that at Calvary, the Lord Jesus Christ took upon our poverty while we were then clothed in His finery (II Corinthians 8:9). Such a truth is plainly evident in the life of C. T. Studd. Here was a young man who was the heir to a vast estate. Yet, he gave it up to go to the mission field. His money was used by faith organizations doing the work of God in foreign lands. The same was similarly true of William Borden, a graduate of Yale University. He went to China, despite the many who thought he was foolish to turn his back on such wealth. The thing was that he loved the Lord and wanted only to serve Him. Before he even reached China he contracted a fatal disease and died shortly after arriving there. He had literally given up every thing to follow Jesus. At his bed side, after he had passed away, his friends found a note he wrote while dying. It testified, "No re serve, no retreat, and no regrets!" He had found a treasure which was beyond words. As a result of his life hundreds of young people gave themselves to the call of Cod, going out to the mission field. Perhaps there is something Cod has been asking you to lay on the altar for Him. Are you willing to die to self that you might be a more effective witness for Him? Do not hesitate to give it up. Cod will recompense you more than you could image. He will exchange your rags for His royal robes. Our lives need to be channeled into Cod's service as we forsake thoughts of self and become wholly consecrated and dedicated to the Lord (Romans 12:1, 2). The basic secret of Christ's winsome and holy lyife was His complete de
votion to the will of His Heavenly Father (Psalm 40:8). Similarly we are to turn over ourselves to Him so that we may be filled with spir itual usefulness. We know that it is possible to get to heaven without living a con secrated life. The journey there, however, would certainly be very barren and disappointing. Conse cration is the doorway to un dreamed joy in the Christian life. The word consecration is some times used very loosely, even by Christian people. It should not be confused with dedication or sanc tification. The former means a separation from a common use. Dedication generally combines separation which is human respon sibility. Consecration on the other hand is God's divine act. When we dedicate our lives to Him, He con secrates us to His service. It is not biblically correct to speak of con secrating your life to God since only He can consecrate you. We dedicate our lives that He may work His will in us. There must be a full surrender before there can be a full blessedness. One does not automatically grow into conse cration. It becomes a matter of choice and not simply a matter of chance. It has been suggested that in dedication we bring our lives to God as a blank sheet of paper. Our names are signed at the bottom. Then, confident of His love, we in vite the Lord to fill in the details as He may desire. This is the way by which we prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. In the original Greek the word signifies a definite act which can not be repeated again, although it may be reaffirmed many times.
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