THE KING’S BUSINESS
1085
back when work begins to pain. Beware of those who come to you and say, “Be careful, now, you’re overworking, you’re doing too much.” Such advice may be good and timely in its place, but we must be careful that we do not allow it to lead us to rest before our work is done. It is true that hard work may cause us to die young, but it may be that the Church of Jesus Christ is dying to have somebody die young for it. For “We live in deeds, not in years In breaths, not in figures on a dial. We should count time by heart throbs. He lives longest who thinks the noblest, acts the best, Lives in one hour more than in years do some, - Whose thick blood sleeps as it courses through- their veins.” Further, for the carrying out of this ambition, you are willing to obey. You are willing to follow where once you led; to obey where once you commanded; to serve when once you were served; to give when you have been accustomed to receiv ing ; to do what you are told to do when, perchance, you have been the only child, and have had your own way. You are going to believe the Word of God, even though you cannot explain its hidden meaning and mystery. You will be called upon again and again in the realm of faith to accept, believe and act upon some conviction of duty which you, nor any one else can explain. “He came and took me by the hand Up to a red rose tree. He kept His meaning to Himself, But gave a rose to me. I did not ask him to lay bare The mysfery to me, Enough the rose was heaven to smell, And His own face to see.” For the carrying out of this ambition of your calling, you are willing to suffer, if needs be. It is remarkable to note that, according to the teaching of Jesus, God’s method of making a thing grow is first to kill it. “Except a corn of wheat fall in the
ground and die, it abideth alone.” Power over men comes to those who are willing to suffer for men. The way of the pierced feet is ever the royal road to power. The cross of Christ still charms men, and he who will climb to its rugged bars will find its charm of power. Christ gained His kingship over man, not as a teacher from the temple courts, not as a miracle worker in the streets of the holy city, but as a Redeemer, the sin-bearer. It was on the cross that the word “King” was written. Have you noticed the order of the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15? It is instructive and impressive. First, there is Christ, the first fruits, then afterwards they that are Christ’s, then cometh the end. Note the order: First, Christ, the supreme cross bearer. “Then, they' that are Christ’s.” Who are they? “They that are Christ’s" have “crucified the flesh,” they are the cross-bearers, those who. were willing to serve and suffer. Next comes the crowd, those who were willing to be served and not willing to suffer. Those who are next to Christ are those who, like Him, are willing to take up their cross and follow Him. It is recorded that once, when the commanding officer of a'regiment resting outside of Cawnpore had received orders to relieve the regiment at Delhi, he reviewed his troops to ascertain how many among the wounded were fit for service. He passed by one after another saying, “This one will do,” and “that one will not do,” until he came to a young man who had been wounded in a previous engagement. Looking the young man over, he said, “I am afraid this fellow is too weak to go, we’ll have to leave him behind.” When the young man heard this, he exclaimed in passionate tones, “Oh,* General, for God’s sake do not leave -me behind. Let me go with the regiment. It is only a little touch of fever, and the sound of the bugle will -make me well.” Would to God that each one of us had a similar passion that would lead us to be willing to suffer, if need be, for Christ’s sake.
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