GOD’S MEANS OF RESTORING ORDER.
THE Lord’s infallible means of bringing order out of chaos is illustrated in the scriptural account of Creation. That record says: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light; and there was light.” In all the history of this world the principle herein set forth has been in vogue. When man fell from grace in Eden, the result was spiritual chaos; and when God would redeem the race and restore the former condition of the earth, He used the same means to bring order out of chaos that He had used in the first instance. He sent His Spirit abroad to brood over the chaotic condition and shed light upon it. The Spirit worked upon the minds of such men as would yield to its influence, and through them gave verbal instruction, warning, and encouragement to all who would heed its light-giving ministration. In course of time such history, exhortation, reproof, and direction as were deemed essential for the guidance of men were written out by direction of the Spirit. “Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21), and the matter was written for our learning (Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:11). That this means of restoration was to obtain from beginning to end of the Gospel work is made plain by the Scripture: (1) “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for He hath visited and redeemed His people, and hath raised up an Horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David; as He spake by the mouth of His holy prophets, which have been since the world began.” Luke 1:68-70. (2) In addition to the personal experience of the apostles with Christ, Peter says, “We have the word of prophecy made more sure; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts.” 2 Peter 1:19, A.R.V. Thus is the office of the Spirit of prophecy established from the beginning to the final restoration of all things. Time after time, as the professed people of God apostatized, reformation was instituted by the Spirit’s hovering over the situation and throwing upon it the penetrating light of God’s Word. And no true reformation ever has been accomplished in any other way. Just prior to the first advent of Christ, not only the world but the church “sat in darkness,” but with the coming of the Just One there was seen “a great Light.” His special forerunner and messenger, John the Baptist, was filled with the Holy Ghost even “from his mother’s womb;” and until Christ Himself began to teach, no greater prophet than John ever had appeared. As for Jesus, He was not only filled with the Spirit, but it was poured out upon Him in such plentitude that it even rested upon Him in bodily form, and abode upon Him. It was dealt out to Him “without measure,” and by this means He became preeminently “the Light of the World.” To such an extent was this true, that by the impartation of His Spirit to His disciples, they, too, become “the light of the world.” By the Spirit, through the lamp of God’s Word, we are to be instructed, guided, comforted, sanctified, encouraged. The presence of the Spirit is the “earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession.” Therefore the rejection of the Spirit of prophecy, on the part of the individual or of the church, is a deliberate return to spiritual chaos. To close the eyes to the “sure word of prophecy,” which is given as a special light in this “dark place” of sin, is to choose darkness rather than light. This is what the Jews did when they rejected Christ (John 3:19) and Stephen (Acts 7:51-60), and it is what every one does who rejects the testimony of His Spirit. In order that the natural heart may be regenerated and brought into subjection to the law of God, it is essential that the Spirit of Christ move upon it; and that the light of His Word permeate its inmost recesses. This is the only Gospel means of salvation. The inspired counsel is: “Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God; whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” Eph. 4:30. “Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesying.” 1 Thess. 5:19, 20.