because I live
by Arthur Hedley
and transitory burden of suffering is achieving for us, a preponderating, yes a vastly preponderating, and eter nal weight of glory; while we look not at things seen, but things unseen; for things seen are temporary, but things unseen are eternal” (II Corinthians 4:16-18, Wey mouth). For Paul death meant not annihilation, but im mortality; not the end of all things, but the beginning of eternal fellowship with Christ in a world in which he IVORY PALACES For three and thirty years they stood, Empty and eloquent Of Him who laid His glory down And went, obedient,
I n G reat B ritain , the manuscripts of radio sermons must be submitted to the Director of Religious Broad casting before they may be broadcast to the people. The late Director, Dr. Welch, at a conference on evangelism made the statement that out of six thousand manuscripts he had read only one which dealt with the hope of im mortality. It appears that we are become so immersed in this world, so occupied with social activities, that we are neglecting to give time and thought to the life beyond. To do so is foolish and fatal. It was the hope of immortality which gave the early Christians faith, courage, confidence and joy amid the trials and temptations of this present life, and which made the Christian faith unique among the world’s re ligions. The Gospel of Christ, with its assured hope of immortality, is the only Gospel which gives deliverance from fear, and lights up the dark valley of the shadow of death. How necessary it is at Eastertide, as at all times, to emphasize the hope of immortality, which is the central message of the New Testament. If Christ was not raised from the dead, there is no forgiveness; He died in vain and we are yet in our sins (I Corinthians 15:17). By His glorious resurrection from the dead, we are assured of the efficacy of His atoning sacrifice to justify us in God’s sight. He “ was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification” (Romans 4:25). His resurrection is the guarantee of our own. “ Because I live, ye shall live also” (John 14:19). Death met its master in Christ; He triumphed over death and overcame him who had the power of death (Hebrew 2:14). The Christian Church alone has the message of im mortality, and never was there a time of greater need for its proclamation. The social gospel is of no use to a world that is full of uncertainty and despair, it is like offering a stone to a starving man. The writings of the humanists, who believe that this is the only world, re veal their own consciousness that they have very little to offer man in the place of the Christian faith and hope. For instance, Mr. John Strachey dreams of a day, many centuries hence, when science will double the span of man’s existence, and the growth of social consciousness will take away the sting of death. What hope is there in this theory for all of the millions sorrowing, suffering and dying, in the present world? H. G. Wells in his latter days saw nothing but extinction for humanity. To the materialist, there is no God, no Heaven, no eternal life; death is the end of all things. Man is under the pressure of cruel material forces which will one day extinguish him. From such a dark and hopeless creed, we turn to Him who has abolished death; who teaches not extinc tion, but a richer, fuller life — an eternal life. “ For though our outward man is wasting away, our inward man is being renewed day by day. For this our light
To die for sins of you and me. He must have turned His eyes At times in homesick longing toward His mansions in the skies. I think the doors were never sealed, But partly left ajar, And something of Him lingered there Though He had gone so far. Perhaps the angels peered within Each waiting, empty room, And whispered of strange things, the Cross, Gethsemane, the tomb. And sometimes God Himself went there To think about that One Who never had been far from Him, His well beloved Son.
Now in His palaces the light Shines out from every room, And angels never cease their song, "The Son of God is home!”
— Martha Snell Nicholson
would enjoy perfect life and liberty. In contrast with the pessimistic outlook of those who reject the revelation of God in Christ Jesus, we think of the cheery words of that great poet of the Christian hope, Robert Browning, whose faith enabled him to sing: “ Grow old along witi me; the best is yet to be.” This sad, despairing world needs the hope of the Gospel if it is to rise out of its misery. The loss of that hope means the loss of all that makes life worth while. This is the hour for Christians to be bold and to tell forth with confidence and joy the Gospel of God’s for giveness in Christ, and of the gift of life eternal. We alone have the message which can bring light and life and healing to this dark, sin-stricken world. When Ja cob Boehme, the great mystic, lay dying, his ears seemed to be attuned to the harmonies of Heaven. He appeared to be listening to a rapturous strain which filled his •soul. “ Open the window,” he cried with his last breath, “ and let in more of that music!” It was the melody of the Easter hope.
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