. 

Its lasting qualities tell of the faithfulness of motherhood. 

It is mothers’ love that faileth not.  

Sin's Miseries and The Way of Escape

Sin’s Miseries and the Way of Escape

By W.H. Wood

O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.  For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.  There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.  For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.  My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness.  I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.  For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.  I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.  Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.  My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me. My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.  They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.  But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.  Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs.  For in thee, O LORD, do I hope : thou wilt hear , O Lord my God.  For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.  For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me.  For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.  But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied. They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.  Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me. Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation. Psalm 38:1-22

This Psalm of “Remembrance” which reminds us of a boiling pot in which there are many unsavory ingredients, is in marked contrast to the preceding Psalm.  We may partly misunderstand David, if we forget that he acted not only as King of Israel, but also as Israel’s national poet.  This is the language of one who remembers the horrors of the pit out of which he has been dug.

The Miseries of Sin:

            Sin, when it is finished bringeth forth death.  See how it operates in the awaken sinner. 

Conviction:   “Thine arrows stick fast in me”.  It is not at the sinner God shoots at so much as at his sins.  His arrows are sharp and pierce to the core of the evil.  The word of God is a discerner of the heart. 

Disorder:   “There is no soundness in my flesh”.  His whole moral nature was discovered to be diseased, and out of order.  This is a most humbling revelation.  The heart has been found out to be a deceitful traitor, and all its actions discovered to be polluting and disorderly.

Unrest:   “Neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin”.  The strongest features in his character were shaken and troubled at the thought of sin.  The whole fabric of his moral nature was disturbed.  Real conviction of sin is as an earthquake in the soul – universal disturbance. 

Oppression:  “Mine iniquities are as a heavy burden they are too heavy for me”.  Too heavy for me?  Yes, but not too heavy for Him.  Who bore our sins in His own body on the tree.  What can a man do with a burden that is too heavy for him, and who cannot cast it off?  O wretched man!  Who shall deliver?

Corruption:  “My wounds stink and corrupt because of my foolishness”.  This is no exaggerated figure of speech; it is the sober statement of one who has seen and felt sin in its true character and effects.  There is no balm in Gilead, no physician on earth that can heal those deep-seated festering wounds.

Helpless:  “I am feeble and sore broken.”  His whole nature was completely benumbed and powerless to throw off the foul malady.  “without strength” is the condition of all under the torpid blight of sin. 

Darkness:  “As for the light of mine eyes, it has gone from me”.  All the light of hope he had before has died out.  Darkness covers the face of his deep.   

The Way of Escape:

Confession:  “I will declare my iniquity.”  He that covereth his sin shall not prosper, but if we confess our sins.  He is faithful and just to forgive our sins.   

Contrition:  “I am sorry for my sins.”  This is the Godly sorrow that worketh repentance to salvation.  The confession that does not spring from contrition of heart is mockery.  It is he that confesseth and forsaketh his sin that finds mercy. 

Faith:  “In thee, O Lord do I hope.  Thou wilth hear, O Lord my God.”  Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.  Romans 10:9-10