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We discovered the following article in our shelves of old magazines. In light of our recent blogs with Juan O Savin giving the revelation of the coded message from Nessun Dorma, the magnificent operatic closing song of the Republican National Convention, this essay written in 1967 is even more pertinent a plea for our nation to awaken—Let no one sleep!
The author, Rev. Robert T. Wordworth, was the pastor of Christ and Country Church (near Baltimore, Maryland) for many decades where he taught the Christian-Israel message of the Gospel of the Kingdom. He had also served as the State Chaplain of the American Legion.
This exhortation was published in the July-August 1967 issue of Truth and Liberty Magazine. Has America improved since then? We believe we are in the midst of the greatest awakening in history; but we are not there yet, otherwise our whole nation would be turning back to God and His laws which result in a happy and prosperous nation.
All emphases (except the author’s Scripture quotations in italics) and comments in [brackets] are mine—JWB.
Americans have many problems in spite of the fact that they enjoy the highest living standard of any people on earth. America is a paradise of the good life with food fit for a king, homes that exceed the palaces of past princes and gadgets for every human convenience.
But in spite of our God-given blessings, we are troubled with racial unrest, labor disputes, rising taxes, increased crime, delinquency and divorce, wars on poverty, immorality and just plain wars. In all our domestic and foreign problems is God aware? Does God care? Is the Lord interested only in saving certain individuals while sacrificing a whole nation?
The answer is obvious. God is aware. Jesus does care. The Lord has already expressed His concern for His wayward people in His Holy Word. The Bible has a message of salvation for our nation as well as for individual believers. Let us look at the lesson Jesus gave to His disciples when they asked Him, “Lord, are there few that be saved?”
This is found in the 13th chapter of Luke, beginning with verse 23. “And He said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in and shall not be able.” In other words, Jesus was indicating that salvation involved a struggle, a striving, a strain. While the grace of God is free by faith, salvation implies an effort essential to entering in.
In His sermon on the Mount, Jesus had enlisted this invitation to believers to encourage them to find the good life, to follow the scriptural sign posts, to press on toward the mark.
His exact words are, “Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there at. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). (“Strait,” in the Old English of course, means narrow or constricted.) Christianity, then, meant more than religious ritual for salvation from sin, but a way of life for every day of life.
The dear Christian who believes Christ for the salvation of his soul and then does nothing to make life more abundant for himself and others, has missed the mark. Souls who are sincerely saved seek to find ways of service. They search the Scriptures and learn the laws of the Lord which were given for fuller realization of the fruitful realities of faithful relations.
Aimless and fruitless Christians result from failure to enter into the disciplined life of doing as well as being. It’s one thing to be a Christian; it’s another to work at it. Active Christianity was the only kind Christ actually taught.
Sunday saints and weekday weaklings was an abomination to Him. To the Church of Laodicea, Christ spoke in strongest terms, denouncing their mediocrity. He said, “I know thy works, that thou art warm, neither cold nor hot; I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:15-16)
No man can serve Christ with half a heart. Sooner or later he will, like denying Peter or betraying Judas, take the easier way out. Total commitment is the only true commendation to those who would follow Christ.
Remember the story of the pig and the chicken who wandered past a country church where a sign on the lawn said, “Come in for a Ham and Egg Breakfast.” The chicken, knowing the pig was consistently hungry, suggested they go in. “Not me,” said the pig to the chicken. “All they want from you is a contribution, but from me — total commitment!”
Getting back to Jesus’ plea for Americans in Luke 13, verse 25, He says, *“When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye* are.”
Remember that Jesus taught in parables, and this is not to be taken literally, but illustratively. It does not speak of salvation, for the Lord is gracious and longsuffering and patient, and not willing that any should perish. As Isaiah says, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened that it cannot save; neither is His ear heavy, that it cannot hear” (Isaiah 59:1).
Jesus’ reprimand is directed toward pathetic apathetic Christians who, once saved, failed to follow Christ all the way. Jesus said, “I am the way,” but they longed for easier ways. He said, “I am the life,” but they chose paths of destruction.
He said, “No man cometh to the Father but by Me,” and they followed a philosophy that countered with “one God and many ways to worship Him.” And they ended up outside.
It is a serious thing to reject truth. The true believer does not satisfy himself with something good when there is something better and something best. We are to give of our best to the Master, not just something good. The Christian life is not a static state but an ascending activity. That’s why the apostle Paul urged his hearers “to press toward the mark” (Philippians 3:14).
In Jesus’ illustration in Luke 13:26, the seekers who were unable to enter in shall offer the argument, “we have eaten and drunk in Thy presence, and Thou hast taught in our streets.” Their claim to reward is that they have kept the ritual of communion, eating and drinking at the Lord’s table, as if the Lord were satisfied with sanctimonies without sacrifices, or ritual without righteousness.
“Taught in our streets” indicates that they played church. But there is the old pedagogic question as to whether the teacher has taught if the learner has not learned! The lesson is not complete until there is a change in the life of the learner.
Blessed are they that not only hear, but do. Be ye doers and not hearers only. It is not enough to hold church — do you hold fast to the truths taught?
“But he shall say,” Christ continues, “I tell you, I know you not, whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity” (Luke 13: 27). “I don’t even know where you came from,” the master of the house answers those who stand outside and knock. How many people have little time for church until some personal emergency — then they have to start calling clergymen until they find a sympathetic ear.
How many calls I receive from people in trouble looking for help, who have rarely if ever darkened the door of the church! Although there is no evidence of sin or wrong-doing, the Master here calls these late-comers “workers of iniquity.” All they did was delay their good intentions. But the road to hell is paved with these. Procrastination keeps many people from doing good, or being better, or giving their best.
Then Jesus describes the last days when He says, “There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth when ye shall see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out” (verse 28).
Several of Jesus’ parables of His kingdom end with weeping and gnashing of teeth. Certainly this confirms the penalty of judgement on those whose hearts are not right and whose lives are not lived for His glory.
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are all to be in the kingdom of God. Jesus never separated His coming kingdom from the covenant promises made by God to our fathers. They were both to culminate in the kingdom of God on earth and Christ on the throne.
It is the Christian saints who rule and reign with Christ over the twelve tribes of Israel in the New Jerusalem. (Revelation 3:21, 5:10, 21:12.) “And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God” (Luke 13:29).
This is consistent with Jesus’ other teachings and parables about the kingdom. It is at once evident that the kingdom is not merely some spiritual body as the Church of Christ is, but rather, the kingdom is a very real material, geographical entity on earth. The elements of the kingdom do not fit heavenly perfection at first.
There are both good and bad fish in the kingdom, both wheat and weeds, both the faithful servant and the enemy. (Matthew 13:48, 29:28) This is not descriptive of heaven, but it is prophetic of the kingdom.
In this great age there are some who are on the top now — in government, finance, education, communication and religion, who shall be on the bottom when the Lord sets all things right. So Jesus says, “Behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last” (Luke 13:30).
When Christ assumes the throne of David, it will be “to order it and to establish it with judgment and with justice” (Isaiah 9:7).
The next passage in Luke 13, verse 31, tells us, “The same day there came certain of the Pharisees saying unto Him, Get Thee out, and depart hence, for Herod will kill Thee.” This sudden concern for Christ is at once suspicious. Only a short time before these Pharisees had tried to trip Him with their questions. Jesus had warned His disciples, “Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy” (Luke 12:1).
Even today the same hypocrisy is practiced by religious Pharisees who tell Jesus to get out because the government will kill Him. So the name of Christ is omitted for fear of offense, but the greater offense is the omission. It is not Herod who threatens, not civil government, but those who speak in the name of the church.
Beware of the leaven, the pernicious propaganda of the Christ-rejecting Pharisees. When the Bible was banned from public schools, it was not Herod who killed, not the Court which decided, but the hypocritical leaders of the apostate church who kept children from hearing the Word and praying to God. It was not democracy, but hypocrisy.
Then, in a rare instance, Jesus used a name to describe a person. “He said unto them, Go ye and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. Nevertheless, I must walk today and tomorrow, and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem” (Luke 13:32-33).
Here in another rare instance Jesus used sarcasm. He was also profoundly prophetic, for He did cast out devils and do cures. He was a Prophet who perished in Jerusalem, and who was perfected the third day in resurrection power.
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,” Jesus pled, “which killest the prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee,” (Luke 13:34) This is both historic and prophetic. The old Jerusalem killed the prophets and stoned God’s messengers, and the doom of the city is foretold.
In contrast, the new Jerusalem which is sent from heaven by God has “kings of the earth bringing glory and honor into it. . . And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it” (Revelation 24-26).
So Jesus pleads with America today to heed the warnings of His messengers, not to kill the prophets but to fulfill their prophecy. It is His intent to establish justice and judgment. It is God’s plan to spare His people and sanctify His land.
Then comes this pitiful plea from the heart of Jesus, “How often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!”
How often Jesus pleads for America today through His messengers, by His Word! How often would He have gathered our children together, instead of scattering them apart. Christ would keep families together, but they would not listen.
Christ would let men live together in peace and harmony, but they will not be led His way. Christ would recall our fighting men and military defenses from foreign fields, but we will not humble ourselves and pray, and turn from our wicked ways so that He could heal our land.
As a result, Jesus says to America, Behold, your house is left unto you desolate, and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see Me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord (Luke 13:35). Our houses of worship are desolate. The truth of God’s Word is denied.
The national message of the Bible is neglected, and we do not see the Lord working and overruling in our midst. We blame the devil and our enemies, but fail to see our own faults and God’s hand.
The judgment of Jerusalem Jesus foretold did come to pass. The sevenfold siege is given in Luke 19:31-48 and it closes with the lament, “If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong to thy peace! But now they are hid from thine eyes… because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation” (19: 42, 44).
What time is it in America? Time to wake up! Time to get up! Time to speak up! Redeem the time; the days are evil. Paul writes, “Awake thou that sleepest and rise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5: 14-16).
Jesus is calling America today. Jesus calls us, the United States, the U. S. He calls us to heed the great salvation more than the great society [the political program of President Lyndon Johnson]. It is neglect of so great salvation that leaves America without escape. Jesus is calling Americans. Let us hear and fear and receive and believe and read and heed.
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