Meet at the Town Clock

Image from Web    It is said that a stoppedclock gives the correct time twice a day. But how do we know the correct timeunless there is another clock to measure time by? If fallen man is the stoppedclock, then God is the other clock. For God is the measure of all things. Tryas hard as I could to remove and replace the battery on my own, in the end Ihad to take my stopped watch to a specialist. We need to come to God to removeand replace our stoney hearts.

Jesus said to His disciples, “WhenHe, the Spirit truth has come, He will guide you into all truth…” (John 16:13a).And Jesus said to His Father, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth”(John 17:17). Thus, as seen in this brief example, the Sanctifier, i.e., theHoly Spirit, works with God’s Word in the believer’s heart. God’s Spirit is thepower and God’s Word is our measuring device, i.e., the truth that sets usfree. “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).

God speaking in His Word isthe “Greenwich Mean Time” by which all truth is measured and calibrated. Youheart is giving a wrong reading if it has not been renewed by God. “And donot be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of yourmind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptableand perfect will of God (Rom. 12:2).

Icouldn’t even remove the back from of my watch never mind change its battery! Awatch smith has special tools. God’s special tool in heart-renewal is HisSpirit. The Spirit also has a specialist tool. He works with His Word. However,one of His special instruments is His Church, as in Christians. Indeed, theSpirit of God delights in using means such as Christians on buses and boats,trains and planes, in cafés and cocktail bars, yes, everywhere Christians findthemselves. The idea is for Christians to spread the Word of God at home, atplay, in school, at college, at university, at the domino club, etc., wherevera conversation can be struck up. This is how the Spirit works with the Word.

Iwas one of those who the Spirit converted while reading His Word. The Word isthe instrument. However, God may use specialist tools to remove the back offthe watch to access the batter as it were. The Christian Apologist does this bydefending the Faith. The Christian Preachers and Teachers are also specialisttools in the hand of the Holy Spirit. These are used by the Spirit of Christ toset the new watch to its original factory setting. The truth, i.e., God’s Word,has set you free, including your so called “free will” which was dead to God bybeing in bondage to fallen self, i.e., sin and Satan. The Spirit working withHis Word sets your will free and resets it. Christians “synchronize watches”each Lord’s Day where and when the Preacher expounds and applies God’s Word tothem. Therefore, church attendance is imperative.

Underinspiration of the Holy Spirit, Solomon says, “To everything there is a season,a time for every purpose under the sun” (Eccl. 3:1). Peter, under inspiration of the sameHoly Spirit, says, “Repent therefore and be converted,that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come fromthe presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19). Christian “Revival comes when and wherethe Spirit works with the Word. We have seen the Spirit delights in using humaninstruments, from those who are gifted at prising the backs off broken watches (people) to those who are gifted at resetting it to the correct time and to keep Christiansaccurately synchronised.

        I’mglad to be alive during one of those fruitful seasons in the sun, one of those “timesof refreshing.” It can be somewhat depressing watching Western nations gongunder on account of removing God from their homes, schools, lawcourts, sports,music, literature etc. However, what Christian does not glory in God when we seeHis Spirit at work with His Word in individual hearts, families, towns,and even whole nations, yes, including even backslidden Western nations?

Praythat God will pry the back off your broken watch, remove the old dead battery,and replace it with a new one fully charged by the Holy Spirit. Ask Him tosynchronise you with the truth of His Word by helping you find a Bible-believingchurch to attend every Lord’s Day to recalibrate. Pray that your family will becomea Christian family. Pray that your town will become a Christian town. And praythat your nation will become a Christian nation.

Letus all meet at the town clock. You already know where the town clock is. It ischurch on a Sunday morning. Let us synchronise our watches at Sunday worship.And who knows, maybe God, in His perfect timing, will be pleased to use even usas instruments for His glory!