Editorial

‘Wherefore remember … that at that time ye were without Christ … having no hope, and without God in the world’, Eph. 2 11-12.

WITHOUT HOPE – WITHOUT GOD!

How often does the full force of these words, spoken of the unregenerate, impress us as they should? Here is a sad picture of hopelessness, sufficient to bring the worst form of despair.

When Dr. Billy Graham was in England for the first time, he was summoned for an interview with Sir Winston Churchill. He tells of this in his autobiography, Just As I Am. As they talked, the wartime Prime Minister said, ‘I am a man without hope; I see no hope for the world’. Later, looking intently at the evangelist, he said, ‘I am a man without hope. Do you have any real hope?’ Thankfully he was given a positive answer for the Christian’s hope that is in Christ. Much of the euphoria linked with the expectations of the New Millennium has ended in disillusionment. Boredom, pessimism and fear return!

Man without God has no hope. Pessimism and darkness of soul are often the result. Praise God, the Christian has hope. Think of it! HOPE, ‘as an anchor to the soul, both sure and steadfast …’ Heb. 6. 19. ‘We rejoice in hope of the glory of God’, Rom. 5. 2. We are looking for that blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, Tit. 2. 13. Of all people, we have the right to optimism. Someone has expressed these things in this way.

‘In moments of immeasurable horror, when we fear that even God’s patience will be exhausted with our wicked race, and all the windows of heaven will be closed against the scenes of earth, let us again repair to Calvary. Here is the ground of unquenchable HOPE. God is on the throne. Truth is indestructible. When the shallow hopes of this world are all dead, HOPE ON’. Christ who is our life, Col. 3. 4; Christ Jesus our Hope, 1 Tim. 3. 1. In the living, glorified Son of God, all our hopes are settled. We are begotten again to a living hope, 1 Pet. 1. 3.

Just a word about the new format. We are encouraged by the warm acceptance of the changes made. The designs of the covers this year, are planned to represent the four gospels. We are grateful to those who have given us these pictures.

We value your prayers! We trust that the Lord will continue to bless the ministry to all who support and read the magazine. Please ‘spread it abroad’!

Fixed on this ground I will remain,
Though my heart fail and flesh decay,
This anchor shall my soul sustain,
When earth’s foundation melt away:
Mercy’s full power I then shall prove,
Loved with an everlasting love.

C. WESLEY