HIS TRUTH IS MARCHING ON!
Psalm 119:89-96
It was December of 1861. Mrs. Julia Ward Howe, her husband, and some friends were visiting Washington. The city was an armed camp. Pickets patrolled the railroad and a hundred camps circled in the darkness, marked by their glowing watch-fires. Deeply stirred by the sights and sounds of war, Mrs. Howe wrote the words to the now immortal Battle Hymn of the Republic.
The least known of it’s five verses goes like this:
I have read a fiery gospel
Writ in burning rows of steel.
‘As ye deal with my condemners,
So my grace with you shall deal.
Let the hero born of woman
Crush the serpent with his heel
Since God is marching on.
HIS TRUTH IS MARCHING ON!
Long before this world was created, the Godhead devised a plan for the ages that would mean a way out for mankind–a way out of the darkness of humanity’s soul that was to come. That plan would center around a Messiah who would redeem the nations.
GOD’S TRUTH WAS MARCHING ON!
The enemy of mankind and of God would seek to throw up a roadblock to this plan, but to no avail, for God would see to it that he would be utterly defeated. In the end, Satan would be no match for the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, try as he may.
GOD’S TRUTH WAS MARCHING ON!
All was well in the beginning. Our first parents walked and talked with God in perfect harmony.
But they couldn’t stand prosperity and ate the forbidden fruit. Obedience turned to rebellion and set the course for the road of failure for all the generations to follow. So God kicked them out of the Garden, much like their new master had been thrown out of heaven. It would take millennium before the new Adam would restore the relationship once experienced. However, it spite of this disastrous event,
GOD’S TRUTH WAS MARCHING ON!
It wasn’t long before sin reigned in the hearts of mankind. God couldn’t stand it any longer, so he sent a flood to cleanse the earth. But before it rained, He raised up one man—Noah, who was righteous in an unrighteous world. God gave Noah the blueprints for an Ark with which eight souls were spared. Noah was the butt of jokes but no one was laughing when it began to pour, and especially after the door was shut. Rejection of God’s way always leads to disaster.
GOD’S TRUTH WAS MARCHING ON!
At one time the whole world spoke a single language and the world’s first skyscraper was built at Babel. The idea was that man, through his own efforts, could reach into the heavens. It would be a monument to their greatness. Technology began to replace God! The Lord saw it all and caused a confusion by giving them many languages and thereby scattering them all over the earth.
BUT GOD’S TRUTH KEPT MARCHING ON!
Then God called a man named Abraham. He dared to trust God for his future, left the security of his homeland and ventured into the unknown. He believed God and was rewarded with a righteous standing before God. In fact, he became the father of many nations. His name is forever etched in the hall of faith found in Hebrews 11.
AND GOD’S TRUTH MARCHED ON!
Some time later a great famine struck the Middle East and God chose Joseph to be His man for the hour. Joseph had God’s anointing upon him and he rose up through the ranks, from dad’s favorite to slavery, to prison, to Prime Minister. Integrity ruled the day and Joseph rescued Israel by the hand of God. Again, Satan thought he had succeeded in thwarting God’s plan, but...
GOD’S TRUTH WAS MARCHING ON!
Eventually the Jews found themselves enslaved by the Egyptians. Centuries had passed and the memories of Joseph had been forgotten. The Israelites cried out to God for deliverance. He put His plan into action. God chose Moses, an unlikely and unwilling man to deliver the Hebrews. His voice could be heard in the court of Pharoah, shouting, “Let my people go!”
But Pharoah was a stubborn ruler. He wouldn’t believe Moses, so God sent plagues to convince him: frogs, flies, locusts, boils, hailstones, and darkness. Nothing seemed to work, until that horrible night when the firstborn of Egypt were struck by the death angel. At last, Pharoah told Moses to get out! You see, in the end, God always has His way—as do those who side with Him.
Pharoah chased the Jews all the way to the Red Sea. Just when all seemed to be lost, with no where to turn, God told Moses to stretch out his rod over the waters and they parted. After the Israelites had crossed over on dry ground, Moses again stretched out his rod and the waters fell in upon the enemies of God. Not one of them survived. They drowned in their sin and wickedness, as...
GOD”S TRUTH MARCHED ON!
The journey to the Promised Land was supposed to be brief, but it proved to be much longer than it needed to be. If only the people of God has listened to the minority report! They would have to wait for the milk and honey. In the meantime, manna would have to suffice. God was preparing their hearts for what was to come. He was pruning his branches. There in the desert, God gave them the law and tested their obedience to His love and care.
GOD’S TRUTH WAS MARCHING ON!
At last, the Promised Land! In they went, under Joshua’s leadership. Giants were slain, cities destroyed, and a people took possession of what God had promised long ago. Then came the era known as the “Judges” when folks forgot God’s Law and did what was right in their own eyes.
YET, GOD’S TRUTH KEPT MARCHING ON!
Israel moaned for monarchy, even though God had warned them of the consequences. He gave them Saul who began well, but ended up poorly. Satan got into Saul’s head and Saul began to drift away from dependence upon God and opted for self-reliance. So God rejected Saul’s leadership and removed him from his place of honor.
YET GOD’S TRUTH KEPT MARCHING ON!
David, a shepherd boy, was God’s choice to assume the throne. Unlikely as it seemed, he became famous as a soldier, singer, and statesman. Israel flourished under his leadership, but he was not able to build the Temple because their was too much blood on his hands. His son, Solomon, would do it.
Then the kingdom was split in two and confusion reigned. Israel forgot her past and her God! She made treaties with heathen nations and worshiped their false gods. It cost them their freedom for 70 years. Babylon and Persia were used of the Lord to straighten out His people.
Even in the midst of apostasy, God had His prophets and...
GOD’S TRUTH MARCHED ON!
Daniel stood his ground, never compromising once, even in the face of certain doom. He refused to cease his praying, so they threw him to the lions for dinner. But God shut the mouth of the lions and those nasty beasts became pussy cats. All this happened because one man would not bow to the devil’s schemes!
AND GOD’S TRUTH KEPT MARCHING ON!
Then, according to God’s plan, the time was right for Him to personally intervene in human history. Man needed what only a Redeemer could provide. He was hopelessly mired in sin. So God left the holiness of heaven for the hell of this world. He left His lofty position to become a peasant. He became poor so that we might become rich. He humbled Himself in order that we might become exalted. He laid aside His rights so that we might have a right to become children of God.
HIS TRUTH WAS MARCHING ON!
So into this dark world came the Light. His birth was unique, for His father was God. His life was unique for He lived in complete obedience to His Father’s will. His death was unique because He released His own spirit.
His teaching was astounding, His life was impeccable, His compassion was evident, and His courage was inspiring. He laid aside His glory so that we might enter into Glory. He laid aside His riches in order to make us internally wealthy. He laid aside His majesty so that we might one day rule with Him. But most of all, His sacrificial death meant that mankind could know what it is to be free from sin’s power and consequences.
GOD’S TRUTH WAS MARCHING ON!
Satan tried to keep Him in the tomb, but it was impossible! The stone that blocked the entrance was a pebble compared to the Rock of Ages inside! Up from the grave He arose, with a mighty triumph o’er His foes. He arose a victor from the dark domain, and He lives forever with His saints to reign. He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose! The death of death took place on that glorious morning.
HIS TRUTH IS MARCHING ON!
The Early Church declared the resurrection of Christ fearlessly. They were convinced of its reality. After all, who would be willing to die for a dead leader? They spread the news everywhere, at the peril of their own lives. It became the central theme of their message.
HIS TRUTH WAS MARCHING ON!
Throughout Church history, true followers of Christ have continued to proclaim the glorious message of redeeming love. Through tears, and anguished cries of pain they continued. Persecution, martyrdom, and ridicule would not stop them. They had a story to tell, a love to proclaim.
HIS TRUTH WAS MARCHING ON!
So keep marching, weary pilgrim. March on to the sound of the Gospel. Don’t fall out of step. Don’t march to the beat of another drummer. Close ranks and follow the triumphant Christ. He will lead you to ultimate victory!
And when you grow faint and feel like you cannot take another step, let the memory of our Lord and those saints who have gone before, inspire you to continue.
March on, march on, until we all stand before His glorius throne!
