The Spiritual Microscope

One day is with the Lord as a thousand years.” — 2 Peter III. 8.

Peter has learned the use of the microscope since he was a youth in Galilee. He was then all for the telescope — for bringing big things near. He saw the opposite hills across the sea so near that he thought he could reach them at a bound. To plant his feet upon the wave, to build his tabernacle upon the mountain, were his first ideals ot glory. The aim of his youth was to diminish great things — to see a thousand years as one day. But with age there has come to hira the other side of the picture — the magnifying of little things. The microscope takes the place of the telescope. He had begun by seeing big things as trifles; he ends by seeing trifles as big things. To the eye of his youth a thousand years were as one day; to the eye of his age one day is as a thousand years.

I should like my latest experience to be that of Peter — the experience of God’s microscope. I need it in old age more than in youth. In age I have the sense of wasted years and little time to retrieve them. I am deterred from amendment by despair. How can the short time at my command outweigh the long years I have squandered! How grateful is the answer of God’s microscope — “One day is as a thousand years! “Thy Father says to thy soul:” I measure not thy path by length of time. One day in My courts can retrace the steps of a thousand days outside My courts. Hast thou pondered the meaning of the eleventh hour! Hast thou considered the promise to the penitent, To-day shalt thou be with Me in Paradise! ‘Thinkest thou he got too generous measure! He did not. There was nothing pretermitted from his discipline; it was only compressed. He saw the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time — not in their glory but in their unrighteousness. There are for him and for thee moments of acceleration — times when I bind together yesterday and to-day and to-morrow. Say not it is too late to retrace so long a journey! My Spirit has wings. One day in My chariot can bring thee home — home to thy first purity. Spring into My chariot, thou that hast wandered far astray! Spring into My chariot, and I will bear thee back tn a nt’/i — hack to the child Jesus, back to the angels of Bethlehem, back to the shepherds’ song! One hour with Me will redeem a thousand erring years.’*