Editorial August 11, 1917 Issue

A Ship Going to Tarshish

William P. McKenzie

One of the apostles designates himself "Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ;" and he closes his letter with the words, "Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." A lady once said, "I like to read about Peter in the Bible, because he is so human." It is encouraging to recognize that Peter had his temptation, his fall, his repentance and restitution, and that nothing he had been through injured his status as an apostle, because his experience only made him do what he had advised others to do,—"grow in grace." The struggle he had we recognize in ourselves, and may feel encouraged because he triumphed over fear and impulsiveness, and became even as a rock through well based understanding.

Some people like Jonah also because he was "so human." He is faced with a tremendous duty, and what does he do but try to avoid it! Do we not all know this temptation to "flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord"? Happily we learn from the prophet's experience that the ship will be no refuge, nor even safe transport away from duty, if to go to Nineveh is duty. One who had done a fine bit of brave work was complimented on the easy way in which it had been done. "Did you think that?" he said. "Why, I was swallowing my heart every few minutes." He was the sort of man who would go direct to Nineveh and preach coûte qu'il coûte; but of course he had to grow first, and it is in the process of the growth of courage that all are interested.

God's call continually seems to come to us as not suiting our inclinations. The child at play called to duty is not unfilial, nor actually disobedient at heart, but he thinks the parent has such poor judgment in interrupting his occupation. So, too, when the adult has laid out a plan of life, saying, To this city I shall go, and buy and sell, and get gain, and there abide, and build, and prosper, and a sharp call comes to give up ease and regularity, to travel the thirsty desert or cross the chill mountain range, to suffer hunger and endure the despite and ingratitude of men,—that which is weak, what we call the flesh, cries out. Then we have to turn to the promises of God, and we say, "My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever," and we actually do find that God comforts the heart only when the duty is taken up.

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