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remaining true followers and asked sadly, "W ill ye also go away?” His heart must have thrilled at the reply of faith and discernment: "Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son o f the living God" (John 6:67-69). This small circle of believers, justified freely by God’s grace, beheld His glory, received of His fullness, grace for grace. They followed Him, heard His discourses, wit nessed His miracles. They journeyed with Him to Geth- semane. They stood with Him at the Cross, and, like the believing malefactor, they realized that He had done “nothing amiss,” but that He was bearing upon the Cross the sins of the world. They were eyewitnesses of His resurrection and ascension. They were recipients of that special message sent back by angels: “This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven’* (Acts 1 : 11 ). Christmas Is Christ Christmas! Again the world is preparing for a holi day season. But millions are saying, “Not much Christ mas for us . . . our son is still across the waters.” Others sigh heavily and reflect, “No more Christmas for us .
herald a brighter day, when the Sun of righteousness will arise with healing in His wings. The Church of Christ lives between these two mighty events—the crucifixion o f Christ and the coronation of Christ Both are mentioned at the Lord’s Supper: “Ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” There is no com plete “ discerning of the Lord’s body” and ’“ drinking his cup” without an understanding of the meaning of “till I come.” You cannot fully appreciate the first advent if you forget the second. Only those who have experienced the power of Christ’s substitutionary death can look for ward with joyous anticipation to His return, for "Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (Heb. 9:28). The healthy Christian possesses an ardent desire for the second appearing of our Lord. If we have truly come to Christ, and our delight is in Him and if we are learn ing “to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world,” we shall have joy in that blessed hope of His appearing. There is something very searching about that light which penetrates the eastern window; it seems to pierce the secret chambers of the heart. Indeed, our relation
our son was killed in the war.” In deed, the sword has passed through the land, taken a heavy toll, made sorrowful many hearts and left deso late many homes. But remember, dear friends, it is Christ that makes Christ mas. It is Christ who makes Christi anity. Christ is more abiding, more substantial in human experience, than 3ny form of matter or any mode of force. He not only is “ the same yes terday, today and forever,” but He is capable of "being touched with the feeling of our infirmities.” We are living in an age of confu sion and despair, which has followed inevitably an age of doubt and mate rialism War has further accentuated human weakness. But from the person of Christ flows a Heaven-sent force.
ship tp the coming again of Christ is a sure gauge of our spiritual condition. See the professing church, luke warm, honeycombed with worldliness, and afflicted with barrenness. How often the blessed Lord is insulted, ■grieved and discourteously brushed aside, “wounded in the house of his friends.” Christians who have left their first love do not really cherish the thought of Christ’s return. Un aware, perhaps, they have joined the chorus of the scoffers, saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? for since the father’s fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation” (2 Pet. 3:4). When the Lord ceases to be the supreme, living reality in our lives, we sink to the level of a worldly, self-
What can I give Him, Poor as I am? II I were a shepherd-
I would bring a lamb;
It I were a wise man
I would do my part, But what I can I give Him, Give my heart.
-C. G. Rosetti.
indulgent life. In our comfortable homes, we gather a band of like-minded friends about us; we are captivated by the world’s fleeting pleasures; we are absorbed in the exciting operations of business. Thus, earthly objects take the place of heavenly, and the vision of future glory fades away like a mirage in the desert. We long no more for Christ to come lest He disturb our pleasant social and religious scheme. Let us heed His warning: “ Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you un awares” (Luke 21:34). So the Church of God should be eager for the speedy return of our Lord Jesus Christ. Surely this desire springs only from a love of Him. Longing for the Beloved The early disciples looked for the return of their Master. Their longing is spread upon every page of their writings. Did not Christ tell them on that never-to-be- forgotten night: “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself” ? Did not the angels at the time of Christ’s ascension assure them that “this very same Jesus” should return? They did not become so atteorbed in carrying out His commission that they forgdt their
In Him resides the penetrating and abiding fragrance of Heaven, in His finished work on Calvary is wrapped up “ the power of God unto salvation to everyone that be- lieveth,” and in His present ministry at the right hand of God is available strength for every child of God. Whenever Jesus comes into a heart, no matter how desolate, springtide flows out, the life is revived, and the soul unfolds with new bloom. In His presence, weak ness is perfected into strength, fears are transformed into confidence, and selfishness melts into sweet devo tion. “The life which I now live in the flesh :I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2:20). The Two Windows There are two windows in this school of grace, and in their rays the believer finds light sufficient for his growth and understanding. Through the western window there streams a solemn light, as if reflected from the crimson clouds of sunset that linger about Mount Calvary. The other window is towards the sunrising, and from thence a silvery light softly steals into the chamber to
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