January 24,1998
Dear Br. Carroll:
I think its been at least a year since I’ve written to you. I hope this new year finds you and your wife in good health and prosperous, rejoicing in the Lord.
We are living near the eastern end of Lake Watagua which is near
Butler. Our landlord maintains several watch dogs to keep his
property secure. As often as the dogs have seen us, they still
bark whenever I walk by to get the mail or even come out of our
door. I am getting rather tired of being barked at by some stupid
dogs. There are times, however, when we can leave our back door
without being accosted, it all depends on wether Peaches, a small
female dog, is present. It seems that she eggs on the other male
dogs to act foolish and stupid.
If she didn’t bark, they wouldn’t either. Here is the
makings of a good parallelism but I think I’ll leave it alone.
The world is growing darker and darker as the light of the Son
of Righteousness is being withdrawn. As the sun sets and the light
leaves the sky, the stars shine brighter. It is good that the
sun sets, for otherwise we would not be cognizant of the millions
of specks of light that spangle the sky.
In the radiance of Christ’s presence, the world is unable
to discern the tiny lights glowing from the lives of Christians
everywhere. Because the world, in general, despises the light
of Christ’s life, he departs, living it in darkness but not
without witnesses. Having despised his light, many will yet gaze
upon the stars in wonderment and allow their mind to be drawn
to the creator through their apparent feeble light that illumines
the night time sky.
Christians are the stars of the havens and Godly men are the planets,
shining brilliantly among the lesser lights. God calls upon each
of us, in our own little area of influence, to shine for him.
There is a multiplicity of ways we may reflect the light of his
character, yet most of us sit idly by watching others giving of
themselves in the Lord’s cause, justifying our indolence
with the excuse that we are not qualified to do something for
God or are not as eloquent or influential as others.
I had the novel experience, several months ago, of talking to
a man who thought there were already too many workers in God’s
vineyard. TOO MANY WORKERS! Since when has God admonished us to
remain idle because there were too many workers harvesting the
wheat? I can’t recall a single Bible verse to that effect,
can you?
I know little about you, my brother, much to my shame, for had
I taken the opportunity to become better acquainted with you,
I am certain I would have discovered much good in you and things
worthy of commendation, we may even have had common interests
or become friends.
I trust that you have grown in grace since I last wrote to you.
We either grow or retrograde, for in God’s cause there is
no such thing as stagnation. Just as the wheat grows under the
gentle showers and the smile of the sunshine, so the Christian
matures in an understanding of religious matters.
I am confident that if we should again converse, I would find
you better informed concerning the gospel, and stronger in your
faith. You impressed me as a genuine Christian man, seeking to
understand the practical significance of the gospel with respect
to his own life. I hope I am not mistaken in my estimate of you.
Christianity is not for cowards for it takes a real man to declare
himself for the Lord and you have taken that step, thus manifesting
your true colors. Be brave and steadfast in your calling, look
not back, desire not the things of the world for they rapidly
tarnish in the light of eternity.
God’s cause needs the brave and courageous man to lift up
the standard of righteousness. Let us not leave to the minister,
evangelist, or Sabbath School teacher the responsibility of preaching
or teaching practical lessons of Christ’s love and his righteousness.
Let each of us, wherever the Lord finds us, stand firmly for the
right, proclaiming, through our chaste conversation and godly
example, that Christ is Lord of our lives and we aren’t ashamed
of him.
Your consistent example may be more effective then most ministers,
evangelists, or Sabbath School teachers. Fortify your mind with
the scriptures that you may give an answer to those who may inquire
of you your hope and faith in the Lord. Spend time with your Savior
in prayer that you may be strong in the day of temptation that
is fast approaching every one on earth.
Courage, brother, the battle is about to begin that will reveal
your true colors. May you stand fast amidst the storm of temptation
and persecution, faithfully letting your light shine amidst the
moral darkness.
As the song goes, Dare to be a Denial, dare to stand alone, dare
to have a purpose firm, dare to make it know.
May God bless you with a soft heart, a kind spirit, and an encouraging
word for your brothers and sisters as they fight the battles of
the Lord.
Allen A. Benson