Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a tract to read:
by George C. Clark
“It came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim ben-Josiah, king of Judah, that this message came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, ‘Take a roll of a book and write upon it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I began to speak to you, from the days of Josiah even until this day.’ . . . The king sent Jehudi to fetch the roll, and he took it from the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and Jehudi read it in the hearing of the king, and in the hearing of all the princes who were standing by the king. Now, the king was sitting in the winter-house, in the ninth month, with a brazier before him, burning. And it came to pass when Jehudi had read three or four columns, he cut it with a penknife and threw it into the fire that was on the brazier until the entire roll was consumed in the fire that was on the brazier. But neither the king nor any of his servants who had heard all these words were afraid; nor did they rend their garments”
(Jer. 36:1–2, 21–24).
There are many today like Jehoiakim of old, who are burning, so to speak, every scripture in the Bible that does not meet the approval of their creed. It is true, these modern Jehoiakims are not using literal fires; however, what they are using is much more destructive than the fire which was on the hearth in the winter house of King Jehoiakim. They are using the fire of erroneous interpretations, which is burning the true meaning from every sacred scripture that would point out the way of the cross and lead men to the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. No, these Bible destroyers no longer use the penknife and the fireplace; they leave the knife and the fire off, and use only the “pen” and the “place”. They take up their pen, and then place their own interpretations on the Scriptures. This is why we have so many different and conflicting Christian sects in the world today. Strange as it may seem, men prefer to burn (pervert) the words of our Lord rather than repent and obey God. Nevertheless, the truth will stand, and it will, in time, conquer and subdue all things, even as God has said, “My word. . . shall not return to me empty, but will accomplish that which pleases me, and succeed in that for which I sent it” (Isa. 55:11).
God has always had a few faithful men who are filled with His Spirit and who are “rightly dividing the Word.” At the same time, thousands upon thousands are misconstruing every essential passage of Scripture and leading multitudes unto darkness and disaster. These false teachers are even more wicked than Jehoiakim dared to be. He was honest enough to burn the roll and not try to set forth a false interpretation of it and, thus, poison the minds of others.
Every generation has had a few Jeremiahs, men of action, who are taught of God and write out what they have been taught. Yes, Reader, the pen is as much needed today as it ever was, for God has never ceased speaking to His people. With all due respect to the Bible, I am convinced that God has messages for us now that are not yet in print, needed sermons for His children.
Since 1932, the year that God laid the burden of writing some of these sermons upon me, I have met thousands who were waiting and ready for these communications. On the other hand, I have met a number of Jehoiakims, who burn or otherwise destroy them; yet, God has provided means whereby we are printing and mailing more of these messages than ever before. Surely, God has caused us to triumph gloriously in this work.
Reader, if you are one of these Jehoiakims, who in similar wickedness have been destroying God’s revelations in our little gospel tracts, you should be greatly afraid, for the Lord God of recompenses will surely requite. He will not leave you wholly unpunished. You may have to face these sermons in the Final Judgment.
No one can stop the hand of the mighty God of Jacob. Men might burn every Bible and every gospel tract on earth, and yet the word of God would still exist. It existed before men began writing anything, for John 1:1 says, “In the beginning, the Word was there, and the Word was with God.” Yes, the word of God is much older than paper mills and the printing presses; so come, ye Jehoiakims, and save your time and souls. Put up your penknives, put out your fires, and quit trying to destroy God’s precious word, whether it be from the Bible or in some true gospel tract. “For the word of God is alive, and powerful, and sharper than any double-edged sword,” and any attempt to conspire against it will surely be a snare to your soul.
by George C. Clark
“Samuel summoned the people to the Lord at Mizpah, and he said to the children of Israel, ‘I brought Israel up from Egypt, and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you. And you, this day, have rejected your God, who delivered you from all your troubles and your distresses. And you have said to Him, ‘No! Set a king over us!’ So now, present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and by your families.’ And Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken. Then he brought the tribe of Benjamin by its families, and the family of Matri was taken, and Saul, the son of Kish, was taken. . . . And Samuel said to all the people, ‘Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen, that there is no one like him among all the people?’ And all the people shouted and said, ‘Long live the king!’”
(1Sam. 10:17–24).
It was at the Mizpah conference, held in Canaan long ago,
that the house of Israel voted for a king to fight their foe.
There they took their seats of honor on the soil made free for them,
making then their strange petition to be ruled like other men.
Yet, they knew God fought their battles with a strong and mighty hand, “And the Lord said unto Samuel, ‘Hearken thou unto their plea. So, the Lord gave His permission to anoint the young King Saul. But when Israel’s kings had ended all their reigning in their sin, But the King that Samuel wanted came one day to save his own, Yet, the people did not think he was the King that God should send. Thus to us, whom He has chosen, came the gift to be His own. Know that we, at every meeting, are our ballot casting in, Christ will reign alone as King when, with the ones of second birth, Just to view Him as our Ruler, just to stand close to his side, In the Master's Final Judgment, all will either stand or fall.
Let them have their king, their error! But by that, they’re leaving Me.’”
Though He knew it meant disaster, hearkened He unto their call.
left they Israel quite in bondage to the Romans, godless men.
So, God took the kingdom from them, giving it to other men.
We should cast, then, in our voting, every lot for Him alone.
and that angels are recording who’s for Christ and who’s for men.
human monarchs all have finished all their terrors here on earth.
will repay us for the heartache we have suffered as his bride.
He will show who stood with Samuel, and who voted for King Saul.