WHEN the heart feels dull, and no progress seems to be made, how good it is to go back as at the first to Christ Himself!
With these thoughts, I happened to call upon a neighbor.
In answer to the ordinary greeting, she exclaimed, “Oh! I am happier in my soul today," thus showing how earnest were her thoughts on this all-important subject.
Her experience was that of numbers of Christians; one day lifted up, the next desponding; and the very brightness of the fitful light making the dark season seem more dense and dreadful. “Peaceful hours once enjoyed," leaving by their memory an" aching void," is not the standard of true Christianity. The truths of the New Testament allow no place for such uncertainty in God's people.
“If I could only be sure I was saved," said Mrs. S.; "yet sometimes I think I really am.
But then I fear again, lest I am only thinking my thoughts, and that it is not the Spirit of God in me.”
“Just think for a moment of your bright seasons, and say what it is that makes you then feel confident.”
“At those times I am thinking of Christ.”
“Then why do you not continue looking at Christ by faith?”
“Oh! I dare not. Suppose I am not real after all?”
“Now, dear friend, just try to call back what it was that gave you your first hope. No doubt it was something peculiar, some special word of God.”
“It was just this: I was almost worn out with sorrow, and as I was getting into my bed I turned round, and seemed to see CHRIST written upon the wall, and looking at that gave me relief.”
“Well, that is good news, indeed; and now let us turn to your doubting moments, the dark hours. Are you not, then, just taking a sponge full of unbelief, and wiping away the letters of that blessed Name, and writing up your own name in its place? Pray read this plain, this simple text: 'As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.' Now how did you receive Christ?”
“By looking at His Name," responded our friend.
“Exactly. 'And,' says the scripture, ' AS ye received, so walk.' You looked as a poor helpless one, as one wearied out with wretched self. When you received Christ it was as your ALL: all Christ, no self. And AS you received Him so you are to walk in Him.
Your walk must be by still looking off self to Him, by still having no confidence in the flesh. Christ is in glory, look to Him.”
“Well, that makes me feel better," said Mrs. S., with a sigh of relief. “But do you really think I should keep loving Christ if I kept looking to Him like this?”
“Oh! ask yourself how do the little children love you. Is it not by calling to mind your love to them? See what this scripture adds: ' Rooted and built up in Him.' I remember a child in whose little garden some seeds were sown, and how do you think she satisfied herself that the seed was alive?”
With a smile, Mrs. S. said, “I dare say she picked the earth from their roots to see if they were really living.”
“Ah! but why smile at the silly child?
Are not you trying to see if your plant has roots? No wonder the little girl's plant never flourished, and that until she lei it alone, it always was a sickly thing. Give up all thoughts of self, and let your faith be in every way ' IN HIM.'”
Let us put these blessed words together, reader:
Receiving,
Walking in,
Rooted and CHRIST
Built up in,