Whenever I see that statement in a letter, I am tempted to think that the correspondent does not want the personal humiliation of making some sin or difficulty known to his pastor. The flesh often does not want to meet and talk year after year with a pastor who knows the innermost secrets of the soul. There is, of course, the possibility that the pastor is not faithful to the Word of God, and that therefore his counsel is not trusted. In this case it is perfectly legitimate to write to someone else, and it is in this sense that the correspondent has been answered.
"I," 'ego," "self," always wants to defend itself. The most "natural" thing in the world is for our human nature to rise against the slightest attack made upon us. Self always wishes to take care of its own interests, its own reputation, and its own rightness. We frequently see the attempts of men to justify errors, simply because they themselves have originally committed them. To admit wrong is to wound ego.
On November 20, 1959, a small amount of solvent exploded and blew open the door of a processing cell at the Atomic Energy Commission Oak Ridge laboratory. About one-fiftieth of an ounce of plutonium was scattered into the air. The AEC later reported on what it took to clean up this minor atomic mishap. All those who were within a four-acre area of the explosion turned in their laboratory-issued clothes to be decontaminated. Their urine was checked to insure that they had not inhaled or ingested any plutonium. The processing plant and a nearby research reactor were shut down. The buildings were washed with detergents, and the buildings' roofs were resurfaced. The surrounding lawn was dug up and the sod carted to a deep burial place. The surface was chiseled off one hundred yards of a nearby asphalt road. To anchor any speck of plutonium that might have survived, the buildings were completely repainted. Final cost, including resodding, repaving, and reroofing: approximately $350,000.
When we forget, it is an indication of weakness, but when God forgets, it is a sign of power. Men have to use all sorts of devices to help them remember. Notebooks, daily reminders, records, all are a necessary part of our equipment. Without them our minds would not hold the things which we must remember. God is not like man. His knowledge is perfect and not for a moment does he forget the tiniest detail of His vast creation. His Word gives us beautiful teachings about His love and His creation, for He does not only remember the laws of the universe or the provision for His creatures, but in an even deeper way He remembers those who are His children.
When you have spent time with Jesus Christ, and when you have been to your brother, then you can think seriously of going farther afield. If you are not able to bring men to Christ from your own environment, you will not be able to reach them in Africa or South America. Crossing the ocean has never made a missionary out of anyone. Christ defined the term neighbor by telling the story of the Good Samaritan. I believe He would define the term brother by pointing to the man who lives nearest to us. Our fellowman is to be the recipient of the love of Christ through our hearts and the touch of Christ through our hands.
