The world is rushing to one of the greatest crises of human history. On all sides people are
trying to make a new world. All of these efforts, without exception, are doomed to failure.
Don't imagine that I am a pessimist. I am the biggest optimist you ever saw. There will be
peace after a while, and it will be permanent. In the meantime there is going to be a terrible storm.
It is said that in the middle of a tornado it is calm. This is the place and privilege of all who know
the mind of God. I can see things going to ruin, yet be thankful for it and enjoy it. Not because
people are suffering, but because of the prospect in view, because all of the travail that men are going
through is preparing them to enjoy the glorious time at the consummation.
Now, the trouble with those who are trying to make a better world is, first of all, that they do not
know where they are. If we only knew where we are, we would not be so distressed about where
we are going. Things today are exactly where God intends them to be. When we see this, we have
a chance to have peace – not the peace that men are talking about, but a real peace – the peace of
God Himself. If you know God's plan, you will be satisfied with what God is doing, because He is
riding the storm. He is controlling all events. The future is safe and satisfactory, no matter what the
present may be.
We want to find out where we are; then we will be in a position to view the future and enjoy its
tragic unfolding before our eyes. This holds true for practically everything. For instance, today you
will find there are all sorts of ideas about what the Bible teaches, and especially about its prophecies.
Men have been prophesying, depending upon the Bible, as to who is Antichrist. These prophets
fail, because they do not know what God is about at the present time. Most people forget that God is
doing a number of different things in various times and eras. Generally we are concerned with His
administrations and dispensations. The Pauline space is a small, very lonely place, but it is where
we ought to be. Alas, how many saints of today still live in long past administrations, under law, or
in the days of our Lord, or in the book of Acts! Many have never reveled in their own glorious grace
in Paul's epistles! Even aft er some have heard this teaching over and over again, they still wander
away into far poorer pastures.
The saints are not exempt from the fate of the nations to which they belong. I do not wonder about
the way things are today. Why, that is just what is to be expected! I am not a politician. I have never
voted. But I am going to be a politician in the future. When we go up to our destined place among
the celestials, then we will reign with Christ.
I want a real peace. Peace without God is no peace. God has appointed a Man and He is the Prince
of Peace, and until He comes, thank God, there can be no peace worthy of the name.
True Basis of Peace
Unserachable Riches, Volume 37 (abridged)
Taken from the Bible Student's Notebook™, a weekly Bible study publication available in two
formats (electronic and printed)
www.BibleStudentsNotebook.com
