children of God are called to be representatives of Christ, showing
forth the goodness and mercy of the Lord. As Jesus has revealed to
us the true character of the Father, so we are to reveal Christ to
a world that does not know His tender, pitying love. "As Thou hast
sent Me into the world," said Jesus, "even so have I also sent them
into the world." "I in them, and Thou in Me; . . . that the world
may know that Thou hast sent Me." John 17: 18, 23. The apostle Paul
says to the disciples of Jesus, "Ye are manifestly declared to be
the epistle of Christ," "known and read of all men." 2 Corinthians
3:3, 2. In every one of His children, Jesus sends a letter to the
world. If you are Christ's follower, He sends in you a letter to the
family, the village, the street, where you live. Jesus, dwelling in
you, desires to speak to the hearts of those who are not acquainted
with Him. Perhaps they do not read the Bible, or do not hear the voice
that speaks to them in its pages; they do not see the love of God
through His works. But if you are a true representative of Jesus,
it may be that through you they will be led to understand something
of His goodness and be won to love and serve Him.
Christians are set as light bearers on the way to heaven. They
are to reflect to the world the light shining upon them from Christ.
Their life and character should be such that through them others
will get a right conception of Christ and of His service.
If we do represent Christ, we shall make His service appear attractive,
as it really is. Christians who gather up gloom and sadness to their
souls, and murmur and complain, are giving to others a false representation
of God and the Christian life. They give the impression that God
is not pleased to have His children happy, and in this they bear
false witness against our heavenly Father.
Satan is exultant when he can lead the children of God into unbelief
and despondency. He delights to see us mistrusting God, doubting
His willingness and power to save us. He loves to have us feel that
the Lord will do us harm by His providences. It is the work of Satan
to represent the Lord as lacking in compassion and pity. He misstates
the truth in regard to Him. He fills the imagination with false
ideas concerning God; and instead of dwelling upon the truth in
regard to our heavenly Father, we too often fix our minds upon the
misrepresentations of Satan and dishonor God by distrusting Him
and murmuring against Him. Satan ever seeks to make the religious
life one of gloom. He desires it to appear toilsome and difficult;
and when the Christian presents in his own life this view of religion,
he is, through his unbelief, seconding the falsehood of Satan.
Many, walking along the path of life, dwell upon their mistakes
and failures and disappointments, and their hearts are filled with
grief and discouragement. While I was in Europe, a sister who had
been doing this, and who was in deep distress, wrote to me, asking
for some word of encouragement. The night after I had read her letter
I dreamed that I was in a garden, and one who seemed to be the owner
of the garden was conducting me through its paths. I was gathering
the flowers and enjoying their fragrance, when this sister, who
had been walking by my side, called my attention to some unsightly
briers that were impeding her way. There she was mourning and grieving.
She was not walking in the pathway, following the guide, but was
walking among the briers and thorns. "Oh," she mourned, "is it not
a pity that this beautiful garden is spoiled with thorns?" Then
the guide said, "Let the thorns alone, for they will only wound
you. Gather the roses, the lilies, and the pinks."
Have there not been some bright spots in your experience? Have
you not had some precious seasons when your heart throbbed with
joy in response to the Spirit of God? When you look back into the
chapters of your life experience do you not find some pleasant pages?
Are not God's promises, like the fragrant flowers, growing beside
your path on every hand? Will you not let their beauty and sweetness
fill your heart with joy?
The briers and thorns will only wound and grieve you; and if you
gather only these things, and present them to others, are you not,
besides slighting the goodness of God yourself, preventing those
around you from walking in the path of life?
It is not wise to gather together all the unpleasant recollections
of a past life—its iniquities and disappointments—to talk
over them and mourn over them until we are overwhelmed with discouragement.
A discouraged soul is filled with darkness, shutting out the light
of God from his own soul and casting a shadow upon the pathway of
others.
Thank God for the bright pictures which He has presented to us.
Let us group together the blessed assurances of His love, that we
may look upon them continually: The Son of God leaving His Father's
throne, clothing His divinity with humanity, that He might rescue
man from the power of Satan; His triumph in our behalf, opening
heaven to men, revealing to human vision the presence chamber where
the Deity unveils His glory; the fallen race uplifted from the pit
of ruin into which sin had plunged it, and brought again into connection
with the infinite God, and having endured the divine test through
faith in our Redeemer, clothed in the righteousness of Christ, and
exalted to His throne—these are the pictures which God would
have us contemplate.
When we seem to doubt God's love and distrust His promises we
dishonor Him and grieve His Holy Spirit. How would a mother feel
if her children were constantly complaining of her, just as though
she did not mean them well, when her whole life's effort had been
to forward their interests and to give them comfort? Suppose they
should doubt her love; it would break her heart. How would any parent
feel to be thus treated by his children? And how can our heavenly
Father regard us when we distrust His love, which has led Him to
give His only-begotten Son that we might have life? The apostle
writes, "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for
us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?"
Romans 8:32. And yet how many, by their actions, if not in word,
are saying, "The Lord does not mean this for me. Perhaps He loves
others, but He does not love me."
All this is harming your own soul; for every word of doubt you
utter is inviting Satan's temptations; it is strengthening in you
the tendency to doubt, and it is grieving from you the ministering
angels. When Satan tempts you, breathe not a word of doubt or darkness.
If you choose to open the door to his suggestions, your mind will
be filled with distrust and rebellious questioning. If you talk
out your feelings, every doubt you express not only reacts upon
yourself, but it is a seed that will germinate and bear fruit in
the life of others, and it may be impossible to counteract the influence
of your words. You yourself may be able to recover from the season
of temptation and from the snare of Satan, but others who have been
swayed by your influence may not be able to escape from the unbelief
you have suggested. How important that we speak only those things
that will give spiritual strength and life!
Angels are listening to hear what kind of report you are bearing
to the world about your heavenly Master. Let your conversation be
of Him who liveth to make intercession for you before the Father.
When you take the hand of a friend, let praise to God be on your
lips and in your heart. This will attract his thoughts to Jesus.
All have trials; griefs hard to bear, temptations hard to resist.
Do not tell your troubles to your fellow mortals, but carry everything
to God in prayer. Make it a rule never to utter one word of doubt
or discouragement. You can do much to brighten the life of others
and strengthen their efforts, by words of hope and holy cheer.
There is many a brave soul sorely pressed by temptation, almost
ready to faint in the conflict with self and with the powers of
evil. Do not discourage such a one in his hard struggle. Cheer him
with brave, hopeful words that shall urge him on his way. Thus the
light of Christ may shine from you. "None of us liveth to himself."
Romans 14:7. By our unconscious influence others may be encouraged
and strengthened, or they may be discouraged, and repelled from
Christ and the truth.
There are many who have an erroneous idea of the life and character
of Christ. They think that He was devoid of warmth and sunniness,
that He was stern, severe, and joyless. In many cases the whole
religious experience is colored by these gloomy views.
It is often said that Jesus wept, but that He was never known
to smile. Our Saviour was indeed a Man of Sorrows, and acquainted
with grief, for He opened His heart to all the woes of men. But
though His life was self-denying and shadowed with pain and care,
His spirit was not crushed. His countenance did not wear an expression
of grief and repining, but ever one of peaceful serenity. His heart
was a wellspring of life, and wherever He went He carried rest and
peace, joy and gladness.
Our Saviour was deeply serious and intensely in earnest, but never
gloomy or morose. The life of those who imitate Him will be full
of earnest purpose; they will have a deep sense of personal responsibility.
Levity will be repressed; there will be no boisterous merriment,
no rude jesting; but the religion of Jesus gives peace like a river.
It does not quench the light of joy; it does not restrain cheerfulness
nor cloud the sunny, smiling face. Christ came not to be ministered
unto but to minister; and when His love reigns in the heart, we
shall follow His example.
If we keep uppermost in our minds the unkind and unjust acts of
others we shall find it impossible to love them as Christ has loved
us; but if our thoughts dwell upon the wondrous love and pity of
Christ for us, the same spirit will flow out to others. We should
love and respect one another, notwithstanding the faults and imperfections
that we cannot help seeing. Humility and self-distrust should be
cultivated, and a patient tenderness with the faults of others.
This will kill out all narrowing selfishness and make us large-hearted
and generous.
The psalmist says, "Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou
dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed." Psalm 37:3. "Trust
in the Lord." Each day has its burdens, its cares and perplexities;
and when we meet how ready we are to talk of our difficulties and
trials. So many borrowed troubles intrude, so many fears are indulged,
such a weight of anxiety is expressed, that one might suppose we
had no pitying, loving Saviour ready to hear all our requests and
to be to us a present help in every time of need.
Some are always fearing, and borrowing trouble. Every day they
are surrounded with the tokens of God's love; every day they are
enjoying the bounties of His providence; but they overlook these
present blessings. Their minds are continually dwelling upon something
disagreeable which they fear may come; or some difficulty may really
exist which, though small, blinds their eyes to the many things
that demand gratitude. The difficulties they encounter, instead
of driving them to God, the only source of their help, separate
them from Him because they awaken unrest and repining.
Do we well to be thus unbelieving? Why should we be ungrateful
and distrustful? Jesus is our friend; all heaven is interested in
our welfare. We should not allow the perplexities and worries of
everyday life to fret the mind and cloud the brow. If we do we shall
always have something to vex and annoy. We should not indulge a
solicitude that only frets and wears us, but does not help us to
bear trials.
You may be perplexed in business; your prospects may grow darker
and darker, and you may be threatened with loss; but do not become
discouraged; cast your care upon God, and remain calm and cheerful.
Pray for wisdom to manage your affairs with discretion, and thus
prevent loss and disaster. Do all you can on your part to bring
about favorable results. Jesus has promised His aid, but not apart
from our effort. When, relying upon our Helper, you have done all
you can, accept the result cheerfully.
It is not the will of God that His people should be weighed down
with care. But our Lord does not deceive us. He does not say to
us, "Do not fear; there are no dangers in your path." He knows there
are trials and dangers, and He deals with us plainly. He does not
propose to take His people out of a world of sin and evil, but He
points them to a never-failing refuge. His prayer for His disciples
was, "I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world,
but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil." "In the world,"
He says, "ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have
overcome the world." John 17:15, 16:33.
Christ pointed His disciples to the flowers of the field, growing
in rich profusion and glowing in the simple beauty which the heavenly
Father had given them, as an expression of His love to man. He said,
"Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow." The beauty and
simplicity of these natural flowers far outrival the splendor of
Solomon. The most gorgeous attire produced by the skill of art cannot
bear comparison with the natural grace and radiant beauty of the
flowers of God's creation. Jesus asks, "If God so clothe the grass
of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven,
shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?" Matthew
6: 28, 30. If God, the divine Artist, gives to the simple flowers
that perish in a day their delicate and varied colors, how much
greater care will He have for those who are created in His own image?
This lesson of Christ's is a rebuke to the anxious thought, the
perplexity and doubt, of the faithless heart.
The Lord would have all His sons and daughters happy, peaceful,
and obedient. Jesus says, "My peace I give unto you: not as the
world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither
let it be afraid." "These things have I spoken unto you, that My
joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." John
14:27; 15:11.
Happiness that is sought from selfish motives, outside of the
path of duty, is ill-balanced, fitful, and transitory; it passes
away, and the soul is filled with loneliness and sorrow; but there
is joy and satisfaction in the service of God; the Christian is
not left to walk in uncertain paths; he is not left to vain regrets
and disappointments. If we do not have the pleasures of this life
we may still be joyful in looking to the life beyond.
But even here Christians may have the joy of communion with Christ;
they may have the light of His love, the perpetual comfort of His
presence. Every step in life may bring us closer to Jesus, may give
us a deeper experience of His love, and may bring us one step nearer
to the blessed home of peace. Then let us not cast away our confidence,
but have firm assurance, firmer than ever before. "Hitherto hath
the Lord helped us," and He will help us to the end. 1 Samuel 7:12.
Let us look to the monumental pillars, reminders of what the Lord
has done to comfort us and to save us from the hand of the destroyer.
Let us keep fresh in our memory all the tender mercies that God
has shown us—the tears He has wiped away, the pains He has
soothed, the anxieties removed, the fears dispelled, the wants supplied,
the blessings bestowed—thus strengthening ourselves for all
that is before us through the remainder of our pilgrimage.
We cannot but look forward to new perplexities in the coming conflict,
but we may look on what is past as well as on what is to come, and
say, "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." "As thy days, so shall
thy strength be." Deuteronomy 33:25. The trial will not exceed the
strength that shall be given us to bear it. Then let us take up
our work just where we find it, believing that whatever may come,
strength proportionate to the trial will be given.
And by and by the gates of heaven will be thrown open to admit
God's children, and from the lips of the King of glory the benediction
will fall on their ears like richest music, "Come, ye blessed of
My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation
of the world." Matthew 25:34.
Then the redeemed will be welcomed to the home that Jesus is preparing
for them. There their companions will not be the vile of earth,
liars, idolaters, the impure, and unbelieving; but they will associate
with those who have overcome Satan and through divine grace have
formed perfect characters. Every sinful tendency, every imperfection,
that afflicts them here has been removed by the blood of Christ,
and the excellence and brightness of His glory, far exceeding the
brightness of the sun, is imparted to them. And the moral beauty,
the perfection of His character, shines through them, in worth far
exceeding this outward splendor. They are without fault before the
great white throne, sharing the dignity and the privileges of the
angels.
In view of the glorious inheritance that may be his, "what shall
a man give in exchange for his soul?" Matthew 16:26. He may be poor,
yet he possesses in himself a wealth and dignity that the world
could never bestow. The soul redeemed and cleansed from sin, with
all its noble powers dedicated to the service of God, is of surpassing
worth; and there is joy in heaven in the presence of God and the
holy angels over one soul redeemed, a joy that is expressed in songs
of holy triumph.
