God's Anaesthetics.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 87, 24 September 1915, Page 1

God's Anaesthetics.

"As thy days so shall thy strength be. "-Deut, xxxiii., 25.

In thin passage of Scripture we have one of the moft wonderful and far-reaching of all (jod's promises to man. Some of the most cheering aud comforting parts cf the Bible contain deiinite and preciuus promises to give us strength and encouragement in times of trouble and hardship. And some people mark T. and P. over against many of these promises to signify that they have been tried and proved. Our message to-day then is on the Almighty's pledge to strengthen His people for all their conflicts; and we must notice

THE OCCASION upon which the pledge was given. It was at the close of the long and eventful ministry of Moses, and on the eve of the Israelites taking possession ot the promised land. The great Law-giver was blesaing the tribes of Israel, and when he came to Ashei he gave this promise from God to them, "As thy days so sball thy strengtn be." The special reason for this promise was because the tribe of Asher were to live in a very dangerous part ot Canaan—away in the north, where they would be liable to sudden attack, both trcm the Lebanon mountains and from the sea. THE MEANING of this special promise to tbcm and also to us, is that God will stand by his faithful people in all their difficulties, giving them strength to bear any burdens that may be laid upon them, and courage to face any danger that may beset them through life.

God does not lead us to think that wc will have no trials or sjrrows if wc are 4rue to Him, but only that He will always enable us to bear them bravely when they do come. That grand old wairior S. Paul prayed three mighty prayers to have his "thorn in the flesh" removed ana the answer fce got was "My grace is sufficient for thee." The greater the burden the greater the strength; (he greater the sorrow the greater the grace to endure it.

But the practical man will be asking, How has this promise worked out in actual experience during the more than three thousand years since it was given? Let us therefore consider

THE RELIABILITY of this great pledge of God. Its operations can be traced tarouhgout the whole of God's Creation. After a careful investigation in the realms of nature and of grace, we can say with the Psalmist, "He keepetb His promise for ever." Natural history reveals the beneficient way that God's merciful anaesthetics are applied to alleviate the sufferings of lower forms of life. The serpent charms the bud before devouring it; the cat mesmerises the mouse before shedding its blood. Dr Livingstone tells of his experience in Africa when attacked and bitten by a lion. He felt no pain because the same knd of hypnotic stupor came over him as that which comes over victims when captured by beasts of prey. Merciful provision is also made to alleviate human pain when it is unbearable. Fainting and unconsciousness come on when pain reaches a certain point—in the natural urder of things. A lad near Cambridge was recently kicked in the face by a horse. Some time afterwards he was asked whether he felt much pain, he said, "No; when I was kicked I went to sleep; then when I woke up the doctor put me off to sleep again." As soon as the age of great surgical operations commenced, a Christian doctor discovered chloroform to meet the new demands. But we find the classical instances ot the reliability of God's promise in the wonderful endurance ot Christian martyrs. The true explanation ot their patience in tribulation, and endurance under torture, is to be found in this faithful promise of God, "as thy days so sball thy strength be." When we lay hold of this precious pledge, what TREMENDOUS ENCOURAGEMENT

it pours into our hearts! With tne conviction of triumph deeply-rooted within us we may, by faith in Christ, become invincible in the world. Fearing nothing but sin we can make our lives one long victory over trial and pain because of the reliability of our Father's promise. Surely there is no occasion for fear and trembling when we know for certain that we, like those of old, shall be "more than conquerors through Him that loved us." "Gates of Hell can never Gainst the Church prevail; Wc have Christ s own promißC, And that cannot fail.'