THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD

The German Minister of Defense was to lay a wreath on the Tomb and representative groups from all branches of the service were to be present. With quick cadence they approached the Tomb and halted before it. A color guard marched with flags waving. A speech was made and a wreath laid, but what I was waiting for was the coming of the new guard. I looked at the men standing at attention by the Tomb, alert, trained and felt assured those men were the best available.

Then came the new guard. The sergeant that escorted him brought him to a halt. He was looked over from head to toe. The uniform had to be correct.

He then asked to see the rifle and carefully inspected it and gave it back to the guard. Then the two walked together to where the waiting guard stood. The changeover was executed with precision. The sergeant took the one old guard back with him and left a new and qualified sentinel in his place. The new man on guard was as equally qualified as was the other. The cause was the same, the Tomb was unchanged, the uniform and rifle of both guards were alike inspected with care. The rifle was the same make and caliber. The ammunition was the same. The same government was represented by both men. This new guard walked with the same pride and diligence as did the old. Visitors who stood around the Tomb were just as impressed with the second guard as they had been with the first. This was wisdom. How difficult to preserve truth or tradition when those who succeed you do not shore the same convictions. This is the reason why the guard was chosen from a “selected group.” He had much to protect and to preserve. He was entrusted with a cause and message of free men, who though long dead and unknown should be made known to this and other generations.

Just suppose when the new guard took over that he was considerably less qualified than the old one. Let’s suppose that he didn’t even dress for the occasion or bother to bring his rifle with him. I know it sounds way out, but in these days when human vegetables are trying to palm themselves off on society as citizens, and who are forever demanding their “rights” —who might be granted a voice to present their position, if they would at least get a haircut and take a bath. To these weird and warped slouches nothing short of a demonstration will do. Especially if it halts the wheels of progress. They are not interested in the red, white, and blue. No bands, no parades for them.

No snow jobs please. They have no appreciation for the sacrifices of others who gave their all. They don’t want to fight. They would rather burn their draft cards, would rather sit down or lay down and create a scene some-

No freedom cry for them; they would just as soon be Red as dead. The old guard means nothing to them and should one of this type ever be called upon to pull guard duty…pray for the cause, as it will soon be lost. And yet, in more ways than one, this group that has no desire to be even normal-who would rather glory in being subnormal and in many cases abnormal, this irre-sponsible, sorry and shabby element is trying to relieve the old guard. We don’t have to look too closely to pick them out…in society, In colleges, in government and elsewhere. The question to ask ourselves is, “Are we going to be like the irresponsible draft card burning crowd or will we choose to become the trained and honorable guard?” Even in our day, the guard is changing. In Arlington, this change takes place around the clock, day and night, but nothing seems to be lost.

Everything is preserved. But we who have so much to preserve don’t seem to place proper valve and emphasis on the preservation of our heritage of priceless truth and revelation as I feel we ought. God help the sergeants who escort the new guard to carefully inspect those who will take over soon. I can’t help but feel that many have not been instructed in what things they must preserve. The Marine I watched carried a gun and he was ready to defend what others died for.

Hear the voice of the old guard of Apostolic truth years ago: “I am set for the defense of the Gospel.” Phil. 1:17.

How carefully Paul guarded the things the Lord revealed to him. He instructed Timothy to “keep…committed!” It is a tragedy that we allow ourselves to become so committed to everything except Calvary and the Apostolic message, but it was not that way with the old guard. Timothy was also instructed to teach faithful men who in turn would be able to teach others this message. 

There was no stopping place. No room for fading vision, or loss of ideals, but one thing mattered. They were alone against the world, and theirs was the responsibility of not only preserving, but if need be (not with carnal weapons) of defending the Gospel. He cautions Timothy to “War a good warfare”, and to “hold faith and a good conscience” and says of those who resist the truth, “they shall proceed no further.” That is the way the old guard marched. Are we trained to follow the same steps, or will we choose to make a new path unknown to those who expected us to follow in their footsteps?

It is not meet that a novice should fill the place of such a trained and seasoned guard, but that is often being done these days. We have lived to see the day when an untried novice is placed in a church that once had been strong on the doctrine and on the lines of holiness and allowed them to walk a new path. Soon the standard changes; television creeps into the homes of the members. The novice may be stealing sheep on all sides of him, but no one seems to notice it. Especially if the preacher across the way is a member of the old guard, with some old fashioned convictions, he is considered too radical and dogmatic; and since he is so set in his ways and won’t change with the times, he ought to lose a few.

We who are supposed to be guarding the Pentecostal standard, for which so many good and mighty men and women have suffered and died for, are we doing so with unloaded rifles and without proper training and uniform? When each new group from each generation pauses long enough at the Apostolic shrine and inquires, “What mean these stones?” I hope we will have a guard on hand that will be worthy of name, who will carry himself in the same worthy manner as those who now left with him such a responsible trust.

Make no mistake about it, we are put here to guard the truth. I well realize that the times have changed, but the cause remains unchanged. The honor of the Name remains unchanged. This glorious message remains unchanged. Our vigilance ought to be unchanged, for the Lord has bidden us to “watch and pray.” Are we standing guard, or simply turning our backs so anything can happen? What a shame that some who should be guarding the truth of repentance are themselves excusing sins…or are we covering up for those they favor. We are living in perilous times when pulpit and pew will guard a television set, will ever be ready to defend worldly    apparel, will be set for the defense of jewelry and ornaments, will condone worldliness and carnality, will even sit back and ridicule a Christian soldier who has been trained and who fully believes in such things as the “cause” for which we stand, whose eyes often fill with tears when he thinks of the sacrifices of those who died for what they believed, who had convictions and stood on them against all the world if necessary.

I have often wondered why it is that when certain individuals get up to preach (when their turn to stand guard comes) they only mention the subject of holiness in terms of ridicule. Always in terms of foolishness, intending to make people laugh. I have taken notice that they never     (and I have underlined that word) they never bring up the subject with reverence. If one minister does not see or fully understand the convictions of another, the least he ought to do is to say, “I do not have any convictions against this thing or that thing, but we do have in our fellowship other good men that do have and I will consider and respect their convictions, for they have well guarded what they believe. Of course, this works both ways, but when a person has pledged and dedicated himself to guard what God has revealed to him, and what faithful men have taught him. I think we have a valuable soldier in our midst and we would hurt ourselves and cause if he should be retired!

I salute the guard who is not grabbing about at every new trick and gimmick to blow up his Sunday School, but is just going on down the “old path” and earnestly contending for the faith once delivered to the saints. He refuses to let a new trick replace the old time power of God. He faithfully guards the message of healing. Have we forgotten that healing still lies in that Tomb? Are we on guard for the absolute necessity of the Holy Ghost (the kind of Holy Ghost that speaks in a new tongue)?  The old American soldiers kept their cause alive with poems like Flanders Field, and spoke of leaving the torch for us to take and instructed us to take up their Quarrel with the Foe. They left us little mottoes like Lest We Forget, so that their mission and message would always be with us. As Christian soldiers, are we willing to take up the Calvary quarrel and the Apostolic quarrel with the foe? Do we ever remind ourselves and those about us  Lest we forget? I trust we have not forgotten so soon—we that have known this Truth.

I trust those who have been called to watch over our Christian heritage will do so with diligence and with pride. The Arlington guard lets no person or thing lead him away from his path, and God grant that His servants today will not become entangled with the affairs of this life and leave and neglect the work they have been called to do.

As I watched the able sentry that day, I couldn’t conceive him looking the other direction while vandals desecrated the shrine. Of course not—he was there to guard it. His conduct demanded and received the respect of all present, but it seems to me that some of us who hear so much spiritual wealth and truth to preserve just stand back and let some vandal from the pit deface and desecrate the greatest things ever left any people. In fact, I dare say, some guards themselves are doing damage to the Tomb.