Redemption

Redemption was no afterthought with our God; it was His purpose from the beginning. By the work of redemption He prepared the richest glory for His own blessed name, and the fullest joy for His creatures. "The morning stars sang together," it is true, "and all the sons of God shouted for joy," when the foundations of the earth were laid, but the shouting’s of grace when the new creation is finished by the bringing forth of the Head Stone, will be louder still. Never were such music and dancing in the house before, as when the poor prodigal had returned, and been received as one alive from the dead. Never had such affections been awakened within him before. Never had the father's treasures been brought forth till then. Till then the fatted calf, the ring, and the best robe had been laid up, and never had the father himself so full a joy in his child as when he fell on his neck and kissed him. And so is it in the wondrous ways of our God. Creation brought forth the resources of His love, and wisdom, and power, and heaven on high was glad through all its order, and earth smiled beneath, the fair witness of His handiwork. But redemption has drawn forth still richer treasures that were lying hid in God—has awakened still more adoring joy and praise "in the presence of the angels," and has given new and more divine affections to the children of men.
Everything is to stand in grace. Love was of old, because God is love, and love was therefore made known in the work of creation, and that by communicating goodness and blessing. But love has found a fuller scope for expressing itself in the work of redemption in bringing grace and showing mercy, and this is its new character (see 1 John 2:8). Grace, the source and power of redemption, is "the glory that excelleth" the light that shined from heaven in converting grace and power around Saul of Tarsus, was "above the brightness of the sun." Grace is the fullest, and indeed the only worthy expression of the unsearchable riches of divine love. The heavens will rejoice in grace (Rev. 5:11, 12), and Israel, as representing the joy of the earth, will, in the end, triumph in it also (Isa. 60:1; 61:10; Zeph. 3:14, 15).
J.G. Bellett
Editorial
Tens of thousands of migratory birds fly over Israel each spring and fall in their passage to and from Africa. Most of these are birds of prey called raptors, meaning to catch up. (Our word rapture comes from the same root. Soon every true Christian will be raptured, caught up from the earth and so escape the coming judgment.) The same pattern of migration this month of October will be seen in many parts of the world as those many marvelous birds fly southward again.
Men who make metal birds (the airplane), have learned to respect the migration flights of birds and try to avoid the danger and damage collisions cause.
An Israeli pilot flying over Hebron looked down at his map and then remembered nothing more until he regained consciousness in a hospital. One of the raptors (a buzzard) had crashed through the canopy and into the ejection trigger ejecting him from the airplane, and in so doing, probably saved the pilot's life in the horrible crash of his plane.
Solomon, the king in Jerusalem, wrote, "As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come." Prov. 26:2. To everything there is a purpose. The swallow is one of the migratory birds and they are noted for returning to their original spot on the very same date each year. Surely creation displays the wisdom and power of the Creator.
The Lord questioned Job, "Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south? [Notice this for they will be flying south this very month. The hawk is one of the raptors, like birds of prey that migrate over Israel.] Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place. From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off." Job 39:26-29.
Lawrence Jones of Ontario is a true friend of the abundant water fowl that nest and raise their brood in that area. He provides a refuge and food resource of land and lakes for them. He calls them and talks to them as he feeds them. Once when spending the winter in Florida, a flock of geese flew over and a friend said to him, "I wonder if your geese may be some of those." He called his familiar whistle and sure enough, one came right down to him proof of the wonders of God's creation.
When we consider the exact control our Lord God, the Creator, has over His creation and that birds know when and where they should arrive, and that, in obedience to the One who has "put wisdom in the inward parts," they do arrive, can we doubt Him? He has promised us saying, "I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." Our Creator, our Redeemer knows when. He will come exactly on time. He also knows who He will "catch up." We know where we are going. Job 38:36; John 14:3. Ed.