1 João 5
H.A. Ironside · Citado em PreceptAustin
1 João 5:10
Ironside - a man may say: "Oh, well; I do believe on Christ, but I would not dare say that I am saved. I am waiting for feeling, I am waiting for the witness." This is what God says, "He that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son." You may think you are honoring God when you say, "Well, I would like to believe, but some way I don't feel sure. If I could only have a different feeling come over me, it would be all right." But so long as you talk like that you are making God a liar. God has told you something which He asks you to believe. What does it imply if you do not believe? Suppose I should come to you and tell you something and you should say, "Yes; well, I would like to believe you, I am even trying to believe you; but some way or another I cannot believe you." What would that mean? It would imply that you really thought I was lying to you, and it is just the same when you treat God's Word like that. Believes (4100)(pisteuo) means to entrust oneself to an entity (in this case Jesus) in complete confidence. To believe in with the implication of total commitment to the one who is trusted (Jesus). This is not just intellectual assent, but a that is not associated in a change in one's heart and thus in one's behavior or actions. Belief in the New Testament sense that effects the new birth denotes more than a "demonic" like, intellectual assent to a set of facts or truths. The demons believe but they are clearly not saved. Genuine belief does involve an intellectual assent and consent of one's mind, but also includes an act of one's heart and will. Biblical saving faith is not passive assent but an active staking of one's life on the claims of God. The respected Greek lexicon author W E Vine defines belief as consisting of (1) a firm conviction which produces full acknowledgment of God's revelation of Truth - (2Th 2:11 -"in order that they all may be judged who did not believe [pisteuo] the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness."); (2) a personal surrender to the Truth (Jn 1:12 "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe [pisteuo] in His name") and (3) a conduct inspired by and consistent with that surrender. John uses pisteuo with Jesus Christ as the object of the belief (faith is never in faith but in some one or some thing accepted as true) in five verses in his letter… 1 John 3:23+ This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. 1Jn 5:1+ Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God; and whoever loves the Father loves the [child] born of Him. 1Jn 5:5+ And who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 Jn 5:13+ These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. Testimony (3141)(marturia/martyria related to martureo = to witness <> martus/martys = a witness) is that which furnishes evidence or proof. Marturia can be the witness per se. A witness is one who has first hand knowledge and so the purpose of John the Baptist was to bear witness of Messiah (the Light) so that all might believe through Him (Jn 1:7). Marturia in other contexts can refer to the content of what the witness speaks - testimony, evidence (Mk 14:55). In 1Ti 3:7 the sense of marturia is that of one's reputation (think of it as the "witness" of their life and their character before others). A witness does not speak on his own behalf, though he may share his own experience, but primarily the purpose of the witness is to tell about another. As an aside the frequent cost of such a "witness" is pointed up by the fact that we derive our English word "martyr" from this Greek word. Webster's definition of testimony - The firsthand authentication of a fact. A solemn declaration or affirmation made for the purpose of establishing or proving some fact. Such affirmation in judicial proceedings, may be verbal or written, but must be under oath. Testimony differs from evidence; testimony is the declaration of a witness, and evidence is the effect of that declaration on the mind, or the degree of light which it affords. Webster's definition of witness - one that gives evidence; A person who knows or sees any thing; one personally present; as, he was witness; he was an eye-witness. One who gives testimony; as, the witnesses in court agreed in all essential facts. Marturia and the verb martureo are predominantly Johannine words - Witness is also one of the major themes of John’s Gospel. Martureō occurs 33 times (cp 1x in Matthew, 1x in Luke, none in Mark) and the noun marturia 14 times (0 in Mtt, 1x in Luke, 3x in Mark) Liar (5583)(pseustes from pseudomai = to lie) is one who speaks falsehood, untruth, and so attempts to deceive. Thayer adds that pseustes describes "one who breaks faith, a false or faithless man." PSEUSTES - 10V - Jn. 8:44; Jn. 8:55; Rom. 3:4; 1 Tim. 1:10; Tit. 1:12; 1 Jn. 1:10; 1 Jn. 2:4; 1 Jn. 2:22; 1 Jn. 4:20; 1 Jn. 5:10 This is the fifth use of pseustes in this short letter in which John describes a liar three times referring to men and twice to God (of course not that God is ever a liar but what men "make" Him by their lies and/or unbelief)… 1Jn 1:10+ If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. 1Jn 2:4+ The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him 1Jn 2:22+ Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. 1Jn 4:20+ If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. Webster's 1828 Dictionary says a lie is "an intentional violation of truth," so truth be told, these unbelievers are the real liars, for they intentionally violate (fail to show proper respect for, disregard) God's truth about His Son! And in the Revelation, John describes the ultimate, eternal fate of all habitual liars - "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all (all who make it a lifestyle) liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." (Rev 21:8) He explains who their father is (addressing Jews who professed faith [Jn 8:30-31] but did not possess faith [Jn 8:45-47]) "You are of [your] father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own [nature;] for he is a liar, and the father of lies." (Jn 8:44) NIDNTT adds that…In the NT 15 different words contain the root pseud- (false). These are found in nearly all the NT writings, but whereas the Synoptic Gospels make only very sparing use of them, they play an important role in Johannine and Pauline writings. Besides the simple use of vb., noun and adj. (pseudomai, lie; pseudos, lie; pseustes, liar; pseudes, deceitful), which comprise the major part of the NT instances, there are numerous compound words. These include: pseudadelphos, false brother (2 Cor. 11:26; Gal. 2:4; Brother); pseudapostolos, false apostle (2 Cor. 11:13; Apostle); pseudodidaskalos, false teacher (2 Pet. 2:1; Teach); pseudologos, speaking lies (1 Tim. 4:2); pseudomartyria, false witness (Matt. 15:19; 26:59); pseudomartys, one who gives false witness (Matt. 26:60; 1 Cor. 15:15; Witness); pseudoprophetes, false prophet (Matt. 7:15; 24:11, 24; Mk. 13:22; Lk. 6:26; Acts 13:6; 2 Pet. 2:1; 1 Jn. 4:1; Rev. 16:13; 19:20; 20:10; Prophet); and pseudochristos, false Christ (Matt. 24:24; Mk. 13:22). (Online New International Dictionary of NT Theology) I said to her, “Suppose that one of your dearest friends was careless and broke a piece of your best china. Feeling very sorry, she sincerely apologized for not being more careful. You assured her that you would not hold it against her. Now, what would you think if every time you saw that person, she recalled how foolish she had been and again asked for forgiveness? After a while you would probably become exasperated and say, ‘Listen, put the matter out of your mind. I have sincerely forgiven you, and I don’t want you to mention it again!'” God is also true to His Word, for He promises to cleanse us when we acknowledge our failures. So confess your sins to the Lord. Then believe that you’re forgiven. In the deep, silent depths, far away from the shore Where they never may rise to trouble me more— God has buried my sins where no mortal may see; He has cast all of them in the depths of the sea. —Anon. Having given your sins to God, don't try to take them back. Jesus said, “He who believes in Me has everlasting life” (Jn. 6:47). To question, therefore, whether one has been redeemed after he has fulfilled God’s requirement for salvation is to call God a liar! This is a terrible sin. How much better to trust God’s Word, which says, “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God” (1Jn. 5:1). A believer was once asked, “Do you feel that your sins are forgiven?” “No,” was the reply, “I do not always feel that they are forgiven, but I know they are, because God says so in His Word!” Paul did not say, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will feel that you are saved.” He said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). Not all people feel that their sins are forgiven the moment they put their faith in Jesus Christ and receive the gift of salvation, but they are saved nonetheless. The feeling may come later. Even the faintest cry to God for salvation is heard and answered. Rest on the rock-solid foundation of the Word, not on the sinking sand of your feeling! Salvation is not feeling, but faith. H A Ironside - Alex. Marshall, the Scotch evangelist, now with Christ, went many years ago as a young lad to a circus where a servant of Christ was preaching. He sat away yonder in one of the balconies, and he was anxious to be saved. He kept saying, "If I could only get the happy feeling that some of these people have, I would know it was all right with me." You know sometimes the Spirit of God gives the preacher just the right message for somebody in the audience, and this preacher leaned over the pulpit, and pointing to where this lad sat, he said, "Young man, believing is the root, feeling is the fruit." That moment the lad saw the whole thing and passed out of death into life. "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself." You take God at His word and say, "Let God be true and every man a liar," and you may rest upon His Word. Daniel Akin - To deny this is to call God a liar concerning what He says about His Son. His Son and only His Son is to be the sole object of our faith. “Pope Makes First Major Changes to the Rosary in Centuries” by Peggy Polk, c. 2002 Religion News Service VATICAN CITY -- Pope John Paul II on Wednesday (Oct. 16, 2002) announced the first major changes to the rosary in centuries. The Roman Catholic pontiff, who has called the rosary his “favorite prayer,” marked the start of the 25th year of his reign by issuing the Apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae on the Most Holy Rosary and proclaiming October 2002 to October 2003 the Year of the Holy Rosary. “Is there a better instrument of prayer than the rosary for the demanding but extraordinarily rich tasks of contemplating the face of Christ together with Mary?” the pope asked. I must humbly disagree with the Pontiff’s instruction. I do not need Mary now or ever. I need only Jesus. Why? Because the Father says so. As
1 João 5:11
Ironside - A friend of mine who died some years ago in India did not have the assurance of salvation. The thing that troubled him above everything else was that he had an idea that God had chosen an elect few that should be saved, and as he had no evidence that he was among them, he could not know that he was saved. He went to a meeting where the preacher declared that a man was saved the moment he believed in Jesus, and that he possessed eternal life and could never perish. "Now," he said, "I would like to be sure of that." When he got home, he got down on his knees and prayed, "O God, if it is possible for a man to be sure he has eternal life, show it to me now from Thy own Word; but if it is not possible, show me that, and I will leave it with Thee." He turned to this fifth chapter of First John and read the verses that I have read to you, and when he came to the verse, "He that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son," he said, "I don't want to make Him a liar, but I don't know what that record is." And so he looked at the next verse, and read, "And this is the record." He put his thumb down on the rest of the verse, and shut his eyes and prayed, "O God, I have just been reading that if a man does not believe the record that Thou hast given of Thy Son, he makes Thee a liar; I don't want to make Thee a liar, but I don't know what the record is. I suppose I have it under my thumb. I am going to lift my thumb, and when I do, help me to believe whatever I find there, because I do not want to make Thee a liar." He almost dreaded to lift his thumb, but finally did, and read, "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son." "Oh," he said, "blessed be God! Then right here and now I can know!" and his faith was confirmed as he read, "He that hath the Son, hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." He saw that it was just a question of receiving Him. He came into peace, and for years preached this same truth to others. "He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name" (John 1:11-12). Have you received Christ? Then, "He that hath the Son hath life." Are you rejecting Him? "He that hath not the Son of God hath not life." If the Son of God has not been received by faith as Saviour, you are still dead in trespasses and sins, but if you have received Him as your Saviour, God says you have everlasting life. Take Him at His word. C H
1 João 5:13
Ironside asked the man if a happy feeling or the voice of an angel would give him the needed assurance. The man initially said yes. Ironside answered, “What if the devil gave you that happy feeling or transformed himself into an angel? Then on your deathbed Satan visited you and said ‘I gave you that happy feeling. I was that angel. You are lost forever.’ ” The man agreed that an inner feeling or the voice of an angel would not give him assurance of eternal life. Ironside went on, “God has given us something better than happy feelings, something more dependable than the voice of an angel. He has given His Son to die for your sins, and He has testified in His own unaltered Word that if you trust in Him all your sins are gone. Do you believe on the name of the Son of God?” “I do, sir, I do indeed! I know He is the Son of God, and I know He died for me.” That night the man had full assurance of eternal life. God’s promise is not found in feelings or miraculous visions. It is found in the Bible. Today give thanks that not only did Jesus die to give you eternal life, but He gave you the Bible so you will forever have that assurance. “Jesus and I shall never part for God is greater than my heart.”—Nathan Cole Safe to the End I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:13) Eternal or Temporary? Most of the time you never question it, but every once in awhile you have a nagging suspicion that maybe you just think you’re saved. Is salvation a game of Russian roulette with eternal consequences? First of all, God doesn’t want you to have to play a guessing game for the rest of your life. Evidently, early Christians struggled with the same questions, so John tried to answer their fears and nagging doubts about salvation. “The one who has the Son has life,” wrote the apostle (1 John 5:12). In His Hands Second, Jesus didn’t come to give you week long life; He came to give you eternal life. If it could be taken from you, it wouldn’t be eternal, would it? Third, if the status of your salvation was based on your performance, none of us could ever be sure. But just as you were saved by grace, you are kept safe by grace. Your security does not depend on you! Consider this: All of your sins were in the future when Jesus gave His life at Calvary. So if you’ve got Jesus, you’ve got all the life you’ll ever need! You are secure in His hands. He will never leave you or forsake you (see Heb. 13:5). You can rest knowing that you’re His. Bottom Line Your heavenly Father will never disown you. If you struggle to believe that, ask Him to increase your faith. He wants you to rest secure in Him. Lee Strobel - SPIRITUAL CONFIDENCE (see Today's Moment of Truth: Devotions to Deepen Your Faith) I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 JOHN 5:13 MANY PEOPLE SIMPLY GUESS WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR STANDING before God and their prospects of getting into heaven. They figure that as long as they’re living a more-or-less moral life, observing a few religious practices, and doing better than the next person, then God will give them a pass into paradise after they die—or at least they hope he will. Hope is the operative word in their calculations—because they don’t really have an objective basis for their assumptions or any way of measuring whether they’re really right with God. That hope erodes, though, in moments of personal awareness when they realize they’re not all that moral after all, at least when it comes to their true thoughts, desires, motives, and intents—let alone their inconsistent outward actions. When this track record is mixed with an understanding of what Jesus taught about the performance level necessary to pass God’s bar of entry, namely perfection (Matthew 5:48), then despair often sets in. Hopelessness, ironically, is a more honest emotion than hope, given the reality of the situation. The truth is that if we were left to fend for ourselves before an unwaveringly holy God based on our own spiritual performances, all we’d be left with is despair. We should be thankful we don’t have to fend for ourselves or bank on our own spotty spiritual performance. Instead, if we confess our sins and turn to God to receive his forgiveness and cleansing (1 John 1:9), then “we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One” (1 John 2:1). And because of Christ in our lives, we can know that “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son” (1 John 5:11). Once we’re clear that we have asked Jesus for his forgiveness and leadership, this next confidence-building verse applies to us: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13, emphasis mine). Christianity was never meant to be a “hope-so” faith; it is a “know-so” faith that’s based on what Jesus, our Advocate, has done for us. Truth for Today - God wants us to have spiritual confidence both for today and for eternity, but it must be grounded in a right relationship with Jesus. “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:12). 1 JOHN 5:13 READ: John 10:22-30 A NEW Christian confided to another believer that he was doubting his salvation. "Yesterday I was filled with joy, and I thought I would never be in the dark again. But now it's all gone, and I'm in the depths. What's the matter with me?" "Have you ever passed through a tunnel?" asked his friend. "Sure," said the new believer. "When you were in the tunnel, did you think the sun had been blotted out of the sky?" "No, I knew it was there even though I couldn't see it." "Were you distressed when you were in the tunnel?" "No, I knew I'd soon be out in the light again." "And did you get out?" "Of course!" replied the new Christian. Then he paused as the truth dawned on him. "I see what you mean. God's promises remain the same no matter how I feel about myself. I should trust God, not my feelings!" Thank You, Lord, for the confidence I can have that Your glory still shines even when I can't see it. May this knowledge motivate me to keep moving toward You. Taking God At His Word - Many true believers in Christ are plagued with doubt about their salvation. Even though they have come in repentance and faith to Jesus as their Savior, they still wonder, “Will I really go to heaven?” My late husband Bill often told about something that happened to him when he was 2 years old. One day he disobediently wandered from home and got lost. When his parents realized that he was missing, they went out searching for him. Finally, to everyone’s immense relief, they spotted their tearful boy and carried him safely home. Days later, Billy overheard his mother relate this incident to a visitor. When she reached the part where they went out searching for him, Billy began to relive the story. “Mommy, Mommy!” he sobbed. “Did you ever find me?” Surprised and deeply touched by his doubt, she embraced him and said, “Of course, my child! Don’t you remember that happy moment? See, you’re with us now, and we’ll make sure that you always are.” That comforted Billy, because he took her at her word. For Further Study Is it possible to be sure your sins are forgiven? Read The Assurance Of Salvation Christ’s work makes us safe; God’s Word makes us sure. That You May Know One day, while Wim was in the marketplace in the Netherlands, he struck up a conversation with a woman who remarked that you can get to heaven by doing good works. His attempt to explain that it is by God’s grace that we are “saved through faith” (Eph. 2:8) brought a smile as the woman repeated confidently: “and … by doing good works.” Then another woman volunteered, “You can hope you’ll go to heaven, but you can’t be sure.” Wim’s assertion that he did know for sure was met with a muttered, “Nobody knows for sure.” Wim then showed the woman what 1 John 5:11-13 says. He explained: “See, it doesn’t say hope there, it says know.” Unconvinced, she said, “Like you, my pastor says that we have to have faith, but you really never know whether you’ve been good enough. You may think you have, but who can be sure?” To some, Wim’s confidence may seem incredible. But he based his words on this statement: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works” (Eph. 2:8-9). We cannot earn our way to heaven By word or work or worth; But if we trust in Christ to save us, Then we’ll enjoy new birth. —Branon We are saved by God’s mercy, not by our merit—by Christ’s dying, not by our doing. Taking God At His Word These things I have written to you who believe … , that you may know that you have eternal life. —1 John 5:13 Sadly, many true Christians are plagued with doubt about their salvation. Even though they have come in repentance and faith to Jesus as their Savior, they still wonder, “Am I really saved?” My late husband Bill often told about something that happened to him when he was 2 years old. One day he disobediently strayed from home and got lost. When his parents realized that he was missing, they went out searching for him. Finally, to everyone’s immense relief, they spotted their tearful boy and carried him safely home. Days later, Billy overheard his mother relate this incident to a visitor. When she reached the part where they went out searching for him, Billy began to relive the story. “Mommy, Mommy!” he sobbed. “Did you ever find me?” Surprised and deeply touched by his doubt, she embraced him and said, “Of course, my child! Don’t you remember that happy moment? See, you’re with us now, and we’ll make sure that you always are.” That settled it for Billy. He simply believed her word. He who gave Himself to save me, Now will keep me to the end; In His care securely resting, On His promise I depend. -- H G Bosch Christ’s work makes us safe; God’s Word makes us sure. A Know-So Salvation I have written to you who believe in … the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. —1 John 5:13 Many Christians lack the joy and assurance of their salvation because they will not take God at His word. They do not accept at face value what He says, but rely on their personal feelings instead of on the Scriptures. Bible teacher H. A. Ironside related a personal experience that helps us understand the importance of believing the Word of God. After he had read to a woman some passages about trusting Christ, she said, “Well, I am trying to believe.” “Trying to believe whom?” asked Ironside. “It is God who has spoken in His Word. Are you saying you’re trying to believe Him?” Immediately she saw the light and exclaimed, “Oh, I didn’t realize what I was saying. Yes, I do believe what God has declared.” At last her heart found rest. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood. --Crosby The blood of Christ makes us safe; the Word of God makes us sure. Adrian Rogers - 1 John 5:13 One basic thing all Christians should know beyond the shadow of any doubt is that they are saved—that all of their sins are forgiven and buried in the grave of God's forgetfulness, that Jesus Christ has come to live in them, and that they are bound for heaven, either when they die or the Lord returns. It is much better to be a shouting Christian than a doubting Christian. We ought not to walk around like a question mark with our heads bent over, but like an exclamation point! We should not be saying, "I hope I'm saved," but "I know I'm saved!" These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. 1John 5:13 When George B. McClellan was commissioned Major General of the Army, he wrote his wife, "I don't feel any different than I did yesterday. Indeed, I have not yet put on my new uniform. I am sure, however, that I am in command of the Union Army because President Lincoln's order to that effect now lies before me." WHEN A MAN IS IN CHRIST, HE IS SAFE; ALL THE DEVIL CAN DO IS WORRY HIM. Robert Neighbour - 1 John 5:13 John's Gospel was written that we might know Christ, and be saved thereby. John's Epistle was written that those who are saved might know their salvation. John's Gospel is summed up in one word — "To know Him is to believe Him." John's Epistle is summed up in one word — "To believe Him is to know you are His." Matthew
1 João 5:13
Ironside - An elderly man said to H. A. Ironside, "I will not go on unless I know I'm saved, or else know it's hopeless to seek to be sure of it. I want a definite witness, something I can't be mistaken about!" Ironside replied, "Suppose you had a vision of an angel who told you your sins were forgiven. Would that be enough to rest on?" "Yes, I think it would. An angel should be right." Ironside continued, "But suppose on your deathbed Satan came and said, 'I was that angel, transformed to deceive you.' What would you say?" The man was speechless. Ironside then told him that God has given us something more dependable than the voice of an angel. He has given His Son, who died for our sins, and He has testified in His own Word that if we trust Him all our sins are gone. Ironside read 1John 5:13, "You may know that you have eternal life." Then he said, "Is that not enough to rest on? It is a letter from heaven expressly to you." God's Spirit used that to bring assurance to the man's heart. Source Unknown - Regarding salvation and assurance, there are three groups of people: (1) those who are secure but not sure; (2) those who are "sure" but not secure; and (3) those who are secure and sure. Category one are conscientious believers in Christ who are saved but lack assurance. In category two are professing Christians who say, "Even though I'm living in sin, I'll make it. After all, 'once saved, always saved!'" The third group are born-again believers who enjoy a warm, secure relationship with Christ each day. The objective basis of our salvation is the finished work of God's Son on the cross. The subjective basis for our assurance is our believing the truth about Christ (I John 2:2,4; 2:15; 5:1), loving the brethren (I John 3:14, 18, 19, 4:7-8), and obeying Christ's commandments (I John 2:3-5). C H
1 João 5:15
Ironside - We may not get the answer to our petitions immediately, we may not see our prayers answered on the moment, but if in accordance with the will of God, if in fellowship with God as we bring the petition, we may be definitely assured that He has heard and has answered, and that sometime, somewhere, we shall see the answer. Of course, we have to remember our human limitations, for we do not know always what is wise or best, and therefore we must be prepared to find that the answer sometimes comes in a way we least expect it. Some day when we get home to heaven, we shall see that many of the prayers we thought God had not heard were answered in His own wonderful way. We remember the incident of the Christian man who was the only one saved from a wrecked vessel after a storm at sea. He found himself cast upon a little island, and by great effort got certain materials together and managed to make a little shelter from the equatorial storms. He waited day after day praying God to send a ship to succor him, and he used to go down to the shore of the little island and wave a signal, just a piece of his clothing, every time he saw a ship passing in the distance, but some way or another they never saw him. One day as he was cooking his dinner, he beheld a ship some distance away and hurried to the shore, earnestly praying that this time they might see and come to his relief. He waved frantically, but they went by, until at last the little vessel was almost lost to sight. Then turning to plod his way back to his little hut he was astonished to see that it had burst into flames. He had left some embers, and the wind had set the place on fire. Everything burned, and then when at last he stood there utterly distressed, not knowing where he would be able to gather sufficient material to build another shelter, to his amazement he saw that the vessel was headed right for the island. As they neared the shore they sent a little boat for him and took him on board. He asked, "Did you see my signal?" "Your signal!" they said; "Yes, we saw your smoke, and so we came to rescue you." God had answered prayer, but not at all in the way he expected it, and so, some day when we get home to heaven, we shall see that many of the prayers we thought God had not heard were answered in His own wonderful way. Robert J