Cornerstone

Genesis 1:26-31 (26)

     And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

I was surprised when I saw this literally taking place.  Bro. Andrew had just taken Bro. Trussell and me to visit some of the church plants in the area surrounding Mandalay, Myanmar.   Now we were in the large city of Mandalay.  We visited a huge Pagoda (Buddhist temple), we saw the prison where Adoniram Judson was incarcerated and then Bro. Andrew pointed to a building we were passing.  “That is where they make idols,” he said.  It was picture taking time.  Sure enough, in a ram shackled building men were pouring cement into large cast molds.  All around the building we saw the finished products.  Big Buddhas.  Little Buddhas.  Medium sized Buddhas.  They were all staring lifelessly back at us. 

So often we try to pour God into our own mold.  “Let us make God in our image.”  We want Him to think like us.  We want His Word to say what we believe it should mean.  We want a God we can manage.  On the other hand, He created us to be like Him.  We have failed miserably but that is still His desire.  Romans 8:29 reminds us that God’s predetermined will is that we be “conformed to the image of His Son.

Dr. Gayle Woods

Acts 4:23-30 (24)

In our affluent society it is difficult to find a person who has been truly persecuted for Christ’s sake. We are pampered and spoiled. Our view of the Tribulation Period is probably skewed because we have not run in terror from the Secret Police. We have a filtered mental image of trial because we have not been deprived of the necessities of life by heartless and cruel rulers. And yet I have met a few people who have gone through times of hardship and persecution even though it may have been brief. One of those men whom I highly admire is Rev. Leland Trussell. As missionary to Bolivia he sought to spread the gospel message to an unreached area in Cochabamba. There he was threatened with bodily harm and finally had to leave because of the severity of the persecution. He remained in Bolivia and continued to work faithful in another location, however, and saw a very fruitful ministry. The happy ending to this story is that the work he attempted to begin was not lost. Years later his son and daughter both served as missionaries to Bolivia. Through their faithful efforts a work that their father strived to open was finally blessed of God. Thank God for pace setters who have a backbone so strong that it won’t allow them to waver in their commitment and service for God.

Dr. Gayle Woods