Follow Their Faith!

Follow Their Faith!

“Remember those who lead you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.” Heb. 13:7.

We can more easily appreciate those people with whom we have had personal contact and who have worked with us when we are no longer in close contact with them. Jesus says in John 8:45, “But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me.” It sounds strange, but according to our nature we like those who make a fuss over us. If they tell us the truth, we have difficulty swallowing it, and suspicious thoughts about many things rise up in us against those who have told us the truth. Therefore we cannot fully understand our leaders who speak God’s Word to us (that which pierces asunder and divides between the thoughts and intents of one’s heart). But when we are no longer in close contact with them, and we take time to reflect on the matter and see the fruits and the outcome of it, everything becomes clearer. The exhortation is to follow their faith, and we can well add, their faithfulness!

When we think of our leaders who have passed on, we think first and foremost about Brother J. O. Smith. We have seen the blameless and glorious outcome of the life he lived. Now that we have seen the fruits of his labors for several years—fruits that last—we can appreciate his faith and faithfulness even more.

On the 8th of October of this year his wife, Pauline Smith, also went home to be with the Lord. She passed away peacefully in her sleep at home in Horten. We understand that God, who joins together, had given Br. Smith a helper who was mete for him, a wife who was like him. Now we have also seen the outcome of her life.

“A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse, a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.” Song of Sol. 4:12.

This word aptly describes Sister Smith’s life. She was hidden in her home. She attended conferences and meetings as much as she could, but who noticed her there or saw her? She sat quietly in the meeting hall, in the hidden. But her husband was known in the gates where he sat as an elder. Prov. 31:23. All of us could hear that he did not have a wife who was rottenness in his bones. Prov. 12:4. She fulfilled the word, “Every wise woman builds her house.” Prov. 14:1.

This is precisely the woman that Smith needed—a woman who could build her house with wisdom, since he was unable to spend much time at home because of his earthly work. He was away from home for months at a time, and when he did have a few free days at home, he had to share his free time with the churches. If his wife had not been able to build the home in the right spirit, he would have been occupied with taking care of it himself; but it was as it is written, “The heart of her husband safely trusts her.” Prov. 31:11. She had offered him up so that he could always be ready to do the work of the Lord.

At home she was a garden where her virtues were manifested. Her fountain was the fear of God, the word of faith, Spirit and life. At the breakfast table I was often amazed that she had such a deep well from which to draw. She did not, in the manner of women, speak about food and clothing, or about things that were beautiful and desirable in this world. If you wanted to thrive in that home, you had to desire true godly fear.

It was also an exceptionally hospitable home. There Smith could gather the upright for Bible studies, conversational meetings, and prayer meetings, besides the many others who would drop in at any time to seek help and edification. The extensive work for which we are now having a difficult time finding meeting halls large enough had its beginning in Brother Smith’s home. Everyone can well imagine the sacrifices that were required of Brother Smith’s wife.

Sister Smith’s body was frail during the last few years, and she was mostly quiet. When a person gets old and frail, his hidden man and life become more visible. This was also true of Sister Smith. She sat there praying out loudly. Then I really heard what it meant to strive in your prayers. She also wanted to make sure that there was always enough food so that there would be sufficient if someone else came; and if she heard about someone who was poor, she asked her daughter to give that person something, and everyone had to have a Word of God. This was her hidden life in her home throughout these many years, which was now manifested through her frailty to us who were around her. We saw the end of her life. It gave me this desire: May I follow your faith and your faithfulness.