THE PROGRAM by T. E. Bowen

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Oct 12, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 40.

THE PROGRAM.

By T. E. Bowen

BY T. E. BOWEN.

The program of any exercise is expected to cover the entire proceedings. From the opening scene until the very closing event, the carefully-prepared program will reveal each succeeding change in the exercises.

Thus God has prepared the program of events to transpire in our world. We sometimes lose sight of this stupendous truth, and because of its infinity some do not believe it; but whether we believe it, or disbelieve it, it still remains the truth. The great and mighty God knew the end from the beginning. He arranged the program for nations, giving each its allotted time for existence, the bounds of its habitation before it came to be a nation, all for the purpose that individuals composing them might have opportunity to work out character and determine whether or not they would honor and obey God. “And He made of one every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, having determined [beforehand] appointed seasons, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek God, if haply they might feel after Him and find Him, tho He is not far from each one of us.” Acts 17: 26, 27.

The great prophetic portions of God’s Word reveal clearly to us that God knew the program before nations existed. He faithfully delineated to the prophets that which was yet untranspired. Accurately has history chronicled these events in their order. One had only to consult God’s revealed program to know by faith what was the next great event to transpire. And those who have studied the prophecies carefully, and ascertained their ponderous revelations, and believed, have never been deceived as to the coming scene.

Thus Daniel, by studying the writings of Ezekiel, learned that after seventy years of captivity in Babylon, Israel was to be restored to their home land. And so it was.

Instance after instance can be cited where the weary mariner on life’s sea has been safely guided by consulting this heavenly chart—the Word of God.

The program having been accurately fulfilled from the beginning until now, certainly men and women are foolish indeed to set aside, or neglect to study, the chart to ascertain what is just before. The foreshadow of terrible events to come throws itself across our pathways, and men’s hearts fill with fear and dread as to what these untranspired events will be. And well they may. The Bible only holds the sequel. The program for the immediate future is contained therein. The program is in the hand of the Infinite.

Ezekiel at one time beheld the throne of the great God. To him it looked like many complications of wheels within wheels, but when it moved, all was guided by the hand of the Eternal so that it moved in perfect order. “As the wheel-like complications were under the guidance of the hand beneath the wings of cherubim, so the complicated play of human events is under divine control. Amidst the strife and tumult of nations, He that sitteth above the cherubim still guides the affairs of earth.”

Reader, your name is on the program. A place is given you in the great drama of life, or you would not be here. For whom are you playing your part? No man lives or dies to himself. He is either serving the purpose of God, or God’s great enemy. This is a sure thing. Behind the scene are both good and evil unseen heavenly agencies at work, and for one or the other company every human being is acting.

The outcome is on the program. The last scene is about to take place, and when it closes, with it will be decided the destiny of every soul. Study the program. God has placed a copy in your hands. By following it carefully you need not be deceived.

Rome, N. Y.