“THOU CONTINUEST STILL”
G. D. Pfingst
Daniel 1: 21; Hebrews 1: 11, 12
I just want to follow on a little with the thoughts that have come before us as to “the living”.
Our brother has been identified with the testimony and with the saints in this city for many years. Think of Daniel of old, he continued unto the reign of Cyrus. Outwardly, in the public setting, there were many changes, but Daniel continued. The people of God were in captivity, in the main away from God. Our brother has spoken about consistency, about committal from youth; Daniel was a youth; he purposed a certain thing in his heart and
apparently he never deviated from that. He continued unto the first year of king Cyrus. So through all the changes experienced in relation to what was around, the deterioration of things publicly and the scattering of the saints—Daniel continued. It is a wonderful thing to find help to continue. Daniel found this help in spite of all that was contrary and so we would find it too today as we are gathered here, fresh strength to continue in relation to the things of God, the things of the Lord, in relation to the assembly and the testimony. Although it may be in weakness, though outwardly and publicly there is opposition, during this time when the Lord Jesus is rejected in this world, we, like Daniel, seek to go on, to continue.
We know our brother had a link with the Lord, he knew the One who continues, the One who is the Same. Hebrews tells us about the Lord Jesus; He continues still. Most of us here would have a sense of what it is to know the Lord, the One who continues still. As has been said, our brother is not with us now in the testimony; He lives to God. His family feel that loss, the brethren feel that loss, but think of having joy in the face of sorrow because we know the One who continues still. We think of the Lord Jesus, on high at this very moment, not forgetting His people here, living to make intercession for us, and ministering the comfort that comes from God. The Lord Jesus Himself would afford comfort; the blessed Spirit is “another Comforter”. We think of the Lord Jesus continuing still. Some spoke of “... a certain Jesus who is dead, whom Paul affirmed to be living”, Acts 25: 19. Well, we affirm that Jesus is living. Most in this room would have a sense of Jesus living. Let us search our hearts; do we really know the Lord Jesus now as the living One? He lived, He died, and He lives again to die no more.
What a wonderful and precious thought that is to our hearts that we have One who continues still.
In the time of sorrow we know the comfort of this, that the Lord Jesus continues still. The widow of our brother, and the family, would know that, and we trust everyone in this room knows the One who continues still. He is the Same; other things change; we are in a scene where everything is changing, but there is One who continues still, ever the Same. Oh, what a Saviour, what a Lord, we have, what a great Redeemer! We see what change the years bring about, but His years shall not fail. In Daniel 7 it speaks of Him as “the Ancient of days”. How precious these thoughts are to our hearts, that there is One who continues still.
May we be comforted by these thoughts, that there is One who continues still and He is there on our behalf, and soon we shall see Him, and when we see Him we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is (1 John 3: 2).