The Snow Plow

The Snow Plow

Shortly before Skjulte Skatter was published for the first time, Br. Johan O. Smith wrote that the publication would work like a snowplow, help­ing to make the way more visible; for the way was completely covered with snow for most people. The publication has been just such a snow­plow throughout these one hundred years.

In Acts we read about Apollos who had been instructed in the way of the Lord; nevertheless, he needed to have God’s way explained to him more ac­curately by Priscilla and Aquila. This is something that each upright soul who is seeking the truth asks: “Where is the way?” The souls of the disciples want to advance, advance, advance! Well-formed sentences and ideas, interesting accounts and deep topics cannot advance them on the way in Jesus’ steps. Jesus has consecrated this way—it is new! In the epistle to the Hebrews it is called the new and living way. It goes through the flesh. Heb. 10:20. We can go far, even very far, on this way, but we have to see it to be able to walk on it.

When we leave a meeting or a gathering, we are sure to have heard many inspiring things, but have we seen the way? When we read a good account or a deep explanation about one of several biblical topics, we are possibly left with many positive thoughts, but did we see the way—the way through the flesh? Positive thoughts and deep explanations alone will not help us to advance further on the new and living way.

Skjulte Skatter has had a mission and has been true to its mission for one hundred years. For the person who desires to have the way explained more accurately, as we read about Apollos, Skjulte Skatter could almost be compared to a reference work. Brothers who have gone home to be with the Lord, have written about and searched this way back and forth so that it is difficult to write something that has not already been published in Skjulte Skatter. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 4:7, “What do you have that you did not receive?” We who live now could well say, “What do you have that these brothers have not written about and passed on in the publication Skjulte Skatter?”

For one hundred years all subscrib­ers to Skjulte Skatter, including those who are alive now, have each month received in the mail the exhortation from Proverbs 2:1-5 that is printed on page one; namely, to search for wisdom, understanding, and insight as for hidden treasures. For then we will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. Since 1912 the publication has been the re­sult of such digging. In one of his let­ters (#90) Johan O. Smith writes about “the work of preparing the ground, which is absolutely necessary for true sanctification.” It is therefore good to remind ourselves in this anniversary edition to dig for hidden treasures! It is also significant that the first article that was printed in 1912 was an article by Johan O. Smith about the bride of Christ. This shows what was on our brothers’ hearts from the very begin­ning: “Christ manifested faithfulness when He sojourned on earth, and now His desire is that His bride will be just as faithful in the days of her flesh. This is the way that we become one flesh with Christ.”

Aksel Smith, who was the co-editor together with his brother Johan from the beginning, wrote in February, 1912: “It is of the utmost importance in these days to have clarity over the inner ways in Christ.” Then he continues to write about “the soul’s inner walk with his God” and about racing ahead on the way of the cross. To us who live 100 hundred years later, this must not be the sounds of a distant past, for Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, even for all eternity. The way is the same today. Yet for the religious masses it is just as much “snowed in” as it was in for­mer days; if anything, it is snowed in even more. However, the snowplow Skjulte Skatter is able even today to show us the way to an overcoming Christian life in which we in all things can grow up to Him who is the head, even Christ.