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Twilight And Dawn by Caroline Pridham

C >> Caroline Pridham >> Twilight And Dawn




"The ox knoweth its owner, and the ass his master's crib." (Isa. i. 3.)

God has made the animals faithful and affectionate, and there are many true
and touching stories of the way in which they have attached themselves to
those who have cared for them. A dog will devote itself to its own master,
and even give its life for him; but no mere animal has that within him
which can have to say to God and be in relationship with Him. And how sad
it is to think that the only creature of God who could know Him is the one
who has turned away from Him and listened to the spoiler!

At the beginning God could say of all Creation "_very good_"; though
there is a wonderful beauty still--beauty everywhere if we have eyes to
see it--He cannot say "_very good_" where decay, pain, sorrow, death are
all around; where we grow weak and old, and even while we are young and
strong, the most pleasant things tire us; where hatred and envy, shame and
fear--all the sad feelings brought by sin--exist in the heart of the last
and best of His creatures, to whom His voice and His presence once brought
only joy. "By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin." And
who can say how terrible has been the change thus wrought?

Sad indeed is the wreck which Satan has made of God's fair Creation, but
a sadder wreck still is the man whom He made upright; and yet the day is
surely coming when round and round the throne of "Him that liveth for ever
and ever" shall echo and re-echo the words, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to
receive glory and honour and power; for Thou hast created all things, and
for Thy pleasure they are and were created."

God does not mend things, but replaces what has been spoilt or marred
by something far better. Even the poor earth, so ruined by sin and its
consequences, He will not mend; but He will make "new heavens and a new
earth" (never more to bear the marks of the spoiler's hand) "wherein
dwelleth righteousness."

But before the new heavens and new earth are created, a great deal will
take place upon this earth of which we have been speaking. The Jews, now
scattered in every land, will pass through much trouble, the lost tribes
will be found and restored, and the Lord will put down all His enemies, and
"reign in righteousness" as King over His once again united people Israel.
There will be a thousand years of wonderful peace, and Jerusalem will be
the centre of earthly blessing; for He says of it, "The name of the city
from that day shall be 'Jehovah Shammah' (the Lord is there)" (Ezek.
xlviii. 35); and again, "They shall call thee 'the city of the Lord'"; and
"Thou shalt call thy walls 'Salvation,' and thy gates 'Praise'" (Isa. lx.
14-18).

Those who know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour now, will be with Him
when He thus reigns over the earth, for they will be caught up to be with
Him for ever, before the time of trouble (followed by earthly blessing)
begins. In those thousand years of peace even the animals which have so
long suffered through man's sin and oppression will share in the rest of
that happy time, and God's ancient people Israel, once more dwelling safely
in their own land, will sing many of the Psalms in His Word for joy and
happiness.

The following hymn speaks of that good time which is surely coming:--

"Hail to the Lord's Anointed,
Great David's greater Son!
Hail, in the time appointed,
His reign on earth begun!
He comes to break oppression,
To set the captive free,
To take away transgression,
And rule in equity.

"He shall come down like showers
Upon the fruitful earth,
And love, joy, hope, like flowers,
Spring in His path to birth;
Before Him on the mountains,
Shall peace the herald, go,
And righteousness in fountains
From hill to valley flow.

"Kings shall fall down before Him,
And gold and incense bring;
All nations shall adore Him,
His praise all people sing;
For He shall have dominion
O'er river, sea, and shore,
Far as the eagle's pinion
Or dove's light wing can soar.

"O'er every foe victorious.
He on His throne shall rest;
From age to age more glorious,
All blessing and all-blest;
The tide of time shall never
His covenant remove;
His name shall stand for ever,
That name to us is Love."

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