God's Institutions
The very first, and not the least, among them is the Household. It is the most sacred little kingdom in all the realms of the creation. Had not man fallen and become lawless it would be the only kingdom in existence – a kingdom of love, as God intended it to be. There would be no need of rulers, of armies, of judges, jails and scaffolds.
The Fall brought a change, necessitating government and discipline in the Household as in every other human circle. But its original design stamps it still. It is still the foundation of every other institution of God. Were statesmen wise they would protect the Household with exceeding care, punishing with greatest severity every offence against its integrity, for that lies at the root of the prosperity of the State.
In the Church – the greatest of all God's institutions (Eph. 3:8-1 1 ) – the Christian Household'^ also the chief adjunct. So important is it, and so instrumental for good in the hand of God, that the conversion of either the father or mother of a once Jewish or heathen household is sufficient to constitute it a Christian household in God's sight (i Cor. 7:14). The whole household is, by the order of God, linked with the believing one who is now free to guide it in Christian lines, and associate it with himself or herself in household worship. It is a recruiting office for the Church of God. It is a school of disciple-ship for Christ. It is there where the tap-root for eternity has its beginnings.
The Christian Household, though composed of saved and unsaved persons, is as truly a holy institution in the sight of God as is the Church, though here only saved persons are admitted. It is in the world a witness for God as truly as the Church, though in an entirely different position. The Church is a heavenly body, the household an earthly one. The individual Christian has his own sphere as a witness for God in the world, the Christian Household has another, and the Church has another.
Oh, that Christian fathers and mothers realized their responsibilities as heads of Christian households. The Sunday-school is a help if carried on according to God, but it is a help only. To surrender the Christian education of the household to it or to the Church is a fatal error. The seat of the household is the place for Christian education, for intimate acquaintance with the word of God, for learning to practice its teaching. Each Christian father and mother is the priest and the priestess of that sacred circle. It demands, of course, that they, themselves, be examples there of what they daily teach. But that will be a blessing to them. It will reveal to themselves their own failings. It will call for self-judgment. It will cause greater acquaintance with God. They will grow in grace thereby.
In this day when outside cares absorb the fathers, when a mad world howls at the mothers to engulf their children in vanity and to sacrifice them to Moloch, oh, for a reviving of the sense of household importance, blessing, and responsibilities. Marriage then will not be so lightly viewed. It will assume far greater heights and nobler aims than the pleasing of fancy. The sense that another spot in which the glory of God and the testimony of Christ will be concerned is going to be established on the earth, will call for prayer and exercise lest a mistake should be made, and dishonor brought in the relations of the household against the Name we love.
" Waiteth" and "Waiting" Rom. 8:19, 23.
Spite all the efforts and means put forth to better the existing conditions of this world, it still groans and "waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God," for it is only then that it will really be delivered. This will be at " the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ." Until then, oppression, rebellion, war, envy, murder, adultery, fornication, drunkenness, robbery, corruption and lust of every sort will continue to plague the world. The return of Christ is the only remedy, and God is letting the world prove by experience the futility of every other.
In the Church too, spite the glowing hopes of seeing the world converted, and believers made sinless and free of disease, we too must "groan within ourselves, waiting for …. the redemption of our body." This will be only when " the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout" (i Thess. 4:16, 17). At that blessed hour, which may occur at any time, "the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we (the living) shall be changed" (i Cor. 15:52). No more sin within us then, to which we are to reckon ourselves dead now, and no more disease to plague our bodies; God's purpose toward us has been reached.