The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1919, Page 42

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

ad

?

ae SSeS SS

'The Lutheran Pioneer.

in a glorified state on earth. It is impossible that
natural eyes should be able to see what is invisible.
Our heavenly Father is not visible to earthly vision,
for He is a spirit. Artists, of course, give Him
some form. Painters or sculptors represent Him
as a man, with a beard to symbolize His age, and
a long, flowing garment, to indicate His majesty, ete.
The Son of God became visible indeed during the
days of His flesh; but He appeared as a lowly,
humble servant. After His resurrection He did
not show Himself alive to His enemies, but only
to His friends. The Holy Ghost, too, is invisible.
Although His workings sometimes appear, His ac-
tivity quite often is not seen. “A person may, for
instance, wear a mien which seems significant of
nothing, and yet his heart may be full to over-
flowing of the Spirit. The human face is not
always expressive of what is going on in the soul.
We do not yet appear here on earth, then, as
God’s children.

True, every Christian knows the inward glory
of his fellow-Christians. He knows them as God’s
children. This he knows by experience, he himself
having a-converted heart. Indeed, he cannot with
unfailing sureness tell whether his Christian breth-
ren and sisters have faith or not; he cannot look
into their hearts. But it is nevertheless his duty
to regard them as such if they use the means of
grace and, as far as human eyes can see, lead a
_ godly life. Mistakes are made; hyprocrites are
regarded as Christians. But this will not destroy
or endanger the Church; for “the foundation of
the Lord standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord
knoweth them that are His.”

Each Christian knows that he is a child of God.
He is certain that he is converted, for the Oil of
Gladness with which he is anointed, the divine
Spirit within him, bears witness to his own spirit
that he is a blessed child of God. But we should
none the less ever search our hearts whether we
be in the faith, lest we deceive ourselves, regarding
ourselves as Christians while, in truth, we are un-
believers. In times of trial our vision may be
blurred temporarily, so that a doubt arises within
our soul whether we really are God’s children. But
God is greater than our condemning hearts. He
sees all things, and will again reassure us and cause
us to say with Paul: “I am persuaded that neither
death nor life,” ete. Rom. 8, 38. 39.

The fact that we are God’s children and heirs
does not yet appear here on earth. This glory and
dignity of ours is not appreciated by the world.

We do not yet belong to the Church triumphant,
but are still members of the Church militant. But
although such is the case, it is nevertheless @ most
wonderful, marvelous thing that we are God's own
children even here on earth. Hence St. John ex-
claims: “Behold, what manner of Jove the Father
hath bestowed upon us that we should be called
children of God”; .and such we are.

Even the sight of God’s many temporal gifts -—~ —

impels us to ery out, “Behold, what manner of
love the Father hath bestowed upon, us!” He has
given us our bodies, our raiment and food. Not
only does He provide us with all that we need,
but He also gives us other gifts besides which
make life pleasant. But what are earthly things
compared with the spiritual, eternal treasures which
tod has given us Christians? Are not the heavens
highly exalted above the earth? So the latter are
elevated far above the former. 1s not the soul
much more valuable than the body? Is not the
light of faith much greater than that of reason,
as the sun is more luminous than the brightest
electric light? Our Father has given us so many
spiritual gifts, such as the sweet joy of the Holy
Ghost, the peace that passeth all understanding,
the forgiveness of sins (which, if we possess it,
causes usto be satisfied with whatever may happen
to us), Christian fearlessness, good works, the hope
of eternal life, ete. And behold, in particular, what
manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us
that we should be called children af God, and we
are such! We are even now, in this earthly life,
truly and really the children of God, although our
glory is not yet manifest in the sight of the world.

What an astounding fact, brimful of joy and con-

solation! For if we are God’s children, then He,
as our Father, will surely care for us, daily bless us,
guide us, protect us from danger, hear and grant
our prayers. ‘Then He will do according to His
promise: “Call upon Me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.”
Let us, then, be truly thankful to Him, and ever
walk as His children, serving Him in filial faith
and obedience, here in time and finally in eternity.
H. Osrerius.

>es> —

Brror®é we can be zealous apostles, it will be
necessary that we be humble disciples; before we
can sincerely direct a lost world to the only Savior,
we must have knelt at the feet of the King with
the ery, “My Lord and my God!”

<