Until the believer is perfected, there remains some atheist in him. He says he believes, but in the final analysis, his fruits tell otherwise, quite.
We worry, doubt, or fear because we don’t believe. Examining ourselves in the Light, we discover the truth about ourselves. That Light’s source is the fire that serves to purge us of the atheist within, that fire being an enemy at first, and a friend in the end.
How will I know I can stand the fire
Unless I am subjected?
How do I develop muscle to do heavy work
Unless I do heavy work to develop muscle?
How do I form calluses on my hands to prevent blisters
Unless I do those things
That make blisters?
I say I have faith to do anything,
To suffer all things and smile, even laugh
But how do I get that faith
Unless I suffer the very things
To produce the faith
To laugh at the things concerning which
I say I have faith?
How can I cry and say, “I believe”?
But when I believe, I shall not cry
When the fires come
Because the fires have done their work.
Lethbridge, August, 1984
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Have You Any Idea?
English - Chinese
Things are seldom as they appear – if ever. This is because two factors obscure the reality. Firstly, the object of the observation seldom conducts itself outwardly as it really is within or behind the scenes. Secondly, the ability on the part of the observer is limited at most times so that he is not able to see as he ought to.
And woe to the one who tries to acquire that which he desires by trying to give the appearance of either getting it or already having it.
Truth in the inward parts is not only the desired end but the means to that end.
“I am the way, the truth, and the life…”Child of fullness and plenty, have you any idea
How empty you may be?
Your stomach is filled
With emptiness.
You laugh
Your laugh is hollow.
Child of laughter and merriment have you any idea
How sad you are?
Your heart has a notion
Of sorrow on the way.
You scoff;
You scoff at you know not what.
Child of scorn and scoffing, have you any idea
How the arrows you shoot reverse?
Your own conscience tells you
Of condemnation imminent.
You despise
That which you do not understand.
Child of pride and knowledge, do you have any idea
Of your ignorance and foolishness?
You know it all
But not as well as you are known.
You pray
For mercy – you have none.
Child of prayer and fasting, have you any idea
How full you will yet be?
You are now empty
On the way to fullness.
You cry;
Your tears are not in vain.
Child of weeping and sorrow, have you any ...
The Desert
This was written at a time when we lived in a literal desert in Israel and I could feel all the things expressed, within my soul, because we were also in a desert in our spiritual lives, a desert through which all pilgrims on the journey to the city of God must pass.
This writing was also prophetic of events that would shortly come to pass as we spoke the Word of God to Paul, whom the Lord had given us to be our friend. As a matter of coincidental fact, the day of this introductory writing (Oct. 9) is, I believe, the very anniversary almost to the hour, of Paul forsaking his wife in obedience to the Lord, to walk in the Way of Life.The desert is dry and parched, and I am hot and thirsty;
We two have been matched as partners in this stretch of our history.
The sun’s scorching face is forceful enough; from it I can find no escape,
No shade, no water, no nightfall to comfort my soul in its wearisome journey.
Miles and miles of burning sand, I scarcely know where it began…
It started with greenery, then greenery and sand, and now it is sand upon sand.
Yet after some miles I’ve trodden and feel I can go no farther,
A trickle of water comes out of a rock, destined for that very hour.
With leanness of soul and hungering for life, not a soul for months have I seen,
And all my possessions have slowly been lost, ’til much lighter my journey has been.
It’s strange how the harder the trials, the sweeter the life becomes;
The easier the life filled with comforts, the more ...
I See a Boy
It has been said that confidence is a plant of slow growth in an aged bosom. This can also be said of its lack. How crippling is the power of uncertainty and fear! It can reduce an otherwise mighty man to an emaciated personality fit for little more than to exist.Ironically the victim is paralyzed so effectively by his own power which makes him so weak. In this he is practically omnipotent so far as his state is concerned. Nothing can alter this condition but a fiery judgment that comes into every man's existence sooner or later and either delivers or destroys the wretched soul depending on his inclination and desire.
I see a BOY.
He hungers
for an acknowledgment and appreciation of himself.
He hungers for love -
which only a good father could give -
but finds none.
"See, daddy? See, daddy?" he exclaims,
waving his arms wildly.
His Daddy ignores him.
Always crestfallen, the boy is unable to cease
trying to prove, to please.
No matter the greatness of his efforts and accomplishments;
they are not enough.
His countenance tells
both his effort and his frustration.
I see a SOLDIER.
What an excellent soldier he is!
What a fine sword he possesses!
All his armament, his physique and his skills
are to be both admired and feared
by friend and foe alike.
But what will he do in
the Firestorm that approaches,
nay, that is even here?
As the father,
it recognizes no sword;
it laughs at physique
and scoffs at skill and experience.
I see a PRI...