December 26,1997
Dear Br. Jim:
Well, the holiday season is almost over and a new year is about to begin, perhaps this may be the last year in the sad history of this experiment in sin. Lets hope that next January finds us either in heaven or on our way there.
We hope to move back to the Morristown area soon, perhaps before
this letter reaches you. One longs to hear the pure gospel preached
on Sabbath morning rather then a deception which is often served
to us from the pulpit disguised as truth. When we find that our
ministers are not preaching as they should and will not accept
council from their discerning brothers, then it is time to move
on to where the gospel invitation is valued.
As time nears its close, godly brothers and sisters will gather
from all corners of the world, all sections of the country, and
from every church to assemble together for pure worship, listening
to those who are embowed with Christ’s messages and are not
afraid to utter the plain truth in love. Perhaps, even now, this
gathering out of the churches is occurring as honest souls leave
the false churches in search of the pure provender God has supplied
for his sheep.
As you know, we must literally beg a ride to church every Sabbath
from reluctant brothers and sisters. How heart-sickening it is
to plead for transportation only to listen to lukewarm sermons
or falsehoods disguised as the gospel of truth. This is rather
discouraging, therefore, because God has commanded us to forsake
not the assembling of ourselves together, we choose to leave this
area and return to Morristown where we are assured of hearing
the straight testimony from a minister who loves the Lord. Although
he has his faults and short comings, as do we all, he seems to
be unafraid to stand for truth and righteousness. While he has
much to learn, I believe he is a diligent student in the school
of Christ and will be taught until his deficiencies are corrected.
We ought to encourage each other in this time of disinterest in
morality and spiritual truth to seek for the Lord while He may
be found. God is very near, pleading, wooing, cautioning, counseling,
guiding, and encouraging his brothers and sisters to wait patiently
for his appearing and, meanwhile, to occupy ourselves in such
temporal pursuits as will sustain us while not neglecting the
weightier matters of soul winning or simple encouragement.
There are many down cast brothers and sisters who would blossom
as a rose should some one take the time to tenderly minister to
their needs, both temporal and spiritual. A kind word, a card
or letter, a small gift, a prolonged greeting, any tangible evidence
that we are not just two ships passing in the night may be the
means of sustaining a soul in their struggle with the dark forces
of evil for another day.
Dear brother, how is it with your soul? Are you growing daily
in the graces of the Lord? Are you a light to lighten the pathway
of others or a shadow cast athwart the rocky way? We can only
live for Christ as He is a welcome guest in our hearts. Self-examination,
as painful as it may be, is our only safety.
As I survey my life, I can remember, all too vividly, at times,
moments of embarrassment, mistakes I made, and slights I suffered.
Why is it that most of our memories are of such an order while
the good we accomplished goes unremembered? Perhaps this is for
the best for if I can remember good deeds then they were probably
done out of selfishness and reserved in the halls of my memory
as pictures on the walls to be admired and boasted of. Better
to recall only the bad which keeps us humble then the good which
leads to pride.
Yet we are cautioned to cram as many good deeds into the life
as possible that our memories may be pleasant ones. It is better
to remember good then bad for there is all too much of the latter
and not enough of the former. However, time remains, let us use
it to scatter good seeds about us that our memories of tomorrow
may be of good seeds sewn broadcast yesterday.
May God be praised in your life and I hope to see you soon. You
are never far from my mind (really you aren’t, I don’t
easily forget people I like.) May you be growing in grace daily
and may the Lord richly bless you my dear brother.
Until we meet again, God’s peace will prosper you in your
journey. Your brother in Christ.
Allen A. Benson