TWO MEN WHO "WENT OUT"
There are two men in Scripture who are said to have 'gone out from the presence of the Lord,' " remarked an old brother at a conference which I attended some little time ago. "One was Cain, and the other was Jonah. When Cain went out God left him alone; when Jonah went out God did not leave him alone. Why?"
How many of us young believers could have answered the older man's query? Well, the answer is not so difficult after all. Think it over. Why should God deal so differently with two men, both of whom turned their back on Him for the pursuit of their own ways? Have you an answer? Here is the true reason:Cain was not a child of God; Jonah was. To outward appearances Cain had a comparatively good time after he went out from Jehovah's presence. But poor Jonah found that just the opposite was his experience. He met one trouble after another, until finally, "The word of the Lord came unto him the second time."
It is important for us to see that God is not dealing with the unconverted to-day in judgment, but rather in grace. He yearns over them for their blessing, and reserves a settling of sin's score until there is no other remedy. That settlement will be made at the Great White Throne (See Rev. 20). He patiently bears with them in their sinful course, and suffers their insults.
But this is not the way He orders His family. Someone has said, "God has no hell for His child, but He has a rod." He exercises discipline among His own that they might be partakers of His holiness. How good to know that He loves us altogether too much to let us have our own way! If we-yea, if I, as a young Christian-allow "the old man" to dominate, feed and pamper the flesh and thus lose my fellowship with my Lord, and continue in a course of unconfessed sin, then I need beware of the Father's chastening rod. He applies it for my correction and for His glory. He knows that under its smart I shall probably check myself and cry to Him in my distress. Affliction normally drives His dear children to Himself. How many illustrations of that do we see in everyday family life. Baby, in his efforts to toddle about on his newly-found legs, stubs his little toe. There is a loud cry, and he instantly turns to "Mummy." He needs her badly now. She can give relief. And she does give it, too.
Is this not in line with the prophet's word when he writes, "Lord, in trouble have they looked for Thee, they poured out a whisper when Thy chastening was upon them" (Isa. 26:16, M.). And have we not found that He is just waiting for that whisper? Indeed, a heart of tender love has been behind the hand that wielded the rod. He has missed our fellowship, our praise, our companionship, and has had to remind us of His claim and recall our cold hearts. As a true Father He desires a response from His children. And when necessary He chastens, not because He hates, but the opposite-because He loves.
This chastening may be avoided, however, by constant self-judgment on our part. "If we would judge ourselves we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord that we should not be condemned with the world" (1 Cor. 11:31,32). Let us early cultivate the habit of taking every slip, every wrong desire, and every manifestation of our old evil hearts at once to Him, and thus maintain a tender conscience and a peaceful heart. -C. Ernest Tatham.