There is another sad place to which man has misdirected his in terest, and that is rationalism. This is the belief that man’s reason is the ultimate authority. We see the eman cipating of the human reason. Too often has excessive trust been placed in man’s intellectual abilities so that no room is left for spiritual faith in Christ., If learning met the needs of peop le, then an ever-expanding knowledge would solve all problems. Such is not the case. Rationalism foolishly rules out God and the Gos pel of Jesus Christ. Learning was never so widespread as it is today. Man is as clever as he’s ever been. But, as the Duke of Wellingham said, “Education without spirituality and morality, produces a race of clever devils.” In spite of his learn ing, modern man is weak, wicked, sick, selfish and entirely inadequate. The modern world has unmasked and shown him to be a creature des perately in need. This is why Christ came into the world. God knew that our mental acumen would never bring us real happiness. Surely the relevance of the Gospel was never more clearly seen than now. Many have examined closely the alternatives, the extreme trust in man’s reason. They have found that rationalism doesn’t hold. The Word of God is absolutely true. Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, in order to bring them to everlasting life. Then there is also scientism. This is the belief that science will give us what we need. In our time we have often almost worshipped sci ence. Science has been looked upon as a Messiah soon to bring in a “golden age.” But it never will. The supreme achievement of our scientif ic civilization is a thing of destruc tion by which whole cities can be laid waste. Our technical abilities have far outstripped our wisdom and capacity to use them properly. Man is in possession of powers which he’s 16
not fit to use. Science has brought us a more efficient world but not a better world. Science agrees that it can do just about everything but give man character. It can add years to his life, but not life to his years. It can never release man from that awful inner bondage of guilt, greed, lust, pride, and hatred. These are the enemies which destroy. Science should never have been relied upon to meet all the needs of men. These things have demonstrated the need for the all-sufficient Jesus Christ who gives what not one of the alterna tives to Christianity can give. By His atoning death and triumphant resurrection, He brings to men for giveness, peace, assurance, strength for every task, and grace for every trial. He supplies comfort amid sor row, and a glimpse of the many mansions of the Father’s eternal house. Humanism, rationalism, evo lutionism, and scientism are no sub stitutes for the Gospel Jesus Christ. All have been proved insufficient. Christ alone stands all-sufficient! C hapter F our I N considering some of the facets in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ, it is difficult to be limited by time or space. Our Saviour ever liveth to make intercession for us through our faith in Him. There is an inter esting study concerning our Saviour in Luke 7. Christ is asked by the disciples of John the Baptist, “Art thou He that should come or look we for another?” In the 22nd verse we find the divine answer, “Go your way, and tell John the Baptist what things ye have seen and heard.” There is an indication that John had some concern or question in his mind. He had been imprisoned for his fearless preaching. From that lonely cell he felt he needed the strength of assurance. This was the same man who had borne witness to the Son of God, by telling his fol
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