GOD'S KEEPING POWER

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 18, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 25.

GOD'S KEEPING POWER.

THESE are days of stress and storm and tempest. Whirlwinds of human passion sweep over the earth. Great winds of popular folly carry all light and movable things before them. Cyclones of great temptation seem forming all around him who would walk straight on in the narrow way. These are times of moral danger even more than physical.

It is not mere leaves that are being detached by the great tempests of to-day. It is sad to see these go, to see beautiful trees stripped of their foliage. It is sadder still to see the trees go, torn up by the roots or broken or split or twisted off in the trunk. It is sad to see the buildings go down and note the wrecks of noble edifices in the whirlwind's path. It is sadder still to know that lives have been snuffed out by the tempest's wrath. Men are worth more than trees. Souls are of more value than brick and marble palaces.

INSTINCTIVELY the heart trembles when one sees inexperienced youth start on a perilous journey up a mountain path, down a steep declivity, on narrow spans over a fierce, foaming torrent. We feel that they are not physically able for the task that is dangerous even for experienced men. We wish they had some strong helper. Our hearts faint when one slips and falls to destruction. But how many there are who are going to wreck morally all around us, swept by wind and tempest from treacherous slippery paths, to be lost forever, and we are scarcely stirred. The apathy of death is over the great mass, they are not alarmed even for themselves.

COULD we but draw back the veil which hides the invisible from mortal eyes, how differently would we feel! Could we see the angels of evil, grown by long practise skilful to destroy, ever following our pathway, lurking by our side, and by suggestion and snare and gin endeavoring to lead and lure and entrap us to everlasting perdition, we would be alarmed. Could we see the many times we have been saved by the mercy of God from sure destruction when we felt our feet sure; we would tremble at our vain self-confidence. The dangers, the wrecks, the storms, the tempests, the treacherous paths, the strong, resourceful, watchful enemy, and man's own utter weakness, demonstrated so often, ought to lead every believer in Christ Jesus to cry out, in the words of the psalmist, “Hold up my goings in Thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.” It is God who must hold up,—He who never falls. “Let me take your hand, papa,” said the little three-year-old toddler, running along carelessly on a smooth city walk. But the little inexperienced, careless feet soon tripped, the weak baby hand lost its hold, and the little man, strong and confident in himself, fell. But the fall made him wiser (would God it might children of older growth). “Papa,” came the little voice again, “you take my hand, and hold me up if I slip.” He wanted the stronger grip, gladly given, and by means of its kindly, stronger grasp the little one walked safely.

HE only is held who is “kept by the power of God.” He only is held up who is held from above. On life's stormy sea, many anchor to the depths beneath and find watery graves. The Christian finds anchorage above. Christ reaches down and lifts from the trough of the mighty sea, from the overwhelming waves. He reaches down His mighty, kindly arm, and grasps the hand, if He is permitted, of him who walks in dangerous places, and holds him from falling. We may pray the prayer.

BUT in His paths it must be. We can not ask God's blessing, God's keeping power, when we go on forbidden ground. “In the way of righteousness is life.” There may be ways that seem right to our wisdom, but the ends are the ways of death. Only where He walks can we walk. And every path that He asks us to take is marked by His own faithful and oftentimes bleeding footsteps, but footsteps that never faltered, never failed,—“kept by the power of God.” In His paths we may walk and fail not.

BUT held up how, kept how?—“Kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.” “Simply trusting, that is all.” Faith is harmony with Him; doing His will, receiving

His life, agreeing with Him in all things, at all times, in all ways. With what confidence then can we pray the Spirit-inspired prayer, “Hold up my goings in Thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.” And He will do it, never fear, if there is perfect distrust of self, perfect trust in Him.

KEPT by His word. Note the context of our text: “Concerning the works of men, by the word of Thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.” Ps. 17:4. But the mere possession of the Bible is not sufficient, the reading or even memorizing of the Word will not keep us. It must be in us as leaven is placed in meal, to be effectual. “Thy Word,” says the psalmist, “have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.” Ps. 119:11. “Thy words were found, and I did eat them,” says the prophet; “and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart; for I am called by Thy name, O Lord God of hosts.” Jer. 15:16. Only by feeding upon God's Word, by assimilating its life, by using its power in service for God, can we be kept. But if eaten, digested, assimilated, used in the faith of Jesus Christ, no power can cast us down, ensnare our feet, or destroy us. We are “kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Peter 1:5. Thus may it be with every soul who reads this