[16] GN vol. 20, no. 10, 1 October 1929

That Big Black Bear.

Elizabeth Sisson.

-

It was the hour of morning worship in a home in Winnipeg, where the writer was a guest during the closing days of a campaign for God, in that city. Several persons knowing it was one of the last days of her stay, had, unknown to each other, come to that hour of worship. Thus, as we gathered around the Holy Word, we were surprised to find ourselves quite a company.

After singing and the Word, as we knelt together before the Lord, the power of the Holy Ghost fell upon the waiting group. Several were prostrated under the slaying mig-ht of God, among them our hostess, Mrs. D. When the power was lifted in measure from us and we rose to our feet, and the visitors were about to leave, Sister D. said: "Oh, I have had such a vision! It is something about Miss Sisson. I do not know whether it is about her personally, or in connection with her work. I saw her prostrate on the ground; in the air! over her, in. the act of springing upon her, in terrible rage, was Satan in the form of a big_black bear. It looked as though her time had come. While I held my breath, a bright light shone around everything. Then I lifted my eyes and saw the light proceeded from a glorious Person above the big black bear. It was Jesus! His arms were extended. His strong benign countenance was beaming upon His prostrate child, and under His power and outstretched arms Satan was paralysed; ready to pounce, but he could not touch her."

Being thus forewarned and foreamed, to walk softly before the Lord and look out for what was coming— the devil's attack and Christ's deliverance—our little company separated. The plan for the few remaining days in the city was: a young lady coming in her carriage! that morning to take me home for meeting that night, the following day carried to another house where 1 might pack my trunk, then to leave by train next day for the Atlantic Coast. In the mid-forenoon, in a very swift, terrific thunder storm came my young friend, wet to the skin, and she so delicate! Bright sunshine when she started from home, the swift shower had caught her halfway, so she passed on. To return with her.just then was impossible, but in the afternoon, when the sun had come out with "clear shining after rain," we thought to go.

Now Winnipeg has a peculiar, sticky, greasy soil. Walking in its mud will rot the leather from your shoes, and it is so slippery that to put your foot upon it when wet, is to fall. It is so greasy that whatever garment it touches is ruined; therefore, ladies avoid walking in it during, or shortly after a rain, but as we were going in a carriage this objection was not thought of. In the evening my young friend, Miss G., having been seated in the buggy—she had but one limb, which was supplemented by a crutch—I, the writer, a bundle of loose wraps, etc., in one hand and umbrella in the other, essayed to pass by Miss G., crutch and all, and land myself on the other side of the vehicle, for she must drive and from the near side of the carriage. But as I put my foot upon its step and threw the other limb beyond her to take my seat, somehow my foot touched mud on the carriage step. I slipped and fell backward, and with such force that my umbrella, having caught the spoke of a wheel in my descent, snapped in two pieces.

With great force I struck on a mud-covered waggon way of sharp cobblestones! I remember as I went down feeling a delicious soft sinking, as of going into a feather bed, my whole body was relaxed, my arms spread out, and I touched the entire length of my spine, the back of my hair and hat in watery mud. I had no purchase on myself whatever, and felt like so much pancake batter poured out on the pan. I did not long enjoy the soft-sinking luxury, for the second thought was: "Oh, my clothes! Everything ruined by this mud and I day after to-morrow to travel East!"

Now God in my long faith-life in His service (“Freely ye have received, freely give") had always "according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus" supplied "all my need," but as my need frequently required, as now, but one suit of clothes at a time, there came the haunting thought: "These are ruined! What are you going to travel in?" But quicker came the Divine suggestion, "Take joyfully the spoiling of your goods"; thus the gutter became my closet as I cried: "Lord, I do by Thy grace. I will be glad that everything I've got is ruined."

Busily occupied with getting this victory, and His help and joyfulness coming into me so fast, I did not realise what an ominous silence there was all about me, till at length Brother D. broke the stillness, saying in very subdued tones, "Sister Sisson, where are you hurt?" Everything was so delicious now, even the ruining of all my wearing apparel, that I laughingly replied: "Why, I am not hurt anywhere! Hallelujah!"

Oh, what suspense this relieved! for, seeing the violence of my fall and the perfect stillness that followed, all three of them had concluded I was dead, and they feared to break the silence. Now they and I alike saw what a wonderful deliverance this had been! I was so spread upon the cobblestones, it was with great difficulty my six-foot stalwart friend could turn me over on one side till I could get some purchase on myself to help him help me rise.

I was determined I would say nothing of my clothes when the Lord had saved my life, so, reeking with mud, I took my place in the carriage, and as we lingered rejoicing, Sister D. put her head in the carriage, saying, "That was the big black bear that I saw."

Driving to my friend's house, they soon had the bedraggled garments off me, and wiped and hung around the stove for drying. A young man of the family took away my three-piece umbrella for mending, and by the next morning all my clothes were dried, and not a spot on them; my black silk outer jacket a particular marvel, as that eating soil was specially hard on silk goods. My umbrella was mended stronger than at first, and I was not allowed to know even the bill.

Of all the accident nothing was left but the rich blessing that the Lord had wrought for and in me, and upon the bystanders. "In everything enriched by Him." But the big black bear was henceforth to me a parable of the spiritual dealing of the Lord with me, and all His own. Jesus always stands with outspread arms in benediction over us; always with that smile of infinite love and infinite power. However much Satan, the big black bear, may try to play pranks with us, through the incidents, accidents (?) and providence of our lives. Jesus is right over him in His paralysing power of deliverance for us, and the devil cannot touch us. Beforehand God hath told us, "All things are of God," "All things are for your sake"; to you who love God, "All things work together for good," "Giving thanks always for all things," "Behold, I have given you power over all the power of the enemy," "All things are yours . . . things present . . . things to come ... all are yours."

It is evermore ours to raise the shout, "Thanks be unto God which giveth us the victory." We are "more than conquerors through Him that loved us," and who "always causeth us to triumph in Christ." Hallelujah!

---

THREE DEATHS.

-

Dead in Sin—the Sinner (Eph. 2:1).

Dead for Sin—the Saviour (1 Cor. 15: 3).

Dead to Sin—the Saint (Rom. 6:2).

The first is the natural condition of all men.

The second is the Gospel of God for all men.

The third is the result in those who believe.

—"Four Sq. Revivalist."