Psalm 125:3,4
Are you concerned about the well-being of your church? What is it that concerns you? Would the leveling of your church building by a fire disturb you more than the introduction of a false doctrine in the preaching? Would the loss of a goodly number of members bother you more than the loss of a cardinal truth of Scripture? Would the introduction of a worldly practice irk you less than the wearing out of the carpeting or the peeling of the paint upon the walls?
We do well to look at the psalmist's words, written after he had said that the church was safe because God was round about her. He continues in Psalm 125:3-4 with these words, "For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands to iniquity. Do good, O Lord, to those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts.''
Did you notice that he is not merely speaking of enemies but of the wicked? And he speaks of those that are good in the sense that their hearts are upright. We have no promise of God that no material danger will come to our church buildings, and no loss of church membership. There were only eight souls saved from the flood, and far less than ten saved from the destruction of Sodom before the fire came down.
Spiritually, and as the body of Christ, the church is absolutely safe. In the coming days of the antichrist, church services will be denied to those who hold to the truth. The number of believers alive will dwindle to only a few, because of the famine of not being allowed to buy or sell, and by death through persecution. Yet confidently the church may sing (PRC Psalter):
No scepter of oppression
Shall hold unbroken sway,
Lest unto base transgression
The righteous turn away.
Thy favor be imparted
To godly men O Lord;
Bless all that are pure hearted,
The good with good reward.
Yes, God will bless His church with unchanging upright hearts. The faith of His church shall not be taken away, As Mount Zion abideth till Christ returns, the church shall hold on to the truth and fight iniquity.
Read: Psalm 46
Psalter versification: #356:2
Daily Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism
Song for Meditation: Psalter #49
Why not sing along??
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Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
I Chronicles 2
I Chronicles 3
I Chronicles 4:1-4
Acts 24:1-27
Psalm 4:1-8
Proverbs 18:16-18
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Quote for Reflection:
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:36). “It is a spiritual and heavenly freedom of which our text speaks, a freedom purchased by Christ, revealed in the gospel, and conveyed to the saints of God as the great dowry of Christ to His Church and Spouse. Two great things Christ has entrusted into the hands of His Church-Christian faith and Christian liberty. Just as we are to contend earnestly for the maintenance of the faith ( Jude 3), so also for the maintenance of Christian liberty, and that against all who would oppose and undermine it” ~Samuel Bolton
Additional Info
- Date: 6-July
Heys, John A.
Rev. John A. Heys was born on March 16, 1910 in Grand Rapids, MI. He was ordained and installed into the ministry at Hope, Walker, MI in 1941. He later served at Hull, Iowa beginning in 1955. In 1959 he accepted the call to serve the South Holland, IL Protestant Reformed Church. He received and accepted the call to Holland, Michigan Protestant Reformed Church in 1967. He retired from the active ministry in 1980. He entered into glory on February 16, 1998.