PROPHECY, A LIGHT TO THE WAYFARER.
PROPHECY, foretelling the future, is a mighty external evidence of the truth of God's Word. It not alone confirms the faith of His children, but it convinces the skeptical that the Inspirer of the prophecy is the true God. There are many souls rejoicing in Gospel light to-day who were turned from the darkness of infidelity by the overwhelming evidence of the prophetic Word. There would be many more if to the watchmen of God that word became what it was to Peter of old. Note what he says of the evidence which convinced him of the mighty message of not only a crucified and risen Saviour, but a Saviour to come:— “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eye-witnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to Him from the excellent glory, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with Him in the holy mount.” “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation.” “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” Clearer than the testimony of the eyes which saw the dazzling glory of Christ's transfiguration; louder than the evidence of the ears which heard the Voice from glory; stronger, surer, than any evidence of human sense, is the “more sure word of prophecy,” which predicts in varied ways the glorious coming of Christ, and which had been confirmed to the apostle by all the predicted and fulfilled events of Christ's first advent. That prophecy is designed as a light to the way-faring pilgrim. He is passing through a world gloomed and befogged by sin. Man walking in the sparks of his own kindling, or following the ignis fatuus of sin-blinded philosophy, has ever walked into deeper darkness, into greater confusion. Over this fog-bank of sin, into the gloom of the world's darkness and confusion, the clear light of the prophetic word has illuminated the path of the pilgrim, has revealed the meaning of the times, and has painted upon the darkest sky of the world's despair the covenant-bow of promise. Sometimes a city, a nation, a world, becomes so crystallized in sin and selfishness that there is no forgiveness, because there is no more repentance; no salvation from sin, because no hatred of sin, no love for righteousness, no yearning after God. Yet God will not leave that city, that nation, that world, unwarned. “Shall there be evil in the city, and shall not the Lord do somewhat? Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets. The lion hath roared, who will not fear? The Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?” Amos 3: 6-8, margin. Nineveh, warned by Jonah, repented; but Sodom and the cities of the plain became so identified with sin, that in that condition the earth could bear them no longer. The festering plague of the fair valley must be extirpated. But before Infinite Justice could do this, Infinite Mercy pleads again. Lot stirred to repentance, lifts warning voice, but his words are regarded by his own relatives as mockery. Nothing could stay the impending wrath and the merited destruction. Egypt, Babylon, Israel, are instances of nations warned of God, who sent to them His prophet “messengers, rising up early and sending; . . . but they mocked the messengers of God, and despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of Jehovah arose against His people, till there was no healing.” 2 Chron. 36: 15, 16, margin. The antediluvian world was warned through Noah. For one hundred and twenty years the old patriarch prayed and labored and preached, yet how few regarded, and the Flood came and swept them all away. We are now in a time of great uncertainty, religious and political. Optimistic as men endeavor to be, it is frequently the optimism of fear, and the “hope” is but the wish. While the worst is feared, the best is hoped for. Yet from fearful hearts is often forced the confession of darkness and uncertainty, and the longing cry for light. Said the late Bishop Newman:— This is the most unsettled condition of the world since the crucifixion of Christ. The stability of government is no longer a fact. Change is in the atmosphere. It is just as true now as a thousand years ago, “Thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” Statesmen are at their wits' end. Philosophers speculate in vain. Archbishop Ireland, not long ago, said:— The bonds of society are relaxed; traditional principles are losing their sacredness, and perils hitherto unknown are menacing the life of the social organism. Signor Crispi, for many years prime minister of Italy, says of the nations of earth:— We are marching toward the unknown. Who knows what to-morrow has in store for us? The Springfield Republican, in 1900, said:— We see the boiling rapids of torrent plunging toward what abyss no one knows. . . . What the next stroke will be who can say? The Presbyterian, of Philadelphia, recently said:— Doubt and uncertainty abound. Loose thinking is dominant. All sorts of opinions prevail in and out of the church. A hearing is given to all kinds of isms. And these voices might be multiplied. The world is in darkness. Men are crying, “Peace and safety,” but know not what lies before. Why? Why the doubt, the darkness, the uncertainty?—Because men have forgotten God and turned from the light of His holy Word. “But ye, brethren,” says an apostle, “are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of the light, and the children of the day.” Why?—They heed the light of the more sure word of prophecy? More than twelve lines of prophecy culminate in this our day. They converge in this one generation. In the “dark place” of this world they are shining with clearer light than ever in the past. O, why will not the ministers of God, the church of God, give heed? They do well that they take heed. They do ill to neglect the light of God. Why slumber on and on till the final doom of earth breaks upon a sleeping church and world? Why not study and pray and know what God's Word so clearly declares? Has the apostle deceived us? He declares that prophecy is a light in the darkness, to which we do well that we take heed. Has Christ deceived us? He has said that we should “know” when His coming is near. “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets;” the prophets have revealed it unto us; and Jesus says, “Whoso readeth let him understand.” And upon him who heeds and does is His abundant, threefold benediction pronounced. Rev. 1: 3.