Conflict to the Bitter

The End European war continues, and- no doubt will continue until one or the other must yield to superior power. Then will come the reckoning time when pains and burdens will be imposed upon the vanquished, in keeping with the seriousness of the principles involved and the damage caused.

What a picture this is of another and far more serious conflict going on between men and the righteous Ruler of the universe. When the world demanded the death of the Son of God, it entered into a conflict with God which must continue until one or the other is vanquished; then will follow the reckoning, the results here too being in keeping with the seriousness of the principles involved, and the damage done by trampling the truth underfoot. In this conflict we know where the right and the wrong are in an absolute way; with men the right or the wrong is not generally all on one side, but with God righteousness is the very foundation of His throne, and all His demands are right. Faith knows this, and sues for peace before the reckoning time. And God delights to minister peace, for Christ has " made peace by the blood of His cross " (Col. i :20). For all such, the reckoning came upon the head of our blessed Lord Jesus Christ. So perfect and complete was the reckoning there that all who have found peace in Him are forever freed from any renewal of that reckoning; that is what makes them a free and happy people, not careless of sin, because they remember what it cost their Saviour; and the love they now bear Him, together with the Spirit of Christ that dwells in them, demands a holy life, not merely a life free from gross sins, but a life of sincere devotion to Christ and conformity to all the will of God.

Thus, for all believers, the conflict is ended forever, for they have surrendered and bowed to God's terms of peace.

But what of the rest ? Still refusing to bow to God's terms, they continue in the conflict until, His patience at an end and His time of reckoning having come, they stand before His bar, and every knee will bow, and every rebel tongue have to confess that "Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father;" then the abyss, the darkness and the woe resulting from having dared oppose and insult the Eternal God.

We have said that Christians are free from this dreadful reckoning because they have submitted to God. Is there not, however, in many of God's children still left a remnant of antagonism, of un-judged sin, which refuses to comply absolutely with all the word of God ? Objection is raised to this or that passage, to this or that doctrine, because it disturbs some part of an unbroken will, or points to a path which offends pride. Self-surrender in the Christian, in everything, while not linked with the same thing as the sinner's surrender, is no less important, for it lies at the root of all Christian progress and fruitfulness, for which at the reckoning time, for the Christian, there will be rich reward. Even at the risk of repetition, we would press upon the people of God that there is as true a reckoning time for them as there is for rebellious sinners, though of a very different sort. The Christian's reckoning time is at our Lord's coming again, which certainly is very near. May we all be found, not merely as men who believe in the Lord's second coming, but " as men who wait for their Lord."