p. 4 | MAN'S RELATION TO GOD by Wm. Covert

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 18, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 51.

MAN'S RELATION TO GOD.

By Wm. Covert

I WILL say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back; bring My sons from far, and My daughters from the ends of the earth, even every one that is called by My name; for I have created them for My glory.” Isa. 43:6, 7.

The faculties of man were intended to serve as mediums through which the divine glory could manifest itself. His mental nature was designed to be a channel through which the divine Mind could communicate its wisdom and manifest its love. The electric lamp hanging over the street is put in position to serve as a medium of light. Yet it is only the dispensing agent where the glory of the electric plant delivers some particles of its brightness to drive away the darkness.

So the faculties of man in touch with the power of God reflect the light of God. Man’s mind receives thoughts from the Lord, and dispenses them to those who are taught. Through man’s services the Lord bestows the bounties of heaven upon His creatures. God’s love is constantly seeking ways by which it can lavish its bounties upon whatever is prepared to receive them.

Love desires to be utilized, and so it searches for companionship among the sons and daughters of Adam. The conduct of the Infinite One in this respect finds its counterpart in the charities of Christian philanthropists. These take the poor and needy into their homes to teach them lessons of love and trust. God does the same with all whom He calls to dwell with Him. “God also is faithful, by whom ye ‘were called unto the fellowship of His Son.”

The above Scriptural statement is illustrated in the story of a Christian evangelist. Speaking of that which had taken place in his own home, he said there was a poor, untaught, and homeless boy, living in sin, called to abide as a member of his family. The boy was expected to associate with a natural-born son in the home. Being called to this sonship, the boy was required to cast off his soiled garments, and being washed, to put on clothes new and clean. This done, he was invited to the table to eat—neither as a beggar nor a stranger, but as a son in his father’s house.

Tho the benefactor was doing well the part of a father, it was difficult for the boy to feel that he was a son. He hesitated in receiving kindnesses, and thought he should constantly refer to what his condition had previously been. He would apologize and say, “Mr., you do too ‘much for one like me.” It was very difficult for him to realize that he could be anything else than a tramp or beggar.

Tho frequently told that he was a son, yet his tendency was to

accept all kindnesses as tho he were receiving charity. A long time was required to make him understand how the family could enjoy the blessings they were showering upon him. To himself he seemed a sorrowful outcast, begging for even a crust of bread.

But the secret was that Christ, through the warm hearts of this family, was manifesting His own tenderness toward a poor child. It was Jesus working to reclaim a wanderer. Christ was bestowing His love on one in need.

The history of John Müller, of Bristol, England, is an illustration of how Christ by His Spirit works through men, caring for the needy. This man, with no visible income, trusting only to God, who hears prayer, for a period of about sixty-five years bestowed charities upon orphan children. Counting the whole period, more than one hundred and twenty thousand children were under his care. He was enabled to build five orphanages on Ashby Down, at a cost of about $570,000. The aggregate sum of the gifts sent to him for all purposes exceeded $7,000,000. It came in sums ranging from one half cent up to $60,000. It was sent him exactly as it was needed. If he had at his table two thousand orphans, they were fed and clothed; if the number was but thirty, there was but little left. The Lord knew all the time how many were to be cared for, and so He gave the supply to meet the demand. The gifts came from all parts of the earth—from men in every grade of life, and most frequently from persons unknown to Mr. Müller. Times might be bad, and panics abroad, yet the stream of donations failed not. In all this the Lord’s life was drawn out to those who were trusting in Him to be sustained, and He never failed them.

The Lesson.

The above pictures of benevolence and love fitly illustrate the manner of God’s dealings with man. He connects the poor, the helpless, and the untaught with His own household, and brings them to fellowship with Jesus His Son. The first and principal consideration is that of saving those taken into this close relationship. Then there is a blessing, too, which comes to the benefactor who helps the needy. The heart of him who bestows gifts upon the helpless, is kept tender, and his life is expanded in the ratio that he lives through the lives of others. Love has a way of increasing itself by giving.

A peculiar quality of Christian philanthropy enables it to enlarge its resources by giving things away. Through this principle the Saviour has, by dying, multiplied His life. His soul, being poured out unto death, became the seed of life to those in the grave. The believer in touch with that life, tho he go into death, will spring forth as seed that is sown in fertile soil. Thus every soul that is redeemed is an increase to the joy of the Redeemer. Wm. COVERT.