A DIFFICULT TIME

Part II

Ah, would there was more concern, “How shall I be righteous before God?” And not only that, it should be bound upon our heart more, but there should also be a sighing to God for those that wander as bound over the earth, that God might deliver them and put them in the glorious liberty of the children of God. On the other hand, how many people are converted by all sorts of things which are of no value. Just inquire after the true sorrow that with our sins we have provoked God, and about the sincere joy in God through Christ, how disappointed we are with what we hear.

And where both of these things are lacking, then all our discoursing about all sorts of possible experiences and revelations are of no value for eternity.

Most people are more concerned with others than with themselves. And how sadly that shall end!

Once, I heard a man say on his deathbed: “I have wasted my time with condemning others, but have never truly condemned myself before God. Now the Lord condemns me, and now it is too late, forever too late.”

O that depraved heart which casts up only mire and dirt, keeps your soul active with all kinds of things which fall away at death, and are totally worthless for eternity. A person turns his ear only to the devil, but does not want to listen to what God tells him in His Word.

It is so different with the true people of God. During their life, they come to deal personally with God. Then it becomes, “Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned and done this evil in Thy sight.” When it pleases God to work through with them, so that they become involved in the judgment with God, then it is as in Gen. 32:24, “And Jacob was left alone.”

And if then by grace we are included in that number of which the Lord declares in Zephaniah 3:12, “I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people,” then we shall not meddle much with others. Then our personal guilt, our want and our short-comings are so great, that we shall have enough to think of ourselves.

A person is most blessed when after God has arrested him, he is constantly arrested, and is placed before the holy countenance of a righteous God, and with all his sins and guilt, by faith may take refuge in that opened fountain of the blood of Christ to be cleansed and sanctified.

Years ago, I heard a minister, who now for many years already rejoices before the throne, cry out on the pulpit under a flood of tears, “Thou hast dealt as a father with me, but I ne’er walked as a child with Thee.” That is a language of which to be jealous. That man said, “I can take my place behind everybody.” Then I thought that is something like what the blessed VanLodesteyn said in one of his poems,

“I need not be first in the throng,
If only I may go along.”

We have not much trouble with such people. They do not boast; they do not have much fault to find with others. Grace makes us small; grace humbles us, and wherever the fear of God is practiced and exercised, there we fear God, there we pass the time of our sojourning here in fear; then we constantly need God.

A difficult time. Elders and deacons must be chosen. The requirements for the office are clearly described in God’s Word; the requirements for an elder, as well as for a deacon. O, how necessary it is when we commence such a meeting, that we storm God’s throne, and then seek His face.

How necessary it is to let God’s Word speak and also the form of ordination of elders and deacons which has been left by our fathers as a legacy to us. No, we do not desire to add anything to it, nor detract from it.

But now what is the practice? In church life there are many problems.

At times there are difficult meetings. At times the meetings last till late at night; matters are considered from all sides; persons are discussed, and a solution is sought.

But meetings at which the changing of the consistory is the subject are usually so difficult that we dread it for weeks before the meeting.

On the one hand, the church must be served, and on the other hand, the difficulties are so many that we would rather forget to have an election. Are then all those people that are on the consistory perfect and without shortcomings? Are they all clear epistles of Christ? Far, far from that. Often people are there who at times sigh under it, but for whom no solution comes either. Verily there are great problems.

When that comes up for discussion, then most of the consistory members become silent, and at times it is said with a sigh, “If only this meeting were over!”

It is the calling of the Church to live according to the Church Order. A part must resign after having served for two or more years.

Then the Church Order tells us that those retiring must be replaced with others. In many cases it is a benefit that in the last part of that article is added, “Unless the circumstances and the profit of any church in the execution of Article 22 and 24 renders a reelection advisable.”

Even the learned Voetius considered three or four years of service better and more profitable. Of course, he must have had his reasons for that, not to fix it for two years. There may also be something said for his opinion, but the majority of the Synod thus determined it and included it in the Church Order. To remain seated for years in a consistory also has its objection for the persons themselves and often also for the congregation. In most cases, we consider it as a case of necessity. The standpoint of our fathers is the most profitable, but often impractical.

Many consistories have the custom of voting. In other consistories, a discussion is held and various persons are proposed, who are then discussed.

In the first instance, those that receive the most votes are then put upon the ticket when no serious objections against their doctrine and life are brought in.

However it may be done at a consistory meeting, they are difficult meetings.

Many members, who never were in a consistory, do not think much of it, especially in our superficial days.

Many little realize that the Church is the congregation of God.

The impression is so far gone, that many think that almost every member of the Church is capable of being an elder or a deacon. Why not? If there were a greater realization of the weight and the responsibility of the office, and what these men are called to do, then we would not think so lightly of it.

Ah yes, I shall not cast any stones at others. Do we always realize it? How do things usually go? What is our practice? We may pose as being very pious, but Joseph’s brothers did that too, and they had sold their own brother. David says in Ps. 25:15, “Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord.” He can deliver us also out of all difficulties, but also, how often in the end we help ourselves. And then at times we are satisfied when it is done; instead that it would bind us to God’s throne and cause us to cry to the Most High, achnowledging in deep humiliation of heart that it is our own fault. We have departed so far from God that we help ourselves more than that we call to God for deliverance. Is not God the Almighty to change things?

Really, there is a great need of ministers who are able to proclaim the pure, scriptural, experimental and practical truth. But no less is the need of elders and deacons, endowed with the fear of God to separate the precious from the vile, and who stand firm for the honor of God and for the welfare of Zion.

Ah, that the Lord would rend the heavens, and that He would come down and have mercy upon His vineyard. Now we help ourselves so often, but it would be wonderful if we were helped by God Himself. That has happened at times. The instances are there to prove it. God has not changed. And even now that God tells us,

“Open,” saith the Lord,
Wide thy mouth, believing.
This My covenant-word:
I will, if thou plead,
Fill thine every need,
All thy wants relieving.”

Now it is often so difficult, but then the choosing of office bearers would be easy.

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