A TRUMPET CALL TO ARMS

1610 Main Street

Rock Valley, Iowa

January 10, 1951

My Dear Friend:

For some time I had it in my mind to send you a few lines, but many duties have prevented me from doing so. Will try to send you a letter now, and do believe that we do not forget about you. But the greatest blessing is that the merciful Redeemer and Lord does not forget about us. How has His loving kindness been upon us at all times, and yet His mercies are many. They are new every morning, and the prophet Jeremiah tells us that it is through the Lord’s mercies that we have not been consumed. This is a blessed truth. Have we not sinned greatly all the days of our life? Are we not guilty with all mankind or the whole human race, of that great original sin ? In Paradise, in that great sin leaving God and rebelling against Him, a fountain of sin and miseries has been opened, which spreads its waters in every heart, over the whole earth, and fills hell with everlasting pain and torment.

O, dear friend, how necessary to know by the blessed Word and Spirit of God, the greatness of our miseries and the danger there is to perish therein forever. Consider the three parts of our miseries: Sin, oh! that terrible sin, that has kindled God’s wrath and anger. Sin, that has corrupted body and soul, once filled with the glorious image of God. Sin, that the unspeakable consequences in time and eternity. O, let your eyes glance in the heart and about in this world, and we see what sin is. O, is it not a wonder that a soul in conviction of sin and righteousness, bewails sin, and will hate it, and will beg for forgiveness, and to be delivered from it. O, how will my soul rejoice soon, to be delivered of sin and corruption forever in heaven. You too?

And then the second part of our misery, namely, to be important under it. Just unable to deliver ourselves from the power of satan, sin, and world. O, do see it in yourself, and see it all over in this world. O, that slavery of sin! I am not able to bring my soul back to God, to atone my sins, to come in peace with God. O, terrible separation; unfathomed spiritual death! All God’s dear people learn to know this soul-misery, yea more and more. This will make them cry to Him Who is able to deliver, and is at all times willing in His great love and compassion to hearken unto the cries of the needy who cannot help themselves.

The third part of soul-misery is the curse of God that rests upon sin, being a trespassing of God’s Holy law, or commandments. Paul wrote about it, and says in Gal. 3:10, “Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things, which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” This curse is the whole punishment of sin. Includes everlasting punishment in hell, where we hear the rich man of (Luke 16:24) say, “I am tormented in this flame.”

Now you may ask me, Why do you mention these most solemn things and Biblical truths, I have heard them so often, etc! This is true, but it may be that you never heard them right, never have taken serious notice of them, that they have never been a blessing to your valuable soul. I also consider that you are now far away from home and dear ones, and that we live in such perilous times. Is not the whole world full of confusion, full of dangers, full of war and rumors of war ? For what reason were you called into the service, and many being called after you? Is not the most terrible war threatened that ever has been in a sinful world ? Why then do I write about such solemn things ? It may be a blessing for your soul. O, that the blessed Spirit would let you see and feel these truths, and what then? O, then you will cry for mercy, then you will weep and pray, then you will repent„ and seek shelter under the covering wings of Jesus, hunger and thirst after His righteousness. Or do you know something of these things? O, do let me know then!

It is my hearty prayer for you, that the blessed Jesus may be your Teacher, Guide, Leader, and Protector. O, do read your Bible, do pray to Him, and give a good testimony of Him whenever you have a chance. Do not follow wicked men in their evil practices, and stir God’s anger yet more. How many temptations in our heart, and without us. How weak are we, but Christ is the strong God, He can help, and is He not willing to help?

Dear Friend! we more or less know what is in your heart, but I can only write you a few lines, and may try to teach you the right way and encourage you; but Christ can help you, encourage you at all times, protect you and send you back home on His due time. O, do learn to seek this all in prayer at the throne of grace.

More boys of our churches are being called away, much misery and trouble will have to be endured even at home and on the farms soon. But if it only would be directed to God’s honor and our salvation.

Here are a few good lines from Psalm 91 for the upright and those that seek God in all their troubles:

Because thy trust is God alone
Thy refuge is the Highest One,
No evil shall upon thee come,
Nor plague approach thy guarded home.

Though fierce and treach’rous foes assail,
Their pow’r and wrath shall not prevail;
Their cruel strength, their venomed spite,
Thou shalt overcome with conqu’ring might.

May you receive these lines in the best of health. The Lord helps us at all times. Praise be unto His dear Name.

Hearty greetings from your loving minister and friend,

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Printen