The God That Answereth by Fire, Let Him be GOD

Barclay F. Buxton was the father of Alfred Buxton, one of C. T. Studd's sons-in-law who went with him to the heart of Africa as a missionary. Barclay Buxton was cofounder, with A. Paget Wilkes, of the Japan Evangelistic Band, that remarkable group of missionaries that saw such wonderful works of God in Japan.   The following is from Buxton's introduction to Wilkes' book Missionary Joys in Japan:

"'If the Lord be GOD, follow Him: . . . but if Baal, . . .'  This is the great question that agitates the heart of every living man.  Is God GOD?  Does He rule?  Does He care?  Can He save?  Does He reveal Himself to those who seek Him?  Can He satisfy?

"These are the questions that arise in the minds of all men and women who think.  And as soon as the preacher of the Gospel arrives in a heathen land, they arise in the hearts of the heathen.  How are they to be met, and answered?  Will argument do it, or education?  No, these will not allay doubts and fears, and bring the soul to a heavenly Birth.  Something is needed which is much more radical, and much more Divine.  There is only one way, and only one answer that clears up these doubts so that they do not come again:  and it is this--

"'The God that answereth by Fire, let Him be GOD.'

"This is the answer that the heathen are looking for.  'Is there a God that can change my character?' asked one in real distress.  'Which god shall I cry to, when I come to die?' asked a heathen boy, who was solemnised by a vivid dream of his own death.  'I who am the deepest sinner in this prison, can I know God?' asked a poor convict, who was convicted by his conscience.  'The world is full of lust; is it possible to be made clean ?' asked a student.  These are all merely varied forms of the old query:  'Is there a God who can and will answer by Fire?'

"To many of those who utter this pathetic cry, our answer means, spiritually, life or death.  What, then, is the character of the answer?  Are we really bringing them Divine grace and Divine power; a Divine birth and a hope that carries in it power to purify?  Is our Gospel work such, that God is seen to be a God who listens to the cry of distress and puts forth His saving power?  Is He found to be One who does meet the seeker who draws near to Him, and then and there does lift him out of his sin, and his hopelessness, and his despair?  Is He a living Saviour, who does act, and will 'awake to my help,' and will 'bare His arm,' and do something for me in my dire need?  Where is the GOD that thus answers by Fire?

"The heathen, even the most devoted and bigoted, says:  'The God that does really answer by Fire, shall be my God.'

"And if God does answer by Fire to him, he has a solid ground of assurance, that makes him strong against temptation and persecution, and makes him burn with such a steady flame that other prodigals covet the same salvation; and many at all costs will obtain it.

". . . the Living GOD is with His servants, who in simplicity deliver the message of a free salvation through the Cross of Christ. 

". . . GOD is 'the God that answereth.'  He delights to show that no case is too hard for HIM, and that whether it be some slave of sin, or some upright Pharisee, HE is the One who can satisfy and sanctify and save.  He answers by Fire, indeed:  and that Fire is the Living, Personal, Holy Spirit.  This is GOD's great  Answer to all real prayer.

". . . again and again He has answered by Fire, and individuals have received the Fire, which has sent them forth transformed--to transform others.  This is the proof that the Word of GOD is inspired, and that the Gospel message is Divine.  Men and women who have come into touch with GOD and received Divine grace from Him, are living Apologetics, which when opposers behold, 'they can say nothing against it,' and some 'falling on their faces, confess' that GOD is in it.

"These are the Apologetics that [the world] is waiting for.  [They want] to see whether GOD does answer by Fire.  [They do] not need a ritualistic religion for [they may] already [have] one.  [They do] not need an intellectual gospel, for [they have] found that education, alone, does not transform and build up character.  [They do] want the religion of the GOD who answers by Fire."