It was exactly 50 years ago this week that Linda and I packed our small apartment belongings into a 4 x 6 Uhaul trailer and towed it south from Wisconsin to Chattanooga, Tennessee. I entered Seminary in January of 1972 at the age of 22. I didn't have any idea of what Seminary life was going to be like. It was a whirlwind of decision-making when we arrived in Chattanooga. Where to live? What classes to take? What can I do to make some money working part-time? There was nothing prepared for us and we soon realized that every day and in every way, we had multiple decisions to make.
I remember driving down one of the streets near the Seminary, pondering "what have I just done...moved my new bride 800 miles from family and friends...to the South, no less, where they don't understand what I'm saying, and quite frequently someone will observe... "so, you're a Yankee huh?" Grits? what in the world is that? Hominy, greens, oh my!
About three weeks after arriving, I sat in my first Seminary class - An Introduction to the Old Testament - taught by a rather tall man from Michigan and my professor - Dr. Fred Afman. From Dutch background, he was more Reformed in theology than the school understood - sort of "look the other way" when it came to his Reformed theology. He began the Semester class with words that said something like "Gentlemen, this Semester we're going to thoroughly study the Pentateuch...", and after that, I don't remember. What I do remember is the panicked feeling that arose within me as I thought... "I don't know what a Pentateuch is!" I realized then that I knew so little and needed to learn so much, and I didn't know if I could do it.
As I drove away from school one day, early in that Semester, I could not help but feel overwhelmed, and the feelings of Jonah washed over me - "flee". I don't remember much of what I prayed, or what I prayed about, but somewhere in my prayers I began to hear the voice of God within - "I am a faithful God, and I will always be faithful to you...do not fear what you do not know, let me lead you".
In a strange sort of confession, after 50 years, that is as real to me today as it was back then in early 1972. God is a faithful God. I ran across this last year, and it reminded me of how God spoke to me in those early days of trying to follow him...read and ponder...
Till now the Lord has helped us...1 Samuel 7:12
The phrase "till now" is like a hand pointing in
the direction of the past. Twenty years or seventy, and still "till now
the LORD has helped us." Through poverty, through wealth, through
sickness, through health, at home, abroad, on the land, on the sea, in honor,
in dishonor, in perplexity, in joy, in trial, in triumph, in prayer, in
temptation, "till now the LORD has helped us."
We delight to look down a long avenue of trees. It is
delightful to gaze from end to end of the long vista, a sort of verdant temple,
with its branching pillars and its arches of leaves. In the same way, look down
the long aisles of your years at the green branches of mercy overhead and the
strong pillars of loving-kindness and faithfulness that support your joys.
Are there no birds singing in those branches? Surely there
must be many, and they all sing of mercy received "till now."
But the word also points forward. For when a man reaches a
certain point and writes "till now," he is not yet at the end; he
still has a distance to go. More trials, more joys; more temptations, more
triumphs; more prayers, more answers; more toils, more strength; more fights,
more victories; and then he faces sickness, old age, disease, death. Is it over
then? No! Then there is wakening in Jesus' likeness, thrones, harps, songs,
psalms, white raiment, the face of Jesus, the company of saints, the glory of
God, the fullness of eternity, the infinity of bliss. Be of good courage,
believer, and with grateful confidence raise your banner, for—
He who hath helped thee hitherto
Will help thee all thy journey through.
When read in light of heaven, how glorious and marvelous a prospect will the "till now" provide for your grateful eye! - C H Spurgeon
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