QUIET HOUR

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 28 May 1927, Page 18

QUIET HOUR

CHRIST’S PROPERTY

By Rev. Theodore L. Cuyler, D.D

“We are the Lord’s.” Pass this blessed truth round from pew to pew in our c-ongrgations, from house to house in our community, and from church to church throughout Christendom! It is a levelling truth, but it levels upward. Christians belong to Christ by the Father’s gift: “Thine they were, and Thou gavest them to Me.” We belong to Jesus, because lie hath redeemed us by His precious blood. We are Christ’s property also ov -our own voluntary act when we accepted Him as our Saviour and Lord, and piomised ooedience to Mis Commandments. Tnis triple claim lixes and fastens His owneiship of every ulood-cougiit soul on the round giobe. Living in tnis uorlu, or dying out . it into heaven, is only one continuous process. W lien 1 once returned from Europe in a sailing packet, we signalled our name to the station on Neversink heights, and thense to Xew York, and speedily a steamer was sent down to tow us into port. In like manner as the redeemed spirits *>:■: true believers come to the end of their life voyage, the only signal that is needed to ensure a safe entrance in the celestial haven is. “We are the Lord’s!” Many a sail may have been rent by the tempests, and many a spar may have been snapped, but the Divine Biloft will not suffer one oi Mis own to founder in sight of the harbour.

This ownership by Christ brings with it great security. “No man shall pluck them out of My hands”; but it uoes not follow, therefore, that we may not wickedly throw ourselves out of those hands. Gibraltar is and intpiegnable fortress to all who abide witnin its adamantine walls. But wliat is Gibraltar worth to the presumptuous straggler who- strays outside its gates y ii ye abide in . Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ass what ve will and it shall be done unto you. if \e keep My Commandments, sail abide in My love. If a- man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch and is withered. • There is a tremendous alarm-bell in the litte word “if.” The whole queestion o. Christ’s possession of us turns in our obedience. Tne unpardonable sin by which any, Christian may . forfeit all his chViins and may wreck all his hope of heaven, is disobedience to Christ’s Commandments. The glorious doctrine of assurance is separated by just one word from the fatal sin of presumption. The very command of Christ to us to “wateli and pray,” implies that ous safety lies in keeping within the enclosure of obedience. It is said that' a sentinel is kept standing at the entrance of the tunnel which leads from Gibraltar, and he lias a match in liis hand ready to blow the tunnel up in an instant of there should be an insurrection of the garrison. The real danger is from within. There is pervert security for all of us who- belong to, Christ, just so long as we practise spiritual watchfulness and obedience to our blessed Master.

1 f we are the Lord’s, then we are His representatives before the world. The people of this world think very seldom about God; many of them only use His only name in a profane oath. They think very little about Jesus Christ, and then only of Him as- a benevolent person who went about doing good and was put to death on the Cross. What is needed to bring right before their eyes a living Chyst. Nothing can. so distinctly impress them as a living follower of Christ who represents Jesus to them, not only on Sunday but every day and hour thrdugh the week, and who sets him forth by copying Him in their conduct and constant example. It was said of a certain person’s religion that it was all - straight towards God, but very crooked towards His fellow-men. '['lien the man was an impostor. No man can belong to Christ who does not “let his light shine before men”; the very lirst condition of desciplesliip is that we are to he Christ’s witnesses. This ownership by our Redeemer must be evelusive. We cannot serve two masters. A Christian ought never “to be had.” Our place is not in the world’s market, waiting for a bid to ,our selfishness, or ready for enyone to hire us. ' To every hid, every temptation, every bribe, or every threat, the sufficient answer should be. “I -am not my own; I belong to Jesus Christ.” There is another thing involved in Christ’s possession of us. We owe Him time, talents, money, toil, and sacrifice of our self to His service. Not tlie cheese-parings or the candle-ends are to be turned over to Him. He has a sovereign right to the best. And if we are ready to acknowledge that; if we gladly consecrate to Him our energy, influence, purse, and hearts, oh! howe He will take us into the closest, sweetest, tenderest intimacy of His iove! Not servants merely will we be. but confidential friends. Living thus on Him. with Him and for Him. we shall be able to say with stout olef Bradwardine, “Thyself, my Lord, I love, above all tilings; and for Thyself and not for aught else will I ever -seek with all my heart and strength—-with continual labour and weeping. If Thou givest me not Thyself, Thou givest me nothing. Then Thou dost l.mt torture me. Grant me, 0 precious Lord, that in the present life I may ever love Thee for Thyself, and in the future world may find Thee and be forever with Thee!” None of us who call ourselves Christians have any right to live unto ourselves or to die unto- ourselves. Whether we live it unto the Lord, or whether we die it unto Him; living or dying vve are the Lord’s

Whether to live or die, 1 know not which is best, do live in Thee is bliss for me To die is—endless rest

Then living or then dying. Lord, J ask but to be Thine. Mv life in Thee— Thy life in me Makes heaven forever mine.

—New York Evangelist