1542. The Closed Window

The Closed Window

"Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the Law, happy is he" (Pro_29:18).

There are many who have their windows closed to the things which are of God. The message of the Cross, they repudiate; the work of the risen Christ, they refuse; and the vision of the coming Christ, they reject.

1. The world has no vision of Israel's peace. The Gentiles are concerned with their own affairs.

They know nothing of the fact that the fullness of their own salvation must be to the Jews; they know nothing of the fact that the Gentiles are to be dandled upon the knees of Israel, and nursed at her breast.

They know nothing about the fact that ten men out of the nations of the earth will take hold of the skirt of him who is a Jew, saying, "We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you" (Zec_8:23).

The Gentiles must ultimately come into their own, through the rising of Jewish peace. God has written of Israel, "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. * * And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. * * The forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. * * For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish" (Isa_60:1, Isa_60:3, Isa_60:5, Isa_60:12).

It is too bad that the world has no vision, no open window toward Jerusalem.

2. The church often has no vision of Israel's peace. The church of to-day has imagined that she is to become the author of world-wide blessing. She talks of taking the world for Christ, of extending the Kingdom, of girding the world with salvation. She thinks she is commanded to inaugurate the reign of peace.

In all of this, the Church forgets that her true mission is to take out of the nations, a people for Christ's name; that after her mission is accomplished, she shall be translated and be forever with the Lord.

It is too bad that the church has, for a great part, closed her windows toward Jerusalem.

3. The preacher often has no vision of Israel's peace. There is a large group of ministers, which denies the possibility of the restoration of the twelve tribes. Every promise of the Prophets concerning Israel's redemption and restoration, is transferred by these men to the Church.

These preachers make the curses upon Israel, literal, but they spiritualize her promised blessings and steal them to themselves.

Alas, that there are men who preach, who have no message concerning Israel and Jerusalem! Their windows are closed toward the city of God's delight.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR