(Written in September 1953)
God wrote a symphony of praise in eternity past. In this symphony there are three great movements. In the first movement, God the Son is presented as the Creator, and there is the great chorus of Creation. But sin and Satan entered in and caused a great discord. Hence, the second movement, which, as I once heard said, "began to be played on the strings of a Tree, and amidst the cries of agony." But the cry of agony becomes the shout of victory, for the mighty work is done, and the chorus of Redemption will echo and re-echo throughout all the ages. The blood shed on the cross by Jesus Christ the Divine Redeemer is what gives Him the title deed to all things. Soon there will be the final movement in God's symphony, the Grand Finale, when Christ returns to claim the inheritance, and when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord of all.
God is a God of wise design. It may appear at times that His purpose is thwarted, defeated or stayed, but not so. Our God is working steadily toward the desired goal, and His purposes shall never fail. His will shall triumph, and in His own time and way He will bring the desired results to pass.
Shortly after the creation, sin reared its ugly head in the Garden of Eden. Man became alienated from God, the curse came in, and sin, death and the devil have held sway for nearly six thousand years. But is this to last forever? No! The curse will be lifted, the devil dethroned, Christ enthroned, and the symphony of praise that was lost in Eden will be heard again in paradise restored.
Out of the wreck and ruin of the fall, God chose Abraham, and the Nation Israel was born. Israel was highly favored of God, but in spite of many privileges the sons of Abraham proved themselves no better than any of the sons of Adam. Israel's history was one of failure, and now for long years this nation has been "a people scattered and peeled." But will they continue so? A thousand times no! God will be true to His promises and will again delight in Israel. They will yet be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of God. There shall again be heard in Zion the voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, and Israel once again shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord.
After Israel's failure and fall, God made known His purposes concerning the Church, the Body of Christ. This was no afterthought with God, but rather a forethought, for it was that which had been purposed from before the foundation of the world. But even in the Church there has been dismal failure also, as evidenced by one look around us today. The Church is to be to the praise of the glory of His grace, but instead of producing beautiful music that will bring praise and glory to Him, we hear many sour sounds, and many are playing out of tune and out of time. The Church has a high and holy calling, but the members of that Church do not always manifest a high and holy conduct. Where there should be unity there is strife and division. Instead of love there is bickering and bitterness. Instead of spirituality there is carnality. But blessed be God, a better day is coming. Some day He will present the Church to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but holy and without blemish before Him. Now there are many spots and wrinkles and blemishes, but then not one. Then what a symphony of praise there will be, when in the ages to come He will show forth in the Church the exceeding riches of His grace and kindness and love.
Thank God, the time is coming when every discordant note will be silenced, and when both Israel and the Church will be blessedly attuned to sound forth a perfect symphony of praise to the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Then with the millions of His saints
We will in one song unite;
And each the bliss of all will view
With infinite delight.
