CHRISTIANITY is, it has been suggested lately, “a glorious thing, a great adventure, great fun.”
It is the most glorious thing the world has ever known; “even that which was made glorious had no glory... by reason of the glory that excelleth” (2 Cor. 3:1010For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. (2 Corinthians 3:10)). It is the greatest and most wonderful adventure upon which men have ever fared forth; but “great fun”? No, most emphatically no. It is true that within its circle are happy hours of comradeship in magnificent enterprises, happy hours of resting, of communing, of recreation, but “great fun”? Again we say, no! There is that in the basic and fundamental facts of Christianity which forever forbids such a thought―
“The marks of the Lord Jesus.”
In Zechariah 13:6,6And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. (Zechariah 13:6) the question is asked, “What are these wounds in Thy hands? Then He shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of My friends.” Little could the prophet have foreseen the deep meaning in his words, though we know that the prophets searched diligently “what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow” (1 Peter 1:1111Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. (1 Peter 1:11)).
On the resurrection day when the Lord came into the midst of His disciples, “He showed unto them His hands and His side” (John 20:2020And when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. (John 20:20)), “showed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs” (Acts 1:33To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: (Acts 1:3))., and it was those “marks,” those “proofs” which wrung from the penitent Thomas the cry, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:2828And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. (John 20:28)).
Afterward, the Apostle Paul, who was raised up and shown how great things he must suffer, could say, “From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus” (Gal. 6:1717From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. (Galatians 6:17)).
Beloved young saints, remember that the cross is the foundation of Christianity. Never can we get away from it, nor beyond it; never throughout the golden ages of eternity will there be a moment in which the cross is not remembered. It has been well said that the cross is the center of two eternities. It is the central point of the universe, the place in which all the glory of God and all blessing for man lies. And you, if you would have the immeasurable blessing which the Lord Jesus has won for you by His cross; say, could you bring yourself to shirk the way of the cross now? Nay, if you have any apprehension of what has been accomplished for you, the way of the cross will be sweeter to you than any path of glory in this world could be. The disciples who had been beaten for their testimony, rejoiced that “they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His Name” (Acts 10:4141Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. (Acts 10:41)).
The history of the church from the apostles’ day until our own, abounds with instances of sufferings bravely, even gladly borne; and although today, in the main, is not a time of outward persecutions or martyrdoms, and there is, in Christian countries, no languishing in dark dungeons, nor being burned at the stake, yet in lands far overseas are many who have suffered the loss of all things, and who quite literally bear in their bodies the marks of the Lord Jesus. A Christian colporteur was beaten almost to death, but was nursed back to life again. When the time came to start afresh on his mission of life, it was suggested to him that he should go to a less hostile place. “Nay, nay,” was his answer, “it is these people to whom I must return.”
Some who read this page may even now be preparing for service in the foreign field, and may be called upon to suffer and to die for the Name of the Lord Jesus. We pray they may have His grace, enabling them to say, “None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself so that I might... testify the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:2424But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24)).
Is there any way in which those who lead the ordinary, sheltered life of a Christian at home may bear these marks? Perhaps not, in the full meaning of the words; but they should be borne ever in our spirit and remembrance. There should be the acceptance of the cross as severing ties that bind us here, and all life should be attuned thereunto, even as the apostle Paul could say, “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, whereby the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Gal. 6:1414But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. (Galatians 6:14)).
Does it seem too hard, too difficult, not possible in the world of today? Hard, perhaps, not impossible; there is just one thing, one only, that can make it possible “The excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus,”— and the Apostle could add, — “MY LORD” (Phil. 3:88Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, (Philippians 3:8)).
May writer and reader be ever deepening in the apprehension of this most excellent knowledge for the Lord’s pleasure and glory and for our eternal gain.
L. R.