Steep and Thorny is the Way
It was a cold winter night at the train station, and many travelers were walking back and forth trying to keep warm, waiting for arriving and departing trains. They pulled their coats tighter, rubbed their hands together, and watched their breath float away into the air. If they kept moving, the damp air seemed less penetrating, less invasive.
The year was 1938 in a town of Eastern Europe. Economic times were difficult and people were poor. Worse than that, people were afraid. Fear and uncertainty dominated the citizens of that country, and they were careful not to do anything to disturb the authorities. Punishment was severe for those who resisted the political powers of the day.
There was a group of people who had something to keep their fears at bay—it was a group of converted believers who called themselves Nazareans (Apostolic Christians in America). They had their faith—a profound faith in GOD that they were in His care, and whatever would happen to them would be His will. It gave them peace.
Out in a remote place on that dark, cold night a special meeting was about to occur. Covered with a blanket of darkness, one of the Nazarean converts would experience baptism, and make a covenant to be faithful to his GOD. Oh, how the families and friends of this dear soul wanted to be there! Attendance at any Nazarean meeting brought great risk. If authorities discovered the meeting, they would violently break it up and take many to jail.
When believers at that time secretly gathered for baptisms, they usually knew the town name, but often did not know the exact location. The only information they had was the time and general area of the gathering. These meetings were generally restricted to 50-80 people so that they would not attract the attention of the authorities. The believers, also purposely tried to arrive at different times to avoid suspicion.
That cold winter night a Nazarean brother-in-faith stepped off the train on his way to the meeting looking around for anyone he would recognize. He did not know what connecting train to take to the baptism location, but he knew there would be other believers traveling through this train station on their way to the baptism. How would he find a trusted believer without arousing suspicion from the authorities who might secretly follow them and discover the meeting? He dared not openly ask anyone if they were a Nazarean. So, he walked back and forth with the other travelers, trying to keep warm.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw someone who looked like he could be one of the brethren. The stranger’s posture was humble, his face serene. Was he or not? The stranger was also walking to keep warm, and soon he would be approaching the brother within earshot. Suddenly a thought came to the brother. If the stranger were a Nazarean, he would recognize the songs in the church hymnal, the Zion’s Harp. The brother began softly singing “Steep and thorny is the way, leading us to full perfection…” (Zion's Harp #99 Battle and Victory). He saw a glint of recognition in the stranger’s eyes as they passed each other.
“But maybe the authorities would also recognize this song, and maybe this stranger is just disguising himself as one of us,” the brother thought. “Can I trust him?” Then the Spirit prompted him to think, “What about the second verse?” So, on the second pass, the brother said to the stranger, “Do you know the second verse?” The brother waited, praying, and still walking.
The third time the men passed each other, the stranger sang softly, “Their reward is truly great, who unto the end enduring...” It was the second verse!
Having identified each other as Nazarean brothers-in-faith, they removed their hats and said, “Greetings, dear brother.” There were no handshakes, just simply an exchange of words, for shaking hands would have raised suspicion with any authority who was watching them. (The exchange of greetings had a special meaning in that time. If one brother said, “Greetings, brother,” but did not get the same response in return, he would have known immediately that this was not a true brother. Also, the exchange of greetings established a spiritual bond that was understood between brethren—they were of a kindred spirit and they would stand together, helping and supporting one another, no matter what the cost.)
The two brothers-in-faith spoke briefly and one followed the other at a distance, not to cause suspicion as they traveled to their destination. In the hearts, they were rejoicing that GOD had helped them find each other in such a marvelous way.
Up then comrades wend your way,
Through the wilderness with courage,
Look to Jesus watch, and pray!
Verse 4, Zion’s Harp #99
Stories of Faith and Courage Volume 1, page 77
It was a cold winter night at the train station, and many travelers were walking back and forth trying to keep warm, waiting for arriving and departing trains. They pulled their coats tighter, rubbed their hands together, and watched their breath float away into the air. If they kept moving, the damp air seemed less penetrating, less invasive.
The year was 1938 in a town of Eastern Europe. Economic times were difficult and people were poor. Worse than that, people were afraid. Fear and uncertainty dominated the citizens of that country, and they were careful not to do anything to disturb the authorities. Punishment was severe for those who resisted the political powers of the day.
There was a group of people who had something to keep their fears at bay—it was a group of converted believers who called themselves Nazareans (Apostolic Christians in America). They had their faith—a profound faith in GOD that they were in His care, and whatever would happen to them would be His will. It gave them peace.
Out in a remote place on that dark, cold night a special meeting was about to occur. Covered with a blanket of darkness, one of the Nazarean converts would experience baptism, and make a covenant to be faithful to his GOD. Oh, how the families and friends of this dear soul wanted to be there! Attendance at any Nazarean meeting brought great risk. If authorities discovered the meeting, they would violently break it up and take many to jail.
When believers at that time secretly gathered for baptisms, they usually knew the town name, but often did not know the exact location. The only information they had was the time and general area of the gathering. These meetings were generally restricted to 50-80 people so that they would not attract the attention of the authorities. The believers, also purposely tried to arrive at different times to avoid suspicion.
That cold winter night a Nazarean brother-in-faith stepped off the train on his way to the meeting looking around for anyone he would recognize. He did not know what connecting train to take to the baptism location, but he knew there would be other believers traveling through this train station on their way to the baptism. How would he find a trusted believer without arousing suspicion from the authorities who might secretly follow them and discover the meeting? He dared not openly ask anyone if they were a Nazarean. So, he walked back and forth with the other travelers, trying to keep warm.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw someone who looked like he could be one of the brethren. The stranger’s posture was humble, his face serene. Was he or not? The stranger was also walking to keep warm, and soon he would be approaching the brother within earshot. Suddenly a thought came to the brother. If the stranger were a Nazarean, he would recognize the songs in the church hymnal, the Zion’s Harp. The brother began softly singing “Steep and thorny is the way, leading us to full perfection…” (Zion's Harp #99 Battle and Victory). He saw a glint of recognition in the stranger’s eyes as they passed each other.
“But maybe the authorities would also recognize this song, and maybe this stranger is just disguising himself as one of us,” the brother thought. “Can I trust him?” Then the Spirit prompted him to think, “What about the second verse?” So, on the second pass, the brother said to the stranger, “Do you know the second verse?” The brother waited, praying, and still walking.
The third time the men passed each other, the stranger sang softly, “Their reward is truly great, who unto the end enduring...” It was the second verse!
Having identified each other as Nazarean brothers-in-faith, they removed their hats and said, “Greetings, dear brother.” There were no handshakes, just simply an exchange of words, for shaking hands would have raised suspicion with any authority who was watching them. (The exchange of greetings had a special meaning in that time. If one brother said, “Greetings, brother,” but did not get the same response in return, he would have known immediately that this was not a true brother. Also, the exchange of greetings established a spiritual bond that was understood between brethren—they were of a kindred spirit and they would stand together, helping and supporting one another, no matter what the cost.)
The two brothers-in-faith spoke briefly and one followed the other at a distance, not to cause suspicion as they traveled to their destination. In the hearts, they were rejoicing that GOD had helped them find each other in such a marvelous way.
Up then comrades wend your way,
Through the wilderness with courage,
Look to Jesus watch, and pray!
Verse 4, Zion’s Harp #99
Stories of Faith and Courage Volume 1, page 77