Waiting on the Dead
[by Rev. Wm. Graham, pastor. from the August 1944 issue of Songs in the Night, the newsletter of the Village Church of Western Springs, Illinois, transcribed from “Songs in the Night” broadcast, July 30, 1944. ]
Judges
5:28: “The mother of Sisera looked out at a window, and cried
through the lattice, Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why, tarry the wheels
of his chariot.”
Have
you ever had an appointment with someone and waited for him, but he never came?
This is the very sad picture that we have before us in this text. Sisera’s
mother is waiting, wearily watching at the window for the coming of one who
is already lying cold in death in the tent of Heber’s wife. She was waiting
for one who would never come. Vain waiting . . . waiting on the dead. The cause
of her vain waiting is the cause for the still vain waiting of so many—a
want of a knowledge of the truth.
Thousands
and thousands today are waiting expectantly and hopefully for the return of
their Johnny Doughboy. Many will be disappointed, for many of the boys that
stormed the beaches of Normandy and fought through the battle of Guam will never
return. Anxious mothers, hopeful sweethearts, kindly fathers and friends waiting
for the return of one who will never come.
You
are waiting, on the dead if you are waiting to get peace with God without
the blood of Jesus Christ. The word of God is very plain and clear — “And
having made peace through the blood of His cross by Him to reconcile all things
unto Himself. (Colossians 1:20.) And then again we read in the Word of God that
“without the shedding of blood there is no remission” of sins. There
is absolutely no way to have peace with God except by the blood of Jesus Christ
as it is applied to the individual heart by faith. There is a glorious verse
in I John that says, “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from
all sin.” Are you waiting on the dead in this respect.
You
are waiting on the dead if you are waiting for salvation without believing
on the Son. The Bible says, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting
life, and he that believeth not on the Son shall not see life, but the wrath
of God abideth on Him.” (John 3:36.)
Two
men were in a dark, cold dungeon in Philippi. It was midnight. They were preachers
of the Gospel, having been thrown in this prison for preaching on the streets.
they began to sing and to praise God in the darkness of their cell. While they
were praying and praising God, an earthquake came and the prison walls began
to fall. Their chains fell off their hands and feet. They were set free!
The
jailer, seeing that his prisoners were able to escape, was about to fall on
his sword and kill himself, knowing that the higher authorities would hold him
responsible. Paul turned to the jailer and said, “Do thyself no harm.
We are still here.” And the jailer, having heard the song, the testimonies,
the prayers, fell on his knees before Paul and Silas and said, “Sirs,
what must I do to be saved?” They gave him one concise, tremendous answer.
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. and thou shalt be saved.” There
is only one way of salvation, and that is through faith in Jesus Christ. Are
you waiting on the dead?
You
are waiting on the dead if you are waiting to feel saved before you
come to Christ. Jesus had been teaching and healing all day. The crowds were
pressing close upon Him. The road was dusty. A woman who had been sick for years
pressed near Him in her anxiety to be healed of her disease. She reached out
and touched the hem of His garment. In a moment she was completely healed. But
first she had to touch Him by faith—and so it is with you. You will have
to come by faith first, and then your feelings will come. But then after you
come, do not rest on your feelings, because they change continually. Rest on
the Word of God. The Bible says very clearly that you can know beyond the shadow
of a doubt that you are going to heaven when you die. “These things are
written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God that ye might know
that ye have eternal life.” (I John 5:13.) Are you waiting on the dead?
You
are waiting on the dead if you are waiting for power without receiving the
fullness of the Holy Spirit. God very plainly says, “Not by might, nor
by power, but by my Spirit.” The Holy Spirit is the dynamo, the electro-motive
in every Christian. A Christian will never have power and, victory over sin
until the Holy Spirit comes in to the heart in all His fullness. “Ye shall
receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.” Do you want
real victory in your life? Do you want power to win and influence others for
Christ? Then confess any known sin in your heart and ask the Holy Spirit to
come in. Are you waiting on the dead?
You
are waiting on the dead if you are waiting for promotion without being faithful
in the place you are. So many people are unstable these days. So many are wanting
big things, but many times God calls us to a small place, and wants us to be
faithful in the place we are—large or small—before He can promote
us to a greater sphere. David had to be faithful on the mountainside with the
sheep before God could allow him to lead Israel to the greatest heights in her
history. Are you waiting on the dead?
You
are waiting on the dead if you are waiting for the conversion of the world,
or world peace before the coming of the kingdom. There can never be a kingdom
without a king. Neither can there be peace without the Prince of Peace. All
the planning at the peace tables will never bring about a great world peace,
for the most essential person to peace is being left out - that person is Jesus
Christ. Are you waiting on the dead?
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Last Revised: June 1, 2010
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