"He is Thy Life"

by T. Austin-Sparks

First published in "A Witness and A Testimony" magazine, Jan-Feb 1965, Vol. 43-1.

The Motto for 1965

"He is thy life, and the length of thy days" (Deuteronomy 30:20).
"And as thy days, so shall thy strength be" (Deuteronomy 33:25).

So runs our motto for 1965. It puts our lives on the basis which alone can see us through, but which can more surely do that. From the natural and temporal to the Divine and eternal. Firstly, it establishes us in Divine resource. The great all-comprehending "He" is the all-sufficient source. Not the sooner or later, the shorter or longer of life's tenure, but "the eternal God". Not the hap, chance incidents and circumstances of life to dictate and govern, but "God over all". Not the human or satanic forces deciding the length of our days or the destiny of our lives; but "the God and Father, who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will". For some the battle is short and sharp; a concentrated intensity in which their maturity is reached sooner than others. A knowledge of the Lord is forced up above the average, and the values required for the service of eternity secured more quickly than in many. For others the "days" are more, and for others the "days" are many. The tenure is determined by the Lord, and the strength measured accordingly. "He" is the measure as to time.

But not only the plurality of days. Surely the word is for each day. It was to the people to whom our words were first spoken that the Lord gave the manna "Day by day". It was sufficient for the day, but no more. Lack of faith would mean that some would gather for the morrow, and that was forbidden. It has often been said that many things which crush us today are the things which have never happened, and may never happen. They exist in our fear, our imagination, our reason. Even if we do have a 'practical common sense which does not leave things to chance', are we wise in taking possibilities without the assurance of "As thy days, so shall thy strength be"?

When the women were hastening on their mission of mercy to the tomb of Jesus, anxious care entered their hearts: "Who shall roll away the stone?" When they arrived, it was already rolled away, by "a great angel". There are angels who can anticipate us. God has said "As"; no more, no less. He measures the number, the every one, and the depth. The words are the heritage of those who, like those to whom they were first spoken, are called into the fellowship of God's Son; redeemed by precious blood, united with Him in death, burial and resurrection, and committed to "wholly follow the Lord", "called according to His purpose".

May it be ours to live in the good of the "promises, which in Him are yea and amen".