A MESSAGE OF HOPE

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 34, 10 February 1931, Page 4

A MESSAGE OF HOPE

*rhe vicar of St. Mark's Church, the Bc'v. H. E. K. Fry, M.A., preaching last Sunday from flic: text, Romans 8, 35, said tiiat tho messngo of the.Christian Church was a message °J- comfort, of encouragement, of hope. Jf only Christiana of to-tlay had something of the faith St. Paul had, thoy should know that, whatever happened, nothing could separate' them -from the- love of God; God's ways wcro perfect, and if we jjlacod ourselves in God's care wo were

above and beyond any physical or material hurt whatsoever. Tliero was no doubt that the happenings of last week had made us think deeply about tho transitoriness of this life. It would be a great thing of we could go on thinking, and think along the lines of St. Paul's toaching, so that .we might acquire something of his faith, and take God into account.in our lives more than ever we had done before. So much, depended on the attitude of mind and attitude of heart we were going to adopt. What had happened might be a tremendous national disaster, •or it might be a national blessing—a blessing in disguise. How glorious it would be if out of all pis suffering,-if because of tho loss of these lives so suddenly taken, if because of all this material damage, we were brought as a people into closer touch with God. If only all that had happened could have tho effect of humbling us, of making us sec how small, how puny, and not how powerful was man; if only it could make us realiso that God and tho things of God were the real treasure in life! There were some in the Church that evening, Mr. Fry said, who were in Napier and Hastings, and who had lost nearly everything they possessed. What messago"was there for them? Let them be glad and lift up their hearts. If this was going to be the means of their realising how utterly dependent they were upon God; that Ho would provide as He has always promised to provide for those who trusted Him unreservedly, and that it was God Who-alone could give contentment, peace, and'serenity. If only they could realise how grand an opportunity was theirs of building again their lives and their homes with God as the foundation; if only we in New Zealand could realise, the opportunity that was offered to us now. If wo would reconsecrate our lives to the service of God, and if 'the spirit of sacrifico, co-operation, and, goodwill was going to bo manifest on all sides in His service, then this need not be a calamity—it might be a blessing of the greatest magnitude.