The Church of God at Canaan, Alabama - The Church of God, Stephen E. Smith, General Overseer.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Faith Warriors
 
We would like to begin a series of chapters from a book from our former General Overseer, A.J. Tomlinson, entitled, "The Last Great Conflict". As you read I want you to see the the spiritual insight He had as this book was written in 1913. Almost 100 years ago He saw the need, condition of the world and rejection of the Word of God that would take place in the times just prior to the rapture of The Church. A place if you look around you is seemingly where we are today. Please enjoy! Also please note in some instances you may find a word or phrase in parenthesis added by this administrator that further describes to you Bro. Tomlinsons limited knowledge of certain discoveries of the early 1900's.
 
Chapter 4
Latent Powers
 
Latent Powers refers to the supernatural powers God can and will bestow on His people when they have reached a certain level of spiritual maturity.
 
     Within the breasts of the people of this generation dormantly lies possibilities, which is not discovered, brought forth and utilized will rob mankind of much good.
     Men of science teach and believe that there are treasures hidden in the earth, sea, and sky, for the use of man, undiscovered and undeveloped, and are proving their belief in this by making continuous research. Holes are being drilled in the earth beneath; soundings and research by means of divers and glasses, (telescopes) are in constant use in seeking for he discovery of the unknown in the sea.
     Men are not only looking at the material within their reach of the earth and below the surface, but have a distinguished gaze upward. We are told that powerful guns have been dragged up mountains sides to the highest peaks and placed with their muzzle upward, heavy charges poured into them, which, when discharged hurled the balls with such velocity that they pierced holes in the sky to unknown height. Plans have been formulated for attaching wires to these balls with a hope of forming a channel or medium by which by something of the unknown could travel like a flash of lightning down to the home of man while the ball was at its greatest height.
     For years balloons have been harnessed and loaded with human life, cleaving the sky to a great height, the inmates risking their lives in a little basket hung to a mere canvass loaded with hot air or gas; all with a hope of discovering that which is out of reach of ordinary walks and attainments of life. In recent years the airships or flying machines (we now call them airplanes or jets) are making their way through the upper regions carrying their load of precious cargo in the form of human flesh, the intellect of which have ambitions pent up within their own knowledge, with a hope to harness for the use and development of man.
     As Columbus ventured out from pleasant surroundings into the high seas in search of a shorter passage to the rich spices of India, and instead brought to the knowledge of the eastern hemisphere the rich country in which we dwell, (USA) which has proven to be the best and grandest country of the world, so men are looking downward and upward. They are bounding and plowing through the unknown above with aspirations no doubt in many cases that are never whispered to the dearest friends lest they should be mocked or met with attempts to discourage.
     Astronomers are not idle in their sphere of discovery, but are constantly producing new and more powerful glasses, (telescopes).        
     Wireless telegraphy, (radio, television, Internet? hmm?) is another factor in the hands of man by which it is hoped that they may be able be able to so attune their instruments that they will harmonize with and cause to vibrate (sound waves) the cords of a similar instrument by the inhabitants of Mars or of some of the other planets, (later to be discovered that there is apparently no life on Mars or any other known planet). In the physical world men are spending sleepless nights and hazarding their lives with a hope of making some valuable discovery. Men of inventive genius have shut themselves up with no food or companions, while they engaged their mind on some scheme while the train of thot' was available, lest a disturbance would cause a disconnection and the whole train of thot' be cut asunder and the model in the mind entirely lost before a literal fact that had form and could be observed. (Continued in next Column)
 
 
Chapter 4 Continued
 
    No disturbance is raised; no umbrage is taken against any of the aforesaid adventures, no matter how insane the views and undertakings, but the world looks on with admiration and applause. Even great rewards are offered for new and valued inventions. Thus the physical world is moving on to higher attainments and into a broader sphere of knowledge each year. Pick and shovel, augur and drill, powder and dynamite are brought into use to unearth the unobserved. Diving-bells and torpedo-boats (submarines) are assisting men in the depths of the sea. Balloons and airships (airplanes) are carrying them above in the air, all in search of the unseen and the unknown. The physical world is full of excitement, wild prohehesies and projects.
     Should the spiritual world allow their contemporaries to out-wit them? Should the Christian world fold their hands in slumber, sleep long and eat plentifully, and allow the world by going hungry, and arising early, to win the prize for energy, wit, long suffering, perserverence, grit and determination? Jesus said "The Children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light."But should it be so? With the same untiring effort on the part of the Christian world, many of the unseen and unknown blessings in God's eternal storehouse might be discovered and harnessed for the glory of God, the use of man and for the hastening of the return of our Lord. Latent powers are now lying dormant, unused and unknown in the bosoms and within the reach of many many today.
     Within a grain of wheat is a germ of life, fraught with great possibilities for the sustenance of man by continual growth and increase as it is place in the soil, where the germ of life will burst forth into real action. I just feel so with so many young lives today. With proper environments and under certain conditions, those latent powers will spring into use, and not only surprise friends and acquanaintances, but will in many instances even surprise even the persons themselves, because of the successes and exploits wrought.
     The grain of wheat, though in it is that germ of life, can lie dormant in the dry granary, and finally wither, dry up, and blow away as dust. So with men and women in the chritian world today. Men and Women live in their homes, their friends and companions; and it is almost impossible to get them out of old family customs and ruts.
     Like the grain of wheat, although the possibilities and powers for great achievements and exploits for God are in their breasts, yet they can stay home and follow in the common rote of life, and finally wither away spiritually, dry up and blow away.
     Peter and John ran to the sepulcher, when they heard Jesus had disappeared, stooped down and entered in and saw the lined clothes and napkin, but afterward quietly came out and walked away to their own homes, and Mary alone tarried until she saw the vision of angels, and a little later the Lord Himself, and held a conversation with Him.
     There are gigantic possibilities within our reach, in the vast, illimitable and immeasurable realm of grace, if we only put forth as much energy and effort to explore and search after them as men do in the physical and scientific world. We are accorded the privilege of looking through a more powerful lens than astronomers have (or will-including Hubble) ever invented. We can look, if we close our eyes from the seeing of evil, until we can behold the King in His beauty.
     The wireless telegraphy and other marvelous inventions are only mere specks in comparison to that which is attainable by the people of God in this generation. Read the wonderful words of promise: And to make all men see what is the fellowship (partnership) of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known BY THE CHURCH the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: in whom we boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him ****** that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth all knowledge, that ye might be filled with the fullness of God". (Eph. 3:9-19).
 
To Be Continued    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Powered by Vistaprint. Website Hosting for Small Businesses.