CHURCH NEWS

Calls Extended:

To Rev. D. Hakkenberg, of Lisse, the Netherlands, by the Lynden, Washington, Congregation.

To Rev. M. Mondria, of Waardenburg, the Netherlands, by the Norwich, Ontario, Canada, Congregation.

To Rev. J.C. Weststrate, of s’ Gravenpolder, the Netherlands, by the St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, Congregation.

Calls Declined:

To the Norwich, Ontario, Canada, Congregation, by Rev. A. Moerkerken, of Nieuw-Beijerland, the Netherlands.

To the Rock Valley, Iowa, Congregation, by Rev. J.J. Van Eckeveld, of Zeist, the Netherlands.

To the Corsica, South Dakota, Congregation, by Rev. D. Hakkenberg, of Lisse, the Netherlands.

To the St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, Congregation, by Rev. L. Blok, of Nunspeet, the Netherlands.

To the Clifton, New Jersey, Congregation, by Rev. P. Honkoop, of Kampen, the Netherlands.

To the Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Congregation, by Rev. D. Hakkenberg, of Lisse, the Netherlands.

O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. Psalm 104:24.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS OF REV. A. W. VERHOEF

The address of Rev. A. W. Verhoef is now:

9524 Woodbine Street South,

Chilliwack, British Columbia,

Canada V2P 5S4

REPORT OF THE FUNERAL SERVICES OF REV. A. VERGUNST IN ROTTERDAM, ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1981

The church of the Netherlands Reformed Congregation at Rotterdam-Central was completely filled for this service, and several other churches were connected by church telephones. The service commenced at 10 o’clock and the family entered the church while the organ played Psalm 43 (Then at Thy sacred altar bending). Rev. A.F. Honkoop requested those present to sing Psalm 103:8, 7, and 9, read I Corinthians 2:1-12 and led in prayer. He began by speaking to the family, stating that he was personally impressed by the announcement of mourning sent out by the family. It did not mention the loss of their beloved husband and father in the first place, but that the Lord had taken His servant unto Himself. It was first the service of the Lord, and then the personal relationship. Now God, Who is the Owner, has taken him home. Jesus said, “He is My bride; take him into eternal glory.” It is very well possible that this will give an inner conflict— my husband, my father, is opposed by My child, My bride. May the Lord give in our heart that submissiveness: Lord, if Thou wish to take Thy child home, then I am willing to give him to Thee. The precious Jesus wants to lead His bride to the marriage feast. This became the portion of our brother, who may now praise his King before the throne, that King Whose glory he has preached while on earth.

Rev. Honkoop chose as his text for the occasion I Corinthians 2:9 and 10a, with the theme, “The Salvation Prepared By The Lord.” Considered were (1) prepared by God’s love, (2) revealed by God’s Spirit, and (3) received by God’s church. In this chapter the apostle Paul explains that salvation did not go out from men, that it is not the fruit of human knowledge. No, salvation is of God. It originates in God and for it He only must receive the honor. These words speak of God’s wisdom; God has invented and prepared salvation. The cause lies not in man, but only in God’s free and sovereign pleasure. It is not because of human merits or worthiness, but through God alone and for His eternal pleasure. Salvation was prepared from before the foundation of the world in the Father’s eternal election and in the Counsel of Peace. Through Christ deliverance became possible, since God had prepared salvation in Christ’s obedience, sacrifice and shedding of His blood. Christ paid for all the sin, satisfied God’s justice, disarmed the law of its curse and brought peace when He cried, “It is finished”. He finished the work of salvation, and nothing of man has to be added to it, nothing may be added.

This salvation is for those who love Him. This we don’t do by nature, since in Paradise we broke the covenant of works, and became subject to death. We have dishonored the Divine Being and have no love for Him, but by nature hate God and Christ. However, there is a people who love Him willingly and with an upright love. They must say, “We love him because He first loved us.” God is the first and from this eternal love flows the salvation of the church. He draws them from the world and sin, from piousness and self-righteousness, to pour His love in their heart. This love overcomes everything, but also causes a love in return. With David they may say, “I will love Thee, O Lord, my strength.”

The application of salvation in the heart of the sinner is the work of the Holy Spirit. The Lord discovers, shows the separation, convinces of the insufficiency of our work and merits. Our own righteousnesses are seen as filthy and unclean garments. The inability to give satisfaction to God’s justice brings man to a holy despair and the sinner falls under God’s justice. The Holy Spirit does more than discover the depth of our misery; He also discovers the way of salvation by faith—He glorifies Christ in the heart of such a sinner. Paul said, “God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit.” This is the miracle of salvation, of that eternal glory which is held in store for the church. Salvation is by the Savior, Who is given of the Lord. God’s people may learn to know the Savior by faith through Word and Spirit, and may then see Him in His beauty. That which the Lord reveals is not seen with the natural eye, for there is such a beauty, glory, and all-sufficiency in Christ Jesus. By faith they may also see Him in His suitableness as Mediator and Advocate, and in His ability as the Mighty One upon Whom help is laid. He has bruised the head of Satan. They may also see Him in His righteousness, purity, holiness and fulness. No eye has seen, nor ear heard, what the Lord reveals to His favoured ones. Jesus’ voice speaks of peace, reconciliation, and salvation. Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. When the Lord gives light upon that deliverance of man, it is something which has never entered into the heart of man to perceive. God’s people may experience that in the blood of the cross they can be delivered from sin and debt unto justification.

Thus the soul experiences God’s sweet favour and the blessed communion with the Father. When they may have an insight into the eternal covenant, they may rejoice greatly. This is a foretaste of the eternal joy which is given them on this side of the grave. But even in the most difficult circumstances of this life, the Lord will not forsake His church. There are moments of God’s favor when they may see the King in His beauty, whereby the longing for Him becomes greater. They will at God’s time and in God’s way receive the fulfillment of their desire. The warfare and sorrow will then end; neither sin nor grief will be found any longer and the burden of their sin will not bother them anymore, but they will praise the Lord forever. Here they sought the honor of God in beginning, then it will be perfect. Here on earth it has so often been—As the hart pants for the streams of living water, so my soul longs for Thee. That longing will no more exist, for then they will drink forever from the fountain of life, which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, but which is now perfect for the church triumphant. This has become the portion of your husband and father. “Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace.” Now it has become, “Praise the Lord, O my soul.” He may sing the eternal praise of the Lord.

Rev. Honkoop requested the singing of Psalm 62:5, after which Rev. A.M. Den Boer of Sioux Center spoke in sympathy to the Vergunst family on behalf of the United States and Canadian churches. He mentioned how difficult it was to express his feelings in words. At the moment it is night in America—but also our feelings have been in darkness during the past weeks. What does the future hold in store for us? It was only a short time that Rev. Vergunst labored on the other side of the ocean. Rev. Den Boer told how he had spoken a few words at the installation service of Rev. Vergunst in Kalamazoo, and now called upon to speak again, although with many questions within us. We say so easily, “Holy are Thy ways, O God,” but it is so difficult to bow under God. His wish was that the family and friends might come to that place where they may say, “The Lord is right in all His ways and works.” By grace the deceased brother could say with Paul, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” By nature this is not so, for men are strangers to God. But in his life a time arrived that he might taste the communion with God, and this life gives its fruits.

We are not gathered to honor man, but we may not deny that unto Rev. Vergunst the words were fulfilled, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” We may have seen how, by the grace of God, his life was Christ. Especially since his entrance into the ministry, he has held forth that Surety in His loveliness and suitableness for a sinful people. Dying was gain because there was a Golgotha. Frequently this cannot be seen because of the darkness, but for the church of the Lord it becomes true that a time comes when the warfare may cease. By the grace of God we must learn to know that death reigns in us, but that for wretched ones in themselves life is prepared outside of them. Then there is encouragement, even in the most sad and darkest times of this life. It was the wish of Rev. Den Boer that Mrs. Vergunst and children might be partakers of that grace and might experience that the Lord is the unchangeable God of the Covenant.

Rev. K. deGier then spoke on behalf of the congregations in the Netherlands. He recalled how that on the evening of January 7 of this year (1981) this same church was also filled and many of those then present are also present today. That evening Rev. Vergunst spoke his farewell sermon to the congregations which he had served. With great liberty he had explained how the Lord had made him loose from the congregation of Veen, ending his labors on this side of the ocean, and that another task was waiting for him. Now, after serving the churches here for 28 years, the Lord has taken him away. Very early in his life the Lord had given him grace, very early had called him into His vineyard, but the Lord has also taken him away early. In this country he served the congregations of Zeist, Rotterdam-Central and Veen. He loved our congregations and was not ashamed to give a testimony thereof. In the circle of our churches, by day and night, he has given all his talents and strength. There were times he went too fast, and was required to slow down. We will not praise man, but give honor to the Lord for that which He has given us in him. He knew it was only by grace that he labored in God’s vineyard, but he also was aware of his shortcomings. He was driven by the love to Christ, to His church, and to all that was for the service of God’s kingdom. Everything of the Netherlands Reformed Congregations had his attention—the youth, the mission, the works of mercy, as also the instruction in the Theological School, where we worked together for twelve years. He worked day and night. He also looked outside of our denomination, and if there was work to do for the kingdom of God, he was always willing to do it. It was the same in regard to education, the press, and social life. The Lord had given these talents to him, but he knew it was only grace. Now that which we find in I Timothy 4:7 is fulfilled, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”

In Revelation 15 we read about the sea of glass mingled with fire. John saw the multitude standing on the sea of glass, having the harps of God and singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb. This song connects the Old Testament with the New Testament, connects promise and fulfillment, shadow and reality. Moses sang the song of deliverance on the shore of the Red Sea, having seen the wonderful act of the Lord. Likewise the church will sing the song of the Lamb, which speaks of liberation and eternal peace. Rev. Vergunst knew of the many shortcomings in his labors, but in heaven all is perfect. The song of Moses was heard on the shore of the Red Sea. God had made a way, had delivered Israel, and the enemy was defeated for ever. They could then sing, because the riddles are solved. Before the Red Sea they had many riddles, but the pillar of a cloud went before them by day and the pillar of fire by night. They could not escape through the mountains. Is this the way of the Lord? When they have crossed the Red Sea, the riddles are solved and they may sing. The riddles stay on this side of the grave, and God gives the solution in the song of the Lamb, which is now already being sung by Rev. Vergunst and which will continue forever. During this life the Lord instructs His people in beginning to sing, although it remains imperfect, but there it will be:

Unto God Almighty, joyful Zion sings;
He alone is glorious, doing wondrous things.
Evermore ye people, bless His glorious Name,
His eternal glory, through the earth proclaim.

The next speaker was Rev. A. Van Der Heiden of Enkhuizen, who was a special friend of the Vergunst family. He spoke of the sadness of the occasion, where this faithful servant, beloved father and husband, and also fatherly friend has been taken away. The bonds of love which bound us together are more wonderful than the love of women. Many prayers were sent up to the Lord that He would give recovery, but the great Owner has shown that he is His possession. There was also Another at the right hand of the Father Who had prayed, “Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am.” That prayer was heard, and now our beloved brother and father has gone into eternal glory. Rev. Van Der Heiden had received a letter from Rev. Vergunst recently, in which he wrote, “What will happen I do not know. My hope is in God, Who will take care of all things and will not make us ashamed.” To whom can we point better than to Him Who never causes us to be ashamed. Peter wrote in I Peter 1 to the strangers “elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which van aardse pracht en praal doet Hem de schoonste van alle mensenkinderen zijn; ook geen stralenkrans, waarmede het bijgeloof Hem wil bekransen, maar in dit teken van Zijn nameloos diepe armoede komt juist de schoonheid van Hem als de enige Middelaar Gods en der mensen uit. Hij is arm geworden, opdat Hij door Zijn armoede zou rijk maken. Zijn schoonheid ligt nu juist in Zijn nederigheid en Zijn armoede. Want wat is het doel van Zijn komen op de aarde? Te lijden en te sterven; de toorn en de gramschap Gods te dragen; het leven en de zaligheid te verwerven voor de Zijnen.

Wanneer wij dat doel van dit komen niet verstaan zullen wij ook de betekenis van Zijn geboorte niet kunnen begrijpen. Dan weten wij ook eigenlijk met het Kerstfeest geen raad; dan keert een zich van het woord van God afkerende wereld steeds verder terug naar het vieren van een heidens feest, waarin men de wederkeer van het licht herdenkt. Met de geboorte van de Christus Gods weet men dan geen weg meer. Wij staan wel stil bij het feit van Zijn geboorte, maar niet zonder op de achtergrond van de kribbe het kruis van Golgotha te zien staan. In Zijn geboorte wordt het kruis al opgericht, waaraan Hij aanstonds zal worden gehangen. Het teken, dat dan ook door de engel gegeven werd aan de herders in de velden is het teken van het lijden geweest. Daaraan is Hij kenbaar.

Het heeft echter de herders er niet van weerhouden om aanstonds naar Bethlehem te reizen om dit Kindeke te zien. Juist een vernederde Christus hadden zij van node. Een die kwam om de schuld des volks te dragen en in de plaats van Zijn volk te staan. Hoe noodzakelijk is het om in ons leven bij de kribbe van Bethlehem eens te komen en daar de vernederde Heere Jezus Christus te aanschouwen, Die Zijn volk een oorzaak van eeuwige zaligheid werd. Lezer, ge viert aanstonds ook de geboorte van de Zaligmaker, maar hoe? Hebt gij Hem ooit gezien met een oog des geloofs als een vernederde en arm gewordene, opdat Hij door Zijn vernedering en armoede zou rijk maken. Gelukkig is het volk, dat door Gods Geest eens naar de kribbe gebracht is en dat in de kribbe heeft mogen inblikken en daar het grote wonder van Gods eenzijdige genade heeft mogen aanschouwen. Hoe zijn ze er gekomen? Als arme en behoeftige zondaren. De Geest des Heeren heeft hen overtuigd van hun droeve staaat voor God. De ledigheid van hun hart is geopenbaard; de schuldigheid van hun ganse bestaan; de veroordelenswaardigheid van hun leven. Neen, op niets konden zij meer hopen aan hun zijde. Zij hebben gehoord, dat er een Middelaar gekomen is om zondaren te zaligen en ook al hebben zij van de naam Jezus gehoord van hun kindse dagen, zij kennen Hem niet; hun hart roept uit: och, dat ik Hem kennen mocht. Wat wordt het voor dezulken een wonder, wanneer de boodschap van de engel door de prediking van het Woord des Heeren ook voor hen een waarachtige boodschap wordt: U is heden geboren en wanneer zij door de Geest des Heeren mogen komen om door het geloof in de kribbe te zien. Dan zien zij Een, Die arm werd. Wat zal juist dan het “om Uwentwil” voor hen een verwondering baren. Zij zijn arm en zijn waardig om in hun armoede voor immer om te komen en daar is Een, Die vrijwillig arm werd om hun een oorzaak van volkomene zaligheid te worden. Juist Zijn armoede zal dan tot zoveel verwondering strekken. In Zijn armoede zal hun rijkdom liggen; in Zijn vernedering hun verhoging; in Zijn bukken hun opgericht worden. Het teken van de gewonden doeken en liggende in de kribbe wordt juist dan oorzaak om Hem te roemen als de schoonste en dierbaarste van alle mensenkinderen. De vrome wereld moet een opgesierde Jezus hebben, want aan een, die arm geworden is, hebben zij geen behoefte. Maar de kerk des Heeren zal in de arm gewordene juist hun leven en heil vinden.

Er is in de Schrift van een tweevoudig komen van Christus sprake. Het komen in vernedering en het komen in verhoging; het komen in Bethlehem en het komen op de wolken des hemels. Toen Hij in Bethlehem kwam was het teken: gewonden doeken en liggende in de kribbe, maar als Hij op de wolken des hemels komt zullen er geen gewonden doeken en geen kribbe meer zijn, maar alsdan zal het teken van de Zoon des mensen gezien worden in de hemel: Het teken van Zijn heerlijkheid en kracht. Als wij nu nimmer het teken van Zijn vernedering hebben aanschouwd, zoals de herders het hebben aanschouwd, dan zal het teken van Zijn heerlijkheid juist onze eeuwige vervloeking betekenen. Nooit zullen wij dat teken kunnen verwachten, indien wij het teken der vernedering niet hebben leren bewonderen.

Toen Simeon de Christus in zijn armen genomen had, heeft hij betuigd, dat Hij een teken zou zijn, dat zou wedersproken worden. En nu zal het toch waarlijk voor ons allen nodig zijn om daarnaar ons leven te onderzoeken, of Christus ook door ons als een teken nog immer wordt wedersproken. Wij wederspreken het door het beminnen van de zonde en de wereld; door het steunen op gerechtigheden buiten Hem, door het zoeken van ons behoud door onze eigen werken. Maar driewerf gelukzalig is het volk, dat door genade in het teken van de vernederde Christus hun heil hebben mogen vinden. Die zullen ook, wanneer de Geest des Heeren hen ook bij deze herdenking van de komst van de Middelaar bij de kribbe brengt met verwondering en innige blijdschap; ja, met stamelende erkentenis uitroepen: Arm geworden om uwentwil, opdat Hij u rijk maken zou door Zijn ormoede. Dan is het teken van Zijn armoede ook voor hen het teken van Zijn grote en onbegrijpelijke liefde, welke de Zijnen, ook bij de kribbe, doet zeggen: Wij hebben Hem lief, omdat Hij ons eerst heeft liefgehad.

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