BITS and PIECES
A random collection of news and views compiled by Frank McClelland for the Toronto Free Presbyterian Church.
210th Edition – September 29, 2024
THE PALM TREE
“The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree” [Psalm 92:12].
The Bible is a book of words, many words. But is also a picture book with many word pictures like the one quoted. The palm tree is known as God’s ‘supermarket’ for it provides food, drink and shelter for mankind. Every bit of it is useful.
The palm tree is upright. There are many trees in Canada, of all shapes and sizes, and it is sometimes difficult to tell one from the other. But the palm tree is unmistakable, neither wind nor weight can mar its uprightness. It is a picture of the righteous, standing straight and tall for the Lord.
The palm tree is unusual, in that it is like human life. Its age is similar to the life span of man. The palm tree has a heart which, when cut out to make the ‘millionaire’s salad,’ causes the tree to die. Most trees add external rings as they age, but the palm’s growth is internal. The Christian’s spiritual growth is internal.
The palm tree’s fruit is unique. Most fruit trees, like the apple or orange, hang their fruit downward for all to see and admire. But the palm lifts up its fruit for God to see. As we bear fruit we should always keep God’s glory in mind. “Man’s chief end is to glorify God” [Shorter Catechism #1]
The palm tree is unchanging. It is an evergreen. Neither heat of summer, nor cold of winter can hinder it. The Christian is to be “instant in season and out of season” [2 Timothy 4:2], with a consistency of life.
The palm tree ushers in good news. In the classic example the weary traveler crosses the parched desert, dying with thirst. He sees a palm in the distance. It carries a message, ‘water is to be found here.’
The Christian should be a signpost to a thirsting, dying world pointing to the water of life which is Christ.
Remember also the classic warning. The traveler thinks he
sees a palm tree, but it is a mirage. It’s not real. Some people can be like that. On closer inspection their faith turns out to be unreal. Are you a palm tree Christian, or a hypocritical mirage?
THE DAYS OF NOAH
One of the primary indications that the second coming of the Lord is near is the return of “the days of Noah” [Matthew 24:37]. Noah’s days were filled with violence [Genesis 6:11]. Surely those days are upon us now.
When we first came to Canada in 1963 the title “Toronto the good” could still be applied to the city, but not now. Every daily newscast brings reports of shootings and stabbings, and murders of the most awful kind.
To the south of us a mass shooting is defined as one involving four people either dead or wounded. Already there has been more than four hundred of these in the United States in this year alone, not counting those murders with less than four involved.
Thank God, He watches over His people. “He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways” [Psalm 91:11]. It is a time to lift our eyes toward heaven. The Lord tells us, “When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” [Luke 21:28].
For the believer the present may appear to be getting worse, but the future is bright.
“O MAGNIFY THE LORD WITH ME”
[Psalm 34:3]
The word ‘magnify’ bears the meaning of ‘to make great’ or ‘to enlarge.’ But how do we, mere insignificant mortals, make God greater? The answer is that we don’t or we can’t. He is infinite which means He is limitless. God cannot be any bigger or smaller. So then what does this verse mean?
Think of it like this. When we use a magnifying glass to give us a better understanding of some small word or thing, we don’t alter the size of the object in view.
It appears as bigger while staying the same size. What changes is our perception of it.
Likewise, when we magnify the Lord, He doesn’t change, but our perception of Him does. We need to see The Lord in His greatness. Some Christians have very small views of God. It is then that we need to perceive just how great He is. Jesus is called “The great God” [Titus 2:13].
