“Return at Once”
THE other day I heard of a young officer in Kitchener’s Army who, owing to recent illness, had a few days’ leave. Well, the few days turned into a few hours only, for scarcely had he arrived than a wire came, “Return at once.” Now this set me thinking of that merciful Bible word, “Return.” Dear soldier, I have looked out this word addressed in the Word of God to so many classes of people, and I beg you to think about it too. I write four examples: ―
1. “Let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him” (Isaiah 55:7). It may be you thought about God when you were younger, and in the Sunday, School learned to love Him, but as days went on you forgot. So He says, “Return unto the Lord.” Now, do not wait. Return at once.
2. In Jeremiah 3:22, it says, “Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings.” See how gracious God is, if you only return. He will at once abundantly pardon. So do, do “return at once.”
3. In Hosea 14:1, it says, “Return unto the Lord thy God, for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. Take with you words and turn (return) to the Lord.” Yes, all God wants is for us to acknowledge our sin, and He will at once forgive. He will not keep you waiting if you “return at once.”
4. Job says, in chapter 22:23, “If thou return to the Almighty thou shalt be built up, thou shalt delight in the Almighty, and lift up thy face unto God.” As it says in Psalms 37:4, “Delight thyself in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Is it not worthwhile, then, to “return to the Lord”? So “return at once.” “Come unto Me,” the Lord Jesus says.
Lastly, there is to be that one longed-for blessed return of our Lord, when all the soldiers of our Lord and King will hear the shout, the voice of the archangel, with the trump of God, saying, as it were, “Return at once.” Then, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, we shall be caught up, with the risen dead in Christ, to meet the Lord in the air, to be “forever with the Lord.” Surely we ought to look up with joy and say, “Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly,” and summon us!
Emily P. Leakey
Gifts and the Givers
All your gifts, dear friends, are registered in heaven. You have strengthened our hands and given us the means of working in this way for the Lord. The importance of the work is increasingly manifested. We are sending out close on three hundred parcels every month, and night after night our dear friends come and pack, and “their labor is not in vain in the Lord.” From all parts we are getting encouragement. Requests for parcels come from workers at home and abroad. We have never refused a request yet, and we hope the time will never come that we shall have to say we cannot send. If any of my readers have friends or relatives in the Army or the Navy who are willing to work for Christ in distributing His Word and books that speak about Him, would they kindly send the full address to me, and I will send a parcel.
I have never had a work for God that I have loved more than this. And if it is my last work for Him, His holy name be praised for having allowed me to do it for Him. I am always wanting Gospels and the Testaments that fit the soldiers’ pockets. They are hungering for the Word of God. I have sent away more than thirty thousand Gospels and Testaments, and I am always wanting more. Do send me the means to get more. It is for Christ, and those for whom He died, that I am pleading. You have husbands, and sons, and brothers at the Front, or on the seas―some saved and some unsaved. In watering others, you shall be watered yourself. A Testament you help to send may find its way to one you love, and God may save their soul. I want ten thousand “How Can I Be Saved?” badly, and thousands of “Message from God” (the price Isaiah 25/-per 1:000), and any gospel books in English or French suitable.
Christ is coming! Death is reaping a terrible harvest on every wounded hands of the Redeemer are stretched out over the world people, “Go ye, and preach the gospel to every creature”―preach you send and by the help you give.
He says to the sinner, “Come unto Me, and I will give you rest.” Will you help them to come by sending His invitation to them?
Yours for Christ’s sake,
Heyman Wreford
Take this, dear friends, as my loving acknowledgment of all your gifts, and may the Lord bless you for your Jove for others.
NOTICE. ―The Christmas December number of “MESSAGE FROM GOD” will be a double number, 32 pages; the price, one penny. ―The number will contain an account of the Editor’s visit to Brittany, and the opening up of spheres of work among the French soldiers. It is requested that orders for this number should be sent in as early as possible to secure delivery.
The Diary of a Soul
By the Editor