 Just recently there was held in London, Eng., a very extensive business exhibition or fair. There were represented in the numerous exhibits endless varieties of the inventive genius of human art and science side by side with the products from. nature's bounteous hand gathered from distant lands the world over -- products enhanced and augmented by human labor and research. Day by day the visitors arrived and departed, charmed and edified by the rich store of information. But on one particular day there was an additional element of brightness and cleanliness. Each exhibitor in his own section had made corrections in and adjustments of his wares and exhibits -- all were specially trimmed and brushed. Proprietors, maids, helpers, assistants were all noticeably more carefully groomed and attired. "Why was this?" we asked. The answer was "The King is coming today!" and sure enough just before the midday hour the word went round "The King is present!" As that august personage made his detailed inspection every one was on the alert to look and to be at his best. The King's presence made all the difference.
Thy God hath become King."
Surely then the Prophet's admonition must be a timely one: "Be ye clean, ye that bear the vessels of the Lord."
The Lord's people are not now called upon to be vessel-bearers in the sense that such service was rendered in ancient times; yet those holy records of past doings render us a great service by showing us in picture form "things to come" -- valuable lessons for the present. Above all things the vessel-bearers in the Levitical service for Israel were commanded to be clean, and the interesting details given concerning their washings and purifyings were written for our instruction and were each in their turn forceful pictures and powerful hints from which we should receive real edification.
God's people will always do well to look beyond themselves for helpful lessons and may find very profitable ones in the most ordinary experiences of life. The assassin whose palm covers a dagger's hilt has unclean hands -- he-waits in secret to destroy -- he loves darkness. The thief who steals his neighbor's goods, who robs his trustful employer has unclean hands -- his deeds are those of darkness. From such as these God's people can learn no helpful lessons, but are warned to shun. Yet there are others among our fellow men who though knowing little or nothing of the greatness of God's love and wonders of His Plan are able to provide standing lessons of uprightness and truth. Such as these courageously "shake their hands from the holding of bribes" (Isa. 33:15) and thus possess an outward cleanness -- clean hands. Among this class too there are found those who "sweareth to their own hurt and changeth not." (Psa. 15:4.) Though the bargain made may afterwards be found disadvantageous -- these clean-handed ones of earth will still let their yea be yea and their nay, nay. Therefore it is good for God's people to appreciate such of their fellows (for there are many of them) and thus to be assisted in becoming accomplished exponents of these outward graces which mean "clean hands."
The foregoing are merely illustrations of some of the most elementary lessons of the schooling of the saints, yet "He that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger." -- Job 17:9.
Whatever the outward expressions of cleanness may be, whether in person, clothing, or speech, we may not always be certain in every case that the inward condition corresponds. The heart is described as the seat of the affections. The will, the intention, the sentiments, etc., are each or all evolved in the inward being, described usually as the heart. God alone possesses the power and prerogative to gauge, estimate, appraise, and judge the value of heart intentions of His children -- in fact of all mankind-and His decisions formed from the deductions He makes are always unerring and are complete before any action exposes the heart intentions. Actions are usually the visible expressions of heart intentions, and are thus the only means we can have of forming any idea of the heart intentions of another person. Unfortunately these actions are often deceptive and do not express the real heart motives and on this account our Lord warns His people to "Judge not" because whoever judges merely according to the actions of another is an incompetent judge and would be liable to do a serious injustice to his brother or fellow and possibly become himself an evil surmiser in such respect.
We thus see the reason why David desired the Lord to "create" in him a "clean heart," (Psa. 51:10) that is to give him the ability and grace to avoid misjudging or slandering another through false premises on account of the other's imperfect actions.
David also beseeched the Lord: "Search me.... and see if there be any wicked way in me" (Psa. 139: 23, 24) for he knew that the most intimate friend could not do so for him. "As a man thinketh in his heart so is he" -- the heart ruminations are the measures of the man.
Where God's love is in the heart, there is a true, loving person. Where peace is engendered in the heart, there we find a true, peacemaker. Where joy emanates from the heart, such an one has the joy of the Lord, and gentleness, meekness, longsuffering will each provide a quota to complete the character of the "pure in heart who shall see God" and who shall rejoice in the presence of His dear Son -- who is soon to take His great power, and reign. It is reasonable to expect that each believer should be able to approximate or judge of his own standing by one means or another: God has made this possible and we suggest at least three items set forth for this very purpose, which are especially prominent in God's provision for His people on account of their respective values and importance.
Found her rest."
Though press'd by every foe."
Let us then turn and view how clearly the Scriptures show who is the Head of the Church in whom alone our faith stands firm, while thousands of our fellow Christians make for themselves human heads and leaders whom they blindly follow; while others are placing their faith in some man-made code. or creed and thus binding themselves to such faith-maintaining ritual that they lose the real faith, and numerous other human ideas becloud faith's true vision and weaken the standing of those who should stand in Christ alone.
What is called the hope of the Gospel is closely allied to faith, yet it differs in many respects. We ask then, Is our hope pure and clean?
The hope of the Gospel is a great stimulus to the true faith and "he that hath this hope... purifieth himself." It makes the believer truly glad and brings comfort and rest of heart in the midst of the worry and turmoil around him, which grows more acute among his fellow men as the years roll by. Therefore such a hope must be a pure one -- a clean one.
The true hope is not the kind which selfishly looks forward to great honors in the future, it has no hankering impatience, it never says, "Where is the promise of His presence," etc., as though chafing under apparent delay on the Lord's part. It is a saving, satisfying grace and brings with it sufficient foretastes of the future joys, which in themselves are adequate compensation for any present distress. Watchfulness and patient waiting for the Lord are the characteristic attitudes of those who have this clean hope. Again, this hope causes God's love to be "spread abroad in our hearts" and thus our thoughts and hopes include others besides ourselves and we delight to know that they also share it with us.
The true hope goes still further and sees our groaning fellow creatures in due time brought out of the darkness of sorrow and ignorance into the bright presence of Jesus the coming King and receiving at His hand the bountiful favors of health, blessing, and life from God His Father -- even to "whomsoever will." Such, we repeat, must be a pure, clean hope.
The Divine Author of our faith and Provider of our hope brings with these gracious provisions a wealth of knowledge -- true, pure doctrines and teachings which uplift and edify. For instance, the justifying principle made dependent upon faith is a matter fully explained in the 'Scriptures showing how God can be just and yet be the justifier of him who believes on Jesus. This doctrine simply and clearly shows what was effected by the death of Christ and how it benefits each believer by removing from him the embargo originally put upon the whole race through Adam's sin. This is a pure doctrine and unmistakable.
Again by noting the vast extent over which this truth operates we get a first glimpse of the Divine character and by applying our hearts to His wisdom day by day we learn to know of Him as never before. We discover His attributes of Love, Justice and Wisdom and we gain ability thus to refute the false doctrines which ascribe to Him characteristics and deeds which darken His glory -- impure and unclean teachings which blaspheme His name -- dark falsehoods from the Dark Ages. Our view of Him becomes pure and clean-a pure doctrine-and we are constrained to say "Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy name?... for Thy righteous acts are made manifest."
As we search further, our hearts are refreshed again and again and we discover the "wideness of His mercy," which extends to "all that are in their graves." What a pure doctrine! Once we were taught that those millions in the tomb had gone either to the silence of eternal darkness or