Where Is Our God of Olden Times? by Caroline Louise Clough

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Feb 12, 1914

Where Is Our God of Olden Times?

By Caroline Louise Clough

CAROLINE LOUISE CLOUGH

I RECENTLY received an unsigned letter, from which I quote the following:— “My husband is not converted. I have been praying very hard for him lately, but it does not help. God will not hear. I am very, very sorry. I cannot believe in prayers any more. In olden times when God’s people prayed, he always heard them, but he does no more. Where is our God and Father of old, the Lord of all power? Is there any among you that knows how to pray as in the olden times when God heard and answered prayers? Will you pray, then? but not an ordinary prayer. There must be some one who knows God personally. I understand no more.”

This pathetic letter set me thinking, and I cannot let this challenge of my God pass by unanswered. It is true that there are very few manifestations of God’s power among professed Christians today. But is God to blame?—No, never! “Jesus Christ [is] the same yesterday, and today, and forever,” and he declares, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”

Let us consider one of the promises: “What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” Mark 11:24.

One woman had found this promise and had been praying for some selfish object. Not receiving an answer to her prayer, she was about to give up her faith and curse God, when she happened to meet a Christian minister, to whom she told her experience. He immediately turned to 1 John 3:22, and read: “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” She at once recognized that the difficulty was not with God, but with her, and she began to make things right.

A few days ago a friend, as an accommodation, cashed a check for some one who was leaving the city. The check was sent to the bank on which it was drawn, and was returned with the information that the person whose name appeared on the check had no credit in that bank. So it is with the great bank of heaven. It has been said, “Prayer is the key that unlocks heaven’s storehouse,” but the conditions of answered prayer must be met. When these conditions are met, then, through the merits of Christ, we have a credit in the bank of heaven. By faith we may avail ourselves of Christ’s righteousness. We may pass up our checks at any time, and they will be honored.

We find, in olden times, that before every manifestation of God’s power in behalf of his people there was a putting away of sin and a cleansing of the camp. The Lord says, “Your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” Isa. 59:2. Also, “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.” Prov. 28:9.

There is too much professing religion in these days, and too little experiencing religion. No power in prayer means no God in the life. No Christ enthroned within means a heart stained with sin.

If we will but come to him, he will cleanse our soul temple from all defilement, give us grace and strength to “keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” Then we shall be able to reveal to others his wondrous power working in our lives.

Hinsdale, Ill.